Regular listeners to the radio programme "Seesan Wan Yud" ("Colours of the Holidays") on FM 94 MHz (Open Radio) will have to tune into to another show, after it was axed from the station's timetable.

The move followed a suspicious 10-minute blackout during a live interview with Bangkok Senator Sopon Supapong. The subject of the interview was former television host Samak Sundaravej's comments last month concerning Privy Councillor Prem Tinsulanonda.

The incident prompted suspicions of government interference.

However, former PM's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva denied any involvement and appointed a committee to investigate.

Thai Time news agency director Piroon Chatwanichkul, who oversees content and scheduling at the station, said the schedule had been readjusted to keep up with times.

It was normal for a station to evaluate programmes after they had been on-air for awhile, and he wanted more variety in the programming, he said.

GMM Grammy Plc took over the concession for the station's airtime at the beginning of this year, about the same time as "Seesan Wan Yud" began.

Piroon said the programme was too serious and no one had forced him to axe it.

One of the programmes two hosts, Yuwadee Tunyasiri, will remain as a senior adviser to the news agency.  Yuwadee said there was no conflict between the hosts and station administrators.

"We ran the show the way we considered appropriate. However, the owner also had to consider what is appropriate and when problems occurred, figure out how to improve the shows," she said.

Samatcha Hoonsara

Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation