Back in the 1980s Kullapong Bunnag was the feathered half of Byrd and Heart, but the singing duo have long since moved on to other challenges and opportunities. Byrd is currently the chief operating officer at Life Inc's Live TV.

Kullapong has been Sony Music's managing director, FM107's station manager, a co-founder of Channel V Thailand and on the crew of Hong Kong-based Channel V International.

Now he's in charge of six new channels on Live TV, which makes shows for Thai cable television.

The channels are Movies1, which has box-office favourites; Movies2, all Asian films; Pop Live, where teen viewers can find music, fashion and tech gadgets; Thai Chaiyo for country music; the EDN Edutainment Network, home of documentaries; and Variety1, where you get the sort of content normally found on free TV.

"We've invested about Bt10 million in new studios and the productions," Kullapong says. "The good thing about having a business that sells content is that, if it's high-quality content, there's always a demand."

His aim is to sell the content overseas as well as locally. There's no good reason that quality Thai shows can't gain a following elsewhere, he reasons, and language isn't a problem.

"I lived in the US since I was nine, and the people there are no better than us. We could do better if we want to.

"I believe everybody has a gift, the ability to make a success of something. They just need a place, courage and support. I love to motivate the people who work with me. I love building an enjoyable atmosphere at my workplace. If we can't do that in the first place, how can I make an enjoyable show for my customers?"

Kullapong acknowledges his job is difficult.

"I have lots to do in a day, but it's all fun and challenging."

His fans still get to enjoy his charming, funny personality onstage sometimes.

"Heart [Suttipong Tadpitakkul] and I never think of singing as a career," he says. "It's just something fun that we love to do, and we even get paid for it. So it's great that after work I can still get onstage, talk to my best friend and sing for people. People still hire me, you know!"

Kullapong says they're thinking about a new album of their hits or rearrangements of their favourite Western tunes, but he doesn't want to make anything a "must" - he just wants to be leisurely about it.

He's now the father of three little girls, ages seven, three and one, and says marriage is "fantastic". He gives almost all of his private time to his family.

"Before I married, after work was a time to chill, hang out with friends, drink and get home late. But now I've cut out the drinking. I go to Hua Hin on my weekends instead. I love seeing my little girls run on the beach where I know it'll be okay even if they fall and no shark can reach them. That's now my happiness."

Cat Stevens' song "Cats in the Cradle" always comes to mind, he says. It's the story of a father who's too busy to spend time with his son, but after the son becomes a man, the father is eager to make up for lost time. Now, though, the son is too busy with his own work and family.

"It's all about how you balance your life," Kullapong observes. "It'll be just perfect if you can make something great out of the work while at the same time you have time to teach your kids and build great family memories. I want to play with my kids while they still want to play with me!"

Thomtong Thongnok

The Nation