Lakorn is a popular genre of fiction in Thai television. They are known in Thai as (, lit. "television drama") or (lakhon, , or lakorn). They are shown generally at prime-time on Thai television channels, starting usually on, before or approximately at 20:25-20:30 hrs local time. An episode of a prime-time drama is between 45 minutes to two hours long including commercials. Each series is a finished story, unlike Western "cliffhanger" dramas, but rather like Hispanic telenovelas. The first television drama in Thailand is Suriyani Mai Yom Taengngan (สุริยานีไม่ยอมแต่งงาน, lit. "Suriyani refused to marry") starring Mom Rajawongse Thanadsri Svasti and Chotirot Samosorn with Nuanla-or Thongnuedee from the composition of Nai Ramkarn (Prayad Sor Nakanat) broadcast on January 5, 1956 on Channel 4 Bangkhunphrom (now Channel 9), the first Thai television station. It can be considered the broadcast was only two months after the establishment of the station. A series will run for about three months. It may air two or three episodes a week, the pattern being Monday–Tuesday, Wednesday–Thursday Monday-Thursday (weekday slots) or Friday–Sunday (weekend slot). A channel will air three soap operas simultaneously at any given time (each producing their own series by separate production houses). Channels will compete for the most popular stars as they attract the most viewers. Some examples are Channel 3, 5 and 7 as well to a lesser extent on Channel 9. While the "best" series are shown at night right after the news, the ones with a smaller profiles (and shorter run time) will be shown in the evenings from 17:00–18:00. In some cases, the most popular prime-time series are shown on re-runs a couple of years after their initial release, generally in the afternoon. A lakorn episode is normally 1 hour and a small amount or 30 minutes. When internationally broadcast, the running time is around 45 min. per episode. Since January 20, 2023, every Friday night after the evening news (second edition), Channel 7 has stopped broadcasting the television series as it used to be until it became familiar. But the station has turned to broadcast live combat sports matches of the ONE Championship instead, which is one of the great revolutions in the Thai television industry. Genre Romance, Comedy, Thriller, Action, Psychological, etc. Apart from Lakorn, Boys Love or BL series are booming across the globe. Folk stories Thai television soap operas have contributed to popularize the spirits and legends