Ex-Channel 7 boss takes Miss Universe Thailand to Channel 5
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Television tycoon Surang Prempree, who recently left Channel 7, announced yesterday that Channel 5 will co-host this year's Miss Universe Thailand pageant. The finals will take place at the Muang Thai Rachadalai Theatre on June 2 and will be broadcast li
Surang is the director of the Thai licence for Miss Universe. She signed the contract while she was at Channel 7, run by Bangkok Broadcasting and TV Company Limited, under the title “Miss Thailand Universe”.
The name of the show this year has been changed to “Miss Universe Thailand” and it will have a new logo.
“We will find the best representative from Miss Universe Thailand 2012 to compete for Miss Universe. We won’t have any problems with Channel 5 broadcasting this year’s contest as the channel director cooperates well,” Surang said at yesterday’s press conference at the Siam Kempinski Hotel.
All the usual features of the pageant will remain, including the national dress and swimming-suit competitions, she said.
Surang said she had considered offering the show to Channel 7, but when her time ran out at BBTV, she decided to offer it to Channel 5. Both channels are owned by the Army.
She refused to confirm if next year’s pageant would be broadcast on Channel 5, only saying it would be considered on an annual basis. She also said she was not moving to manage Channel 5 and that she would only answer questions related to Miss Universe Thailand.
Surang, 70, ran Channel 7, Thailand’s largest free-TV network, for 26 years. She was let go at the end of last year when her annual contract was not renewed in a major management reshuffle at channel operator BBTV.
