JKN Global Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Thai media and entertainment group involved in television broadcasting, content distribution, home shopping, consumer products, and beauty-pageant ownership.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
JKN Global Group Public Company Limited is a Thai media and entertainment conglomerate founded by Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip. The group developed from a content and media business into a diversified portfolio spanning television broadcasting, international content distribution, home shopping, consumer products, entertainment, events, film, advertising, food and beverages, cosmetics, personal care, health products, and energy drinks. Its operations have been conducted through a number of subsidiaries and brand partnerships, with television and content businesses forming the most visible part of the group. JKN's broadcasting portfolio has included JKN18, JKN Dramax, and JKN-CNBC. JKN18 is a Thai digital terrestrial channel operated by JKN Best Life Co., Ltd. The channel previously operated under the Daily News TV, New TV, and New 18 identities before JKN took control of its programming in 2021 and subsequently rebranded it as JKN18. Its schedule has included entertainment, documentaries, news-related programming, advertising, and commercially oriented content. In 2023, JKN18 entered into a programming arrangement with TOP News, while JKN's own news operations were reduced and its former news department was dissolved. JKN-CNBC was created through a collaboration with NBCUniversal to produce and distribute Thai-language business-news content under the CNBC brand. The service moved among television, online, social-media, and streaming distribution formats. Its programming included localized versions or adaptations of CNBC programs such as Squawk Box, Power Lunch, Halftime Report, Worldwide Exchange, and Capital Connection, as well as locally produced business and economic programs. The online channel ceased operations on more than one occasion, with Thai-language CNBC programming later appearing through other JKN outlets. The group also operated JKN Dramax, a drama-oriented television channel that evolved from the HIGH Shopping and JKN Hi Shopping services. The channel has carried drama series from Thailand, India, and the Philippines, as well as home-shopping material. JKN's home-shopping activities included JKN Hi Shopping, developed in collaboration with Hyundai Home Shopping Network. Other digital and pay-television ventures included JKN Namaste and JKN Zee Magic, which were associated with international content partners. JKN's most internationally prominent transaction was its acquisition of the Miss Universe Organization from IMG Worldwide in October 2022. The purchase placed the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA pageants within JKN's portfolio and made Jakrajutatip the first woman and first transgender woman reported to own the organization. JKN held the pageant business through JKN Legacy, Inc., a joint venture with Legacy Holding Group USA Inc. In October 2023, JKN sold a 50 percent stake in the Miss Universe business to Legacy Holding Group USA, although the transaction was not fully disclosed to investors until January 2024. The group subsequently experienced severe financial pressure. In November 2023, JKN Global Group filed a petition for business rehabilitation with Thailand's bankruptcy court after missing a major loan repayment. The company's financial difficulties affected the group while it continued to operate its media and pageant businesses. Later disputes concerned the disclosure and approval of the Miss Universe stake sale, the rehabilitation process, alleged financial-document irregularities, and the company's continued debt burden. The group's legal and financial position has remained subject to court, creditor, and regulatory proceedings, so its current operating status and ownership structure require verification.
History
JKN Global Group was established by Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip and was previously known through names including STGCP, JKN Living, and JKN Global Media. The business expanded by combining media production and content distribution with consumer-facing activities such as cosmetics, personal care, health products, food and beverages, home shopping, and television advertising. This diversification created a group structure covering both intellectual-property distribution and direct-to-consumer commerce. Television became a central part of the group's identity. Through JKN Best Life Co., Ltd., the group operated several channels and related services. The predecessor of JKN18 began as Daily News TV, later becoming New TV and New 18 after its transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting. JKN assumed control of the channel's 24-hour programming in March 2021 and acquired New 18 in April of that year. The station adopted the JKN18 name in May 2021 and subsequently carried a mixture of entertainment, documentary, commercial, and news-related programming. JKN also developed a Thai-language business-news relationship with NBCUniversal under the CNBC brand. Rights acquired in 2016 supported locally produced programs, including First Class Thailand by JKN-CNBC. CNBC-branded programming appeared on Channel 3 SD and later GMM 25 before being reorganized across JKN's own platforms. JKN-CNBC launched an online television service in January 2020, ceased that service in September 2020, and later returned through Facebook and AIS Play in 2022. Its later closure followed changes to JKN18's news strategy and the programming partnership with TOP News in 2023. Another significant media property was HIGH Shopping, a home-shopping channel launched in 2016. JKN acquired a controlling interest in the operating company in 2021, renamed the service JKN Hi Shopping, and later transformed the channel into the drama-focused JKN Dramax in 2023. The service combined Asian drama programming with the group's home-shopping activities and international partnerships. JKN's broader content portfolio included collaborations associated with Disney's former Fox Networks Group and Zee Entertainment Enterprises. The group's largest international expansion came in October 2022, when it acquired the Miss Universe Organization from IMG Worldwide. The transaction made the pageant business a key global asset and gave JKN control of the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA brands. The organization was held through JKN Legacy, Inc., a joint venture with Legacy Holding Group USA. In October 2023, JKN transferred a 50 percent interest to Legacy Holding. The timing and completeness of the disclosure became controversial, and creditors later questioned whether the transaction had received the approvals required during the rehabilitation process. JKN's expansion coincided with mounting financial problems. In November 2023, the company sought business rehabilitation from Thailand's bankruptcy court after failing to meet a substantial repayment obligation. The group continued operating while the rehabilitation process unfolded, but its debt position, asset transactions, and financial reporting became the subject of creditor and regulatory scrutiny. Reference material further reports a 2025 delisting from the Thai exchange linked to alleged false financial documents, the departure of Jakrajutatip from leadership, and continuing disputes over the Miss Universe stake sale. Because court proceedings and ownership questions have continued to develop, the group's present corporate status should be treated as uncertain pending authoritative current filings.
