Thai satellite broadcaster ends Al-Manar test

Source: Daily Star, 17-01-2008
BANGKOK: A Thailand-based satellite company says it has ended a test broadcast of Hizbullah-owned Al-Manar TV. "Shin Satellite would like to confirm that the company had already terminated the Al-Manar TV test signal on Friday, January 11, 2008," said Shin Satellite Public Company Limited (SATTEL). SATTEL, which runs the largest satellite system in Asia, had begun the test on January 9. SATTEL spokeswoman Piyanuch Sujpluem told Thailand's The Nation Web site that the deal was terminated after the company discovered Al-Manar "had connections to a terrorist group." When contacted by Germany's Deutsche Press Agentur, Piyanuch refused to comment further on the matter.