Sports
Where to Watch the World Cup while in Thailand?
KEY POINTS:
– In public places like bars or corner shops, but check first if there is still a curfew in place in your area
– On-line by subscribing to a Live-Streaming service
– On Free-to-Air analog TV on CH5 and CH7
– On Digital TV on CH8
– On pay TV on RS World Cup Channel or on True Visions
Normally, a sports bar or watch party hosted at a hotel would be a place to watch the games while being surrounded by friends, fans and supporters of other teams, but first check if there is still a curfew in place.
Many areas have already had the curfew lifted making this experience possible. For the die-hard fans who really want to push the limit in the Bangkok area, some bars are allowing its patrons to be locked in once the curfew starts at midnight and stay until 4 a.m. Many of these sports bars are located on Sukhumvit road.
If you chose to stay home and you do not have a TV you can watch the matches by subscribing to a live-streaming service. There are a few options available in Thailand, most notably Thai Expat TV and http://www.365sport.tv/ . For 600 THB Thai Expat TV offers all 64 World Cup games. A two-day free trial is available, but you need a credit card to register for it.
You also need at least a 3Mb internet connection. http://www.365sport.tv/ offers a similar priced service. If you have a TV set at home you have several options. One way is through the RS Sun Box along with the special World Cup package, which can be purchased from satellite retailers and 7-Eleven stores.
The World Cup package costs 1,590 THB, however this box is not as simple as it appears. A satellite dish is required in order to view these programs. Previous subscribers on the Sun Box are also being asked for an additional 299 THB in order to watch the World Cup. Not all games will be shown on the regular Sun Box.
For those who have True Visions as their service provider, all 64 matches will be provided in HD quality for Gold and Platinum package subscribers. Some HD matches will also be shown to those with lower subscription. Also, True Visions Plc’s concession agreement is set to expire on September 30, 2014.
By switching your service provider to True Visions Group, a special offer is available for 20 additional channels and coverage of the World Cup with no extra cost. True will be hosting the World Cup matches on channels 4, 37, and 99 in SD. The matches are also available in HD on channels 668 and 678. All World Cup channels will be broadcast in Dual-Language for the first time in both English and Thai.
If spending money isn’t an option and you do not mind Thai language commentary, you may watch all the matches in standard definition on free to air analog TV on CH5 and CH7. The newly launched CH8 on digital terrestrial TV will also broadcast some of the matches.
Useful links:
The Official World Cup Website
WORLD CUP 2014 – SCHEDULE THAILAND TIME
http://udon-news.com/en/downloads/world-cup-brazil-2014-thai-time-match-schedule
PAY TV IN THAILAND
http://www.truevisionstv.com/home1.aspx
http://www.rssunbox.com/ (Thai language only)
http://psisat.com/site/index.php (Thai language only)
FREE TV (ANALOG AND DIGITAL)
http://www.ch7.com/ (Thai language only)
LIVE STREAM CH7: http://www.ch7.com/live.htm
http://www.thaich8.com/ (Thai language only)
LIVE STREAM CH8
http://www.tv5.co.th/web56/ (Thai language only)
LIVE STREAM CH5: http://www.tv5.co.th/web56/live_56.php
Thailand Tourism Situation Update (Official Website)
http://www.tatnews.org/category/tat-releases/situation-update/
Independent bloggers on Thailand
https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow
