I

n the 1990s, he was a young man with the status of a cover boy for teen magazines and a VJ for MTV Campus.

Today, Pank Agung Pamungkas does not appear much on television, preferring to work behind the
scenes and build his business as a partner with local and national television stations.

For the past several years the public has known him through a program with a military theme broadcast by a private television station.

Pank spends most of his time with PT TFA Media, short for “think feel act”, a company he established specializing in block air time sales, creative work and promoting the television stations on his client list.

Before finally setting up TFA Media, Pank, 35, had several careers, all close to the military and entertainment worlds, which, for him, are two sides of the same coin.

Pank inherited his military interest from his father, receiving a military education in Magelang after graduating from high school. Pank had achievements that anyone could be proud of as he passed the entrance requirements for the Military Academy. But exactly at that moment, he had an inner calling to try out something else, namely entertainment. So he left Magelang and tried his luck in a different world.

“There are two sides to my life, military and entertainment. I was a candidate military officer then, but I left because I felt that it was not really me,” said the second son of Sigit Sukotjo and Roesdiati Soeharto.

He eventually chose to study architecture. After completing his education at Pancasila University, Pank started his first step in the entertainment world by becoming a cover model for a teen magazine. His efforts did not end there; Pank kept exploring, forming a rap band, MCB Rap.

A singer, Pank, who taught himself to play the guitar and drums, also composed his own songs.

Hence his entertainer’s soul was sharpened further.

Pank’s career started to skyrocket when he became a VJ for MTV Campus in 1995. The name Pank became more famous when he worked as a DJ for Prambors radio in Jakarta.

Pank, who loves basketball and golf, also received an education in broadcasting in Singapore in 2002 and soon landed important roles producing several television programs.

At Lativi, Pank was given a strategic position as an off-air producer/director before finally moving to O Channel, when he became its youngest executive director at the age of 29.

All his television experience was a valuable asset, but Pank decided to leave in 2005. He admitted that leaving his comfort zone was not an easy decision, but the support of his wife, Early Elsyintia, and friends made him confident in realizing the numerous ideas in his head.

Pank started a period where he had to struggle to set up his own production house for television
advertising — a more lucrative business than radio or magazine advertising.

Initially he suffered losses and saw the end of two partnerships. The worst part was experiencing betrayal, he said.

“I was betrayed by a friend who stole my concept, which shocked me. It was a valuable experience, to face so many risks in doing business. I was determined to start all over again, right from the very bottom. I was lucky to have my wife’s support. Finally, the fruit has been sweet,” he said.

In 2008 Pank established TFA Media, which was successful and has many clients. The capital was minimal: one laptop, a three-by-six-meter rented office and two employees. He did not want partners or investors this time.

“It was my money this time, no investors. It was tough, but past experience has taught me a valuable lesson. I had determination and fighting spirit,” he says.

“I told my wife about my initial situation, but she fully supported me because she saw I was quite prepared. Friends also supported me. So I became an all-out businessman,” he emphasized.

Based on his extensive experience, TFA Media developed a national clientele and soon became a one-stop shop for broadcasting, production house and media placement. Pank set up four different divisions within TFA Media to accommodate client demands.

The first division, program blocking, works regularly. Some of the programs it has already produced for broadcast include “Entrepreneur”, “Insurance”, “Military”, “Franchise” and “Property”.

The second division handles event organizing for off-air programs, which sometimes leads to on-air programs. The third division produces television commercials for clients such as Ciptadent, Softener So Klin, Zinc, Mama Lemon, Mito Phone, BlueBerry, TechnoGas, ASWATA and so on. The last division collaborates on movie productions and produced “7Hati 7Cinta 7Wanita” (“Seven Hearts, Seven Loves, Seven Women”).

The projects targeted for 2012 are Golf TV, Armedforces and a military-action movie, while in the
next five years Pank has targeted TFA Media to become one of the largest in Indonesia and perhaps even one of the leading players in Asia Pacific. Pank also has other ambitions.

“In the next five years TFA Media should become the largest agency in Indonesia and even in Asia-Pacific, because I don’t want to stop at a certain point. When I start planting one type of seed I also start planting other types of seeds. I want whatever I touch to become gold. Money should work for me and not the other way round,” said Pank.

From his marriage with Early, Pank has been blessed with two children, Primo Acuzio and Pilar Aidan.

With all that he has achieved, does Pank already feel successful?

“My measurement of success is related to happiness. That’s why I always want to be in a positive circle and never close to those who have negative thinking. Happiness, in my mind, is not a gift or a blessing, but one’s capability. You cannot ask for happiness from God, that’s wrong. Happiness is a matter of choice and capability,” said Pank, who loves music by Eminem.