The stations reverting to MCOT include Thai folk song station Luk Thung Maha Nakorn FM95 MHz; FM96.5 MHz which targets business executives; SEED FM97.5 MHz aimed at teens; Healthy Thailand FM99 MHz featuring news analysis, sports and travel; news station FM100.5 MHz; and FM107 MHz Metropolis targeting executives and expats.
Only one other MCOT station covering Bangkok and its surrounding provinces - FM105.5 - continues to be operated by Bangkok Entertainment Company under a long-term contract.
The move to regain control of its six stations comes ahead of the creation of the National Broadcasting Commission, which is expected to liberalise the broadcast industry; and as MCOT prepares to list its shares on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
The newly relaunched stations were given a facelift prior to their reintroduction, under the concept 'Modern Radio', aimed at "making them more responsive to changing audience needs through audience segmentation, with each station targeting a clearly defined group of listeners," the spokeman said.
The new look stations will be promoted through MCOT's media outlets, Modernine TV, the stations themselves and MCOT's website.
Radio adspend in Thailand has edged up to 6.9 billion baht last year, according to ACNielsen.