- 2023
JKN seeks business rehabilitation
[1]The company filed a business-rehabilitation petition in Thailand amid serious liquidity and debt problems.
- 2023
JKN18 changes news programming strategy
[1]JKN18 began carrying TOP News programming, while JKN's former news department and JKN-CNBC distribution were wound down.
- 2022
Miss Universe Organization acquired
[1]JKN acquired the Miss Universe Organization from IMG Worldwide.
- 2021
JKN takes control of New 18
[1]JKN assumed control of the channel's programming and acquired the New 18 operation before rebranding it as JKN18.
- 2016
JKN expands into CNBC-branded programming
[1]A JKN subsidiary obtained rights from NBCUniversal to produce programming under the CNBC brand for Thai audiences.
- 2016
HIGH Shopping launches
[1]The predecessor to JKN Dramax began operating as a home-shopping television channel.
Products and positioning
A diversified Thai media and entertainment group combining television channels, localized international content, home shopping, consumer products, and global beauty-pageant properties.
Digital terrestrial television channel · 2021
JKN18
A Thai digital terrestrial television channel operated by JKN Best Life Co., Ltd. It developed from Daily News TV and New 18 and adopted the JKN18 identity in 2021. Its programming has included entertainment, documentaries, advertising, home-shopping material, and news-related content. In 2023, the channel entered a programming arrangement with TOP News and reduced its internally produced news operations.
Drama and television channel · 2023
JKN Dramax
A drama-focused channel that evolved from HIGH Shopping and JKN Hi Shopping. It carries drama series from Thailand, India, and the Philippines, alongside commercially oriented programming associated with JKN's home-shopping business. The JKN Dramax name was adopted in 2023.
Business-news media service · 2018
JKN-CNBC
A Thai-language business-news venture created with NBCUniversal under the CNBC brand. It distributed localized and locally produced business programming through television, web, social-media, and streaming outlets. Its programming included adaptations or presentations of CNBC formats such as Squawk Box, Power Lunch, Halftime Report, Worldwide Exchange, and Capital Connection.
Beauty-pageant and entertainment property
Miss Universe
The Miss Universe Organization became JKN's most internationally visible asset after its acquisition from IMG Worldwide in 2022. The portfolio included the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA pageants. JKN later sold a 50 percent interest to Legacy Holding Group USA, resulting in a joint-ownership structure and subsequent regulatory and creditor disputes.
Home shopping · 2021
JKN Hi Shopping
A home-shopping operation developed in collaboration with Hyundai Home Shopping Network. It was associated with the HIGH Shopping channel before the channel's transformation into JKN Dramax and represented JKN's direct-to-consumer commerce activities.
Controversies
2025
Reported delisting and financial-document allegations
Reference material reports that JKN was delisted from the Stock Exchange of Thailand amid allegations concerning false financial documents and continued rehabilitation-related disputes.
2024
Disclosure and approval dispute over Miss Universe stake sale
The reported sale of a 50 percent Miss Universe interest in 2023 was not fully disclosed to investors until January 2024. Regulators cited the disclosure issue, while creditors alleged that the transaction lacked required bankruptcy-court approval.
2023
Business-rehabilitation and debt crisis
JKN sought protection through Thailand's business-rehabilitation process after missing a major loan repayment. Creditors and regulators subsequently scrutinized the group's debt, asset transactions, and restructuring prospects.
Brand decisions
2023
Shift JKN18 toward partner-produced news programmingStrategyBackground
JKN restructured its television news operations while facing financial pressure and changing audience and distribution conditions.
Action taken
JKN18 began carrying TOP News programming and dissolved its former news staff and JKN-CNBC news departments.
Aftermath
TOP News became a prominent programming supplier for channel 18, while JKN-CNBC's later online service was discontinued.
2023
Transform JKN Hi Shopping into JKN DramaxStrategyBackground
JKN adjusted the role of its home-shopping television property toward drama and entertainment programming.
Action taken
The channel was renamed JKN Dramax and repositioned around drama series from several Asian markets, while retaining links to home-shopping content.
Aftermath
The change broadened the channel's entertainment identity but its current operating status is uncertain.
2023
Seek business rehabilitationOtherBackground
The company faced substantial debt and missed a significant loan repayment.
Action taken
JKN filed a petition for business rehabilitation with Thailand's bankruptcy court.
Aftermath
Creditors, courts, and regulators examined the company's restructuring plan, asset transactions, and ability to continue as a viable enterprise.
2022
Acquire the Miss Universe OrganizationM&ABackground
JKN pursued an internationally recognizable entertainment property to broaden its media and event portfolio beyond Thailand.
Action taken
The group acquired the Miss Universe Organization from IMG Worldwide through its related corporate structure.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded JKN's global profile but was followed by a partial sale, disclosure questions, and creditor challenges.
Sources1 sources
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