A media magnate known for producing lakorn series and organizing the Thailand Miss Universe pageant has become the second woman billionaire in the kingdom.
A recent surge in fortunes has pushed Surang Prempree, a 70-year-old TV tycoon whose family links to Thai media run deep, just over the top into billionaire (USD) status as tracked by Forbes magazine. Up until now, the only woman billioinaire in Thailand was Thai Rath’s Praneetsilpa Vacharaphol, 81.
Surang reigned for 26 years as managing director of Bangkok Broadcasting & TV, a company founded by her mother, until leaving two years ago after a reported split with majority owner and Thailand’s No. 5 richest, Krit Ratanarak. She still holds plenty of equity in BBTV, which operates Channel 7.
More than Thailand’s most-viewed network, Channel 7 has holdings in many businesses linked to the families of Krit and Surang, including Bank of Ayudhya and Siam City Cement, companies which have exploded with three- and four-fold growth in recent years. Surang now owns a production company which hopes to snag one of the coming HD channels coming to Thailand, which would compete with BBTV and ostensibly put her into a competitive business relationship with herself.
BBTV has reportedly offered to buy her out, but she is refusing their overtures, Forbes reported.
