Kompas Gramedia Group
An Indonesian privately held conglomerate spanning media, publishing, retail, broadcasting, hospitality, manufacturing, education, and events.
Last updated August 22, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Kompas Gramedia Group is an Indonesian privately held business group whose origins lie in journalism and publishing. Its history began with Intisari, a magazine launched by Petrus Kanisius Ojong and Jakob Oetama on 17 August 1963. The founders subsequently established the Kompas newspaper, whose inaugural issue appeared on 28 June 1965. The newspaper was created to address the limited availability of comprehensive daily news and information in Indonesia and became the group’s principal media asset. Over time, Kompas Gramedia expanded from print journalism into a broad portfolio of media and consumer-facing businesses. Its newspaper activities include Kompas, the business publication Kontan, the regional Tribun Network, Warta Kota, and associated digital news services such as Kompas.com and Tribunnews.com. Magazine publishing has been organized through Grid Network, which has managed a substantial portfolio of original and licensed titles, including publications focused on lifestyle, technology, automobiles, photography, and consumer interests. Publishing became another core activity. Gramedia Pustaka Utama, established in 1973, publishes books across general, commercial, and literary categories. Elex Media Komputindo, founded in 1985, concentrates on technology, computing, business, management, educational material, comics, and related subjects. Gramedia Widiasarana Indonesia, or Grasindo, was established in 1990 to focus on school textbooks and other educational publications. Other publishing operations include Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia and Penerbit Buku Kompas. The group also developed distribution and retail infrastructure. Gramedia bookstores were introduced in 1970 through PT Gramedia Asri Media, with the first store located on Jalan Gajah Mada in West Jakarta. The chain sells books as well as stationery, office supplies, sporting goods, technology products, and other merchandise. A printing plant was established in Jakarta in 1972 to support the growing requirements of the group’s newspapers and magazines. Broadcasting expanded the group beyond print. Radio Sonora began in 1973 as a Jakarta-oriented station and later developed a network in cities across Indonesia. Kompas Gramedia founded TV7 in 2001; a majority stake was later acquired by Trans Corp, and the station was renamed Trans7. The group launched Kompas TV on 9 September 2011 and has also been associated with local television and satellite television ventures, including KTV and K-Vision. In 2018, its media assets were reorganized under the KG Media subsidiary structure. Diversification has included hospitality, events, manufacturing, and education. The Santika Indonesia hospitality business has operated since 1981. Dyandra is associated with event organization, while Graha Bumi Hijau manufactures tissue products under the Tessa brand. The group officially launched Multimedia Nusantara University in 2006 and also operates ELTI, an English-language training business that became part of the group in 1989. Through this combination of editorial, cultural, distribution, service, and industrial activities, Kompas Gramedia has remained one of Indonesia’s most prominent diversified media groups.
History
Kompas Gramedia’s origins can be traced to the launch of Intisari on 17 August 1963 by Petrus Kanisius Ojong and Jakob Oetama. The magazine established the founders’ editorial and publishing platform and preceded the creation of Kompas, a national daily newspaper intended to improve the availability of reliable news and information in Indonesia. Kompas published its first issue on 28 June 1965 and gradually became the group’s defining media property. By the late 1960s, it had established a dominant position in the Indonesian newspaper market, and later circulation figures made it one of the region’s largest newspapers. The organization built supporting infrastructure as its media operations grew. Gramedia retail was established in 1970 through PT Gramedia Asri Media, beginning with a bookstore in West Jakarta. In 1972, the group created a printing operation in Jakarta to supply its newspapers and magazines. Publishing was formalized as a major business in 1973 with the establishment of Gramedia Pustaka Utama, which developed a large annual publishing program. Radio Sonora also began in 1973, initially serving Jakarta before expanding into a broader Indonesian radio network. During the 1980s and 1990s, Kompas Gramedia broadened its publishing, educational, and regional media portfolio. The hospitality business began in 1981 through PT Grahawita Santika. ELTI, an English-language training operation founded in 1981, later became part of the group in 1989. Elex Media Komputindo was founded in 1985 to publish technology, computing, business, educational, and comic titles. The regional newspaper network that became Tribun Network operated newspapers from 1988 onward. In 1990, Grasindo was established to concentrate on school textbooks and other educational publications. The group continued to diversify in the 1990s and 2000s. Kontan originated as a weekly business publication in 1996 and later developed daily and other formats. Warta Kota was launched in Jakarta on 3 May 1999, during the period of political and media liberalization surrounding the 1999 general election. Kompas Gramedia entered television through TV7 in 2001. In 2006, Trans Corp acquired 55 percent of TV7 and the station was renamed Trans7. The group also officially launched Multimedia Nusantara University in 2006, reinforcing its interest in information and communications technology education. Digital media became increasingly important through Kompas.com, Tribunnews.com, and other online properties. Broadcasting expanded again with the launch of Kompas TV on 9 September 2011. The group was also associated with KTV, a Jakarta local station, and K-Vision, a satellite television service. In 2018, the media portfolio was reorganized under KG Media. A year later, MNC Media acquired a 60 percent stake in K-Vision. Alongside media and publishing, Kompas Gramedia has maintained businesses in bookstores, hospitality, event organization, manufacturing, and education. Dyandra represents the event-organizing side of the portfolio, while Graha Bumi Hijau manufactures tissue products under the Tessa brand. The group’s overall development reflects a strategy of extending the original newspaper and publishing franchise into the wider production, distribution, retail, digital, and service ecosystems surrounding information and culture.
- 2019
K-Vision stake is acquired by MNC Media
[1]MNC Media acquires 60 percent of K-Vision, reducing Kompas Gramedia’s ownership interest in the satellite television business.
- 2018
Media businesses are reorganized as KG Media
[1]The group places its media units within a reorganized subsidiary structure called KG Media.
- 2011
Kompas TV launches
[1]Kompas Gramedia launches Kompas TV on 9 September.
- 2006
Multimedia Nusantara University launches
[1]The group officially launches Multimedia Nusantara University in Tangerang, Banten, with an information and communications technology orientation.
- 2001
TV7 is founded
[1]Kompas Gramedia enters television by founding TV7, a channel carrying news, family entertainment, children’s programming, sports, and films.
- 1996
Kontan begins publication
[1]Kontan is introduced as a weekly business publication and later expands into additional formats, including a daily newspaper.
- 1990
Grasindo is established
[1]Gramedia Widiasarana Indonesia is established to focus on school textbooks and educational materials.
- 1985
Elex Media Komputindo is founded
[1]Elex Media Komputindo begins publishing technology, computing, business, educational, and related titles.
- 1981
Expansion into hospitality and language training
[1]The Santika hospitality business and ELTI language-training operation are established.
- 1973
Gramedia Pustaka Utama and Radio Sonora begin
[1]The group enters book publishing through Gramedia Pustaka Utama and broadcasting through Radio Sonora.
Products and positioning
A diversified Indonesian media and knowledge-services group combining trusted journalism, publishing, retail distribution, broadcasting, education, hospitality, events, and selected manufacturing businesses.
National daily newspaper · 1965
Kompas
Kompas is the group’s flagship national newspaper. First published on 28 June 1965, it developed from the founders’ aim of improving access to daily news and information in Indonesia. The title became a central platform for the group’s later expansion into digital media, publishing, broadcasting, and related information businesses.
Regional newspaper network · 1988
Tribun Network
Tribun Network is Kompas Gramedia’s regional newspaper group. Its newspaper operations began in 1988 and developed into a network of regional titles, including publications using the Tribun name, together with the national sports newspaper Super Ball. The network also supports the Tribunnews.com digital news platform.
Business and financial publication · 1996
Kontan
Kontan is a business and financial news brand that began as a weekly publication in 1996. It subsequently expanded into additional formats, including a daily newspaper, serving readers interested in markets, companies, economics, and finance.
Book publishing · 1973
Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Gramedia Pustaka Utama was established in 1973 and became one of the group’s principal book-publishing businesses. Its program covers general and commercial books and contributes substantially to the titles distributed through the Gramedia retail network.
Technology and educational publishing · 1985
Elex Media Komputindo
Founded in 1985, Elex Media Komputindo publishes works on computers, electronics, technology, business, management, education, and comics. It also handles translated titles and technology-related software and reference material.
Educational publishing · 1990
Grasindo
Gramedia Widiasarana Indonesia, commonly known as Grasindo, was established in 1990 and focuses on school textbooks and educational materials for kindergarten, primary, and secondary education.
Book and specialty retail · 1970
Gramedia bookstores
Gramedia is the group’s bookstore and retail chain, operated through PT Gramedia Asri Media. In addition to books, its stores offer stationery, office supplies, sporting goods, technology products, and other merchandise. The first store opened in West Jakarta in 1970.
Radio broadcasting · 1973
Radio Sonora
Radio Sonora began broadcasting in Jakarta in 1973 and later developed a network of stations in cities across Indonesia. It extended Kompas Gramedia’s information and entertainment activities into terrestrial radio.
Television broadcasting · 2011
Kompas TV
Kompas TV was launched in 2011 as a television network carrying news and general programming. It represents the group’s principal television initiative following its earlier involvement with TV7.
Hospitality · 1981
Santika Indonesia
Santika Indonesia is the group’s hospitality business, operated through PT Grahawita Santika. It represents Kompas Gramedia’s long-term diversification from media and publishing into hotels and related accommodation services.
Tissue products
Tessa
Tessa is the flagship tissue-paper brand associated with Graha Bumi Hijau, the group’s manufacturing business. It illustrates Kompas Gramedia’s expansion into selected consumer-product categories outside media.
Brand decisions
2019
Sale of a majority stake in K-VisionM&ABackground
Kompas Gramedia had developed K-Vision as a satellite television services provider within its broadcasting portfolio.
Action taken
MNC Media acquired a 60 percent stake in K-Vision.
Aftermath
K-Vision became majority-controlled by MNC Media, reducing Kompas Gramedia’s ownership position in the satellite television venture.
2018
Creation of the KG Media structureStrategyBackground
Kompas Gramedia operated newspapers, magazines, digital news services, and broadcasting assets across multiple business units.
Action taken
The group reorganized its media units under a single subsidiary structure called KG Media.