Thaksin's children in Internet TV business

Panthongtae and Pinthongta launched their media venture

Panthongtae, the eldest son, and his sister Pinthongta, yesterday jointly made the official launch of Voice TV.

Pinthongta also holds a stake in SC Asset. Both said that it is their father who gives them business advice.

"Our dad is the one with business ideas, while our mum supports us. Now, we're doing what we are good at," Pinthongta said. "Phi Oak [Panthongtae] is interested in creative things and he is launching Voice TV. I will invest in property and when Nong Ing [Paethongthan] returns [from her study in UK], she would also join me in the property business though she is also interested in fashion," she added.

Asked about the attacks against her father, Pinthongta said right now nobody in the family pays attention to politics.

"Luckily, we love each other and support each other. We're used to it [attacks] and we are now on our own feet."

When asked about the source of the funds to run the station, Pinthongtha said they had used the money gained from the sale of Manchester City soccer club.

Pinthongtha said she is 28 now and was determined to run the business. While her brother has been interested in technology, she is interested in property management.

Now she is learning the ropes at PT Corp and also the family-listed property firm SC Asset.

Voice TV, capitalised at Bt300 million, is jointly owned by both the Shinawatra children and the family-owned property firm PT Corp. They declined to specify their respective stakes. The company was renamed from HowCome Entertainment. Of all investment, Bt50 million was spent on the studio and another Bt20 million on the Internet system. The station targets revenue of Bt150 million per year with break-even within five years.

Despite advice from their father, the Shinawatra children insisted that the station debut is not politically motivated and is not the mouthpiece of Thaksin. The TV content instead is aimed to inspire the new generation.

"We can't prevent people from regarding us in that way. But we'll keep on proving that it has nothing to do with the politics. We're not red or white, and even colour-blind people can watch our programme," said Panthongtae, who is Voice TV executive vice president.

Pinthongta, Voice TV director, has admitted that it would be difficult for the company to seek advertisements and sponsorship as the station has been regarded as politically involved.

"But we want everyone to come with an open mind," she added.

She said her family had faced big obstacles in the past, which had made her immune to them and added to her strength.

When asked if the station would ask for advertisement from Advanced Info Service, Pinthongtha said that it might do so. AIS is the flagship of Shin Corp founded by the Shinawatra family members.

Aside from Voice TV, Pinthongtha owned 28.97 per cent in SC Asset as of April this year, while her younger sister Paethongthan had owned another 29.13 per cent.

Pinthongta added that she also went with these property firms to visit land plots they are interested to buy and also has learned to manage the service apartments of the SC Asset group.