Surang pulls off a surprise with TV licence bid
Surang Prempree, the 21st-richest Thai, is staging a return after her 26-year reign at BBTV Channel 7 was terminated against her will in 2011.
Her wholly owned company, Chan 25, is bidding for a digital TV licence, and Surang is ready to fight. Experience aside, she is more than ready financially. She is ranked the 21st-richest Thai by Forbes in 2013, with net worth of US$930 million (Bt29.5 billion) as of July. Though the ranking dropped from 14th in 2011, her assets swelled from $790 million then.
Her legal adviser Surachai Danaitangtrakul showed up yesterday to buy the bid document for a variety high-definition (HD) channel for Chan 25.
"Khun Surang wishes to apply for a commercial digital terrestrial TV licence to run a variety channel in HD, though she and her husband already own 20 per cent of a TV company," he said.
Surang was the managing director of Bangkok Broadcasting and Television (BBTV), the operator of Channel 7 – the country’s largest network. She held tight control of the channel’s policy for 26 years until the end of 2011. Though owning 21 per cent of the company, her time at the helm was ended as Krit Ratanarak, the captain of the Ratanarak family who own a majority stake, took control. Throughout the years, she had built a strong network with producers and superstars.
BBTV’s management reacted with a shock to her latest move. An auction rule bars a shareholder of a bidding company to hold more than 10 per cent in another firm that is vying for a licence in the same category. BBTV is also bidding for an HD licence.
A source in the industry said BBTV’s management convened urgently after learning of this development. The source added that BBTV was ready to sort things out with Surang, to keep the company qualified for the auction slated for October 28-29.
It was known that Surang was totally disappointed with BBTV’s decision not to renew her employment contract in 2011, despite her dedication and success of the channel under her reign. Chan 25 was set up to produce soap operas for Channel 3, a key rival of Channel 7.
When she left BBTV, she took with her the right to host Thailand’s edition of Miss Universe from the US-based National Broadcasting Company.
