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Media

Bangkok has been heralded for decades for the amount of free press coverage in Asia. For long it has been the breeding ground of American democracy in Southeast Asia.

There is an average of 4 million readers for more than 25 Bangkok based newspapers, the largest claiming to be Thai Rath one of the most acclaimed papers in Thailand, sells over 1 million copies a day. Bangkok also has two major English-language dailies, the Bangkok Post arguably the most famous, followed by The Nation. The Asian Wall Street Journal and International Herald Tribune are printed in Bangkok and receive high numbers of distribution. There are also a number of weekly publications normally published on Fridays that deal with political issues. Other publications, such as lifestyle and entertainment magazines are also plentiful. Hundreds line up in bookshops as people go about their interest in choosing them entitling Thailand as a "readers" country. Magazines has somewhat however taken over the new generation and youth of the past few decades turning to more Westernized publications handling issues such as fashion, the superstar life and glamour. There are large amounts of paparazzi magazines and fashion publications especially after the launch of the Bangkok Fashion City project in 2004. Since then, the Thai cable operator, United Broadcasting Corporation (UBC, or now called TrueVision) has launched a new Thai fashion channel devoted to Thai fashion as well as their Thai edition of E! Entertainment television.

There are also a large amount of television media in Bangkok, 5 television stations operated by the government are based in Bangkok whilst the UBC cable operator also headquarters here. They broadcast a total of 50 channels to viewers with gold edition including many Thai television stations such MTV Thailand, TITV, 6 sports channels and Channel V and many more. Above this, there are more than 30 FM radio stations within the Bangkok metro vicinity and 50 AM channels including international brands as Virgin Radio. Radio stations mainly broadcast in Thai although some stations speak English throughout due to the growing expat population.

There are a variety of ways to enjoy Bangkok through performances. Clubs featuring jazz and other live music line major districts of town, Victory Monument, along the entire Sukhumvit Skytrain line and in Phra Nakorn. Chalerm Krung Theater and the National Theater have been in operation since the early 20th century whereas the newer Thailand Cultural Center hosts a variety of plays and activities of recent.

The Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and Bangkok Opera are gradually earning recognition among international critics and regularly host performances of international performers. There are also a large amount of "cafes", or nightclubs, which host comedy acts, mainly suited for adults, along Rama IX Road, many great actors of Thailand have developed from these night time laugh shops.

Bangkok has dozens of cinema multiplexes, and the city hosts two major film festivals annually, the Bangkok International Film Festival and the World Film Festival of Bangkok.