JKN18
Product brand
UnclaimedThai digital terrestrial television channel, formerly NEW 18 and now branded JKN18 under JKN Global Group.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
JKN18 is a Thai digital terrestrial television channel that broadcasts on channel number 18. It is operated by JKN Best Life Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of JKN Global Group, the media company led by Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip. The channel was originally launched as Daily News TV, a satellite television station belonging to the Daily News newspaper group, and later became new)tv after the group won a digital terrestrial licence. It was rebranded as NEW 18 in 2018 and focused heavily on documentary programming, particularly the "World Explorer" documentary series from Next Step Co., Ltd., alongside news content from Daily News. In March 2021, JKN Global Media took over the channel's 24-hour broadcast under a contract, and in April 2021 JKN purchased NEW 18 outright. The schedule was overhauled and the station was officially renamed JKN18 on 26 May 2021. The channel positioned itself as a general entertainment and news channel, with a mix of news, documentaries, and other programming. In September 2023, amid financial difficulties related to JKN's debentures, content from Top News Digital Media Co., Ltd. was brought onto JKN18. JKN later reclaimed all airtime from Top News starting 1 July 2025, and two months later the channel was renamed Channel 18. The station has gone through several ownership and branding changes, reflecting the turbulent Thai digital television landscape.
History
The channel's history began with Daily News TV (เดลินิวส์ ทีวี), a satellite television station established by Daily News TV Co., Ltd. (now New Shop Co., Ltd.), part of the Daily News newspaper group. The company was registered on 14 September 2011, and trial broadcasts started on 3 October 2011. The official launch was planned for 1 January 2012, but severe flooding in Thailand, which affected the Vibhavadi Rangsit Road area in front of the Daily News building where the station was located, forced a postponement to 15 February 2012. After the Daily News group won a digital terrestrial television licence auction on 27 December 2013 through DN Broadcast Co., Ltd., the station was transferred to DN Broadcast and renamed new)tv on 11 March 2014. Initially, new)tv aired documentaries throughout the day interspersed with hourly news updates. During the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the Daily News sports desk produced special programmes covering the tournament. By mid-2014, new)tv returned to full news programming. On 28 April 2016, new)tv moved its headquarters from the Daily News building to a new facility at 818 Soi Bearing 19, Moo 2, Samrong Nuea, Mueang Samut Prakan District, Samut Prakan Province. The new broadcast connection system went live at 00:01 on the same day. On 1 January 2018, new)tv rebranded entirely and changed its name to NEW 18 (นิว 18), a name that had been introduced on 1 August 2017. In 2018, the company restructured and shifted its policy to focus on documentaries, especially the "World Explorer" series from Next Step Co., Ltd., with news as a supplementary element. Some news staff were laid off. In 2020, from 30 March, the channel aired news programmes from Fah Wan Mai (ฟ้าวันใหม่) in parallel and removed almost all documentaries, but after five months it returned to its usual documentary schedule. On 1 June 2020, NEW 18 moved its network from MUX#5 of the Royal Thai Army Radio and Television (Channel 5) to MUX#4 of Thai PBS. In late November 2020, reports emerged that Sondhiyan Chuenruthainan and a group of news anchors who had resigned from Nation TV would join NEW 18, but the plans did not materialise. In December 2020, there were reports that DN Broadcast executives were negotiating to sell the NEW 18 licence to Sondhiyan's group, with Chatsiri Sophonpanich, president of Bangkok Bank, acting as mediator. However, these reports were denied, and the group eventually founded Top News instead. The uncertainty caused advertising withdrawals and a significant drop in revenue for NEW 18. As a result, NEW 18 signed a contract with JKN Global Media Public Co., Ltd., owned by Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, to control its airtime for an initial period of two months, starting from 8 March 2021 at 00:01. Existing programmes were moved to online channels. On 9 April 2021, JKN purchased NEW 18, revamped the schedule, and began airing the new lineup on 5 May 2021. The station was officially renamed JKN18 on 26 May 2021. In September 2023, due to JKN's debenture problems, content from Top News Digital Media Co., Ltd. was brought to air on JKN18 starting 18 September 2023. JKN later reclaimed all airtime from Top News starting 1 July 2025, and two months later the channel was renamed Channel 18 (ช่อง 18).
Daily News TV Co., Ltd. registered
Daily News TV began trial satellite broadcasts
Daily News TV officially launched after flood delay
DN Broadcast won digital terrestrial licence for channel 18
Renamed new)tv
Moved headquarters to Samut Prakan
NEW 18 name introduced
Rebranded as NEW 18
Moved network from MUX#5 to MUX#4 (Thai PBS)
JKN Global Media took over 24-hour broadcast
Products and positioning
National digital terrestrial news and documentary channel
JKN18 television channel
Digital terrestrial channel on channel 18
News programmes
News bulletins and current affairs
Documentary series
Including World Explorer from Next Step
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
HOOQ announces regional content partnerships[4]
HOOQ announced partnerships with Outdoor Channel, Mediacorp, TechStorm and ONE Championship across Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, along with partnerships with JKN Dhamx, M Channel, New18, Channel 3 Catch-up and Thairath TV in Thailand to bring content to HOOQ viewers.
Sources4 sources
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