Dasmond Koh started out in the local entertainment business as a radio deejay with YES 933 before becoming a television host in 2000. After 20 years of working under Mediacorp, Dasmond has decided not to renew his full-time contract in order to “pursue wider interests”.
Ms Georgina Chang, head of The Celebrity Agency, said in an official statement released to the media: “I’ve known Dasmond since he was a DJ at 933 and I was at 987. He’s our radio and TV veteran who’s evolved to become a savvy entrepreneur. We’ve talked about collaborating on some projects together and I look forward to working with and learning from him. I wish him all the very best in his ventures.”
The 43-year-old confirmed that he’d be focusing on his business ventures which includes a health and beauty company set up in October last year, in a phone interview with Toggle. “Contract renewal discussions with Mediacorp took place over a period of three to five months and honestly, the terms offered were quite satisfactory too,” said Dasmond.
However he chose not to renew his contract (it expired on Dec 31, 2015) due to a variety of reasons: his health and beauty company being one part of it and another reason being the sensitivities involving Noon Talk Media, a media company that manages artistes like Xu Bin, Aloysius Pang and Kimberly Chia which is helmed by Dasmond.
“It can be a little sensitive at times and I may be too preoccupied with my businesses that I am unable to take on other projects - and I don’t feel good about it too,” explained the actor-host. “You may call me stubborn but everyone has goals and I’d like to work towards my goals too.”
So what’s in store for him in 2016?
Apart from expanding his health and beauty company, which is co-founded with three friends, in the ASEAN region – specifically, Hong Kong and Malaysia – Dasmond also shared that Noon Talk Media plans to organise a series of training classes to groom newbies in the industry.
“We do not want to be seen as a competitor,” said Dasmond, adding that the company has no plans to actively seek out new talents too. “When it happens, it happens. I believe in letting fate take its own course.”
Dasmond shared that he has told fellow co-host Kym Ng of his plans to not renew his Mediacorp contract and the latter had advised him to stay on; Noon Talk Media’s artistes were also informed of his decision a few weeks ago.
The only programme he is currently working on now is Channel 8’s The Sheng Shiong Show (TSSS), which he has hosted for a grand total of eight years.
“I hope that I can continue to host TSSS and reach a 10-year mark with it. Maybe they might present me with an All-Time Favourite The Sheng Shiong Show host award after 10 years,” he joked.
Dasmond’s last acting project was 2015’s Life Is Beautiful, co-starring Rui En, Pierre Png and Ya Hui. He has won a total of eight Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste award and is two awards short of making it to the All-Time Favourite standing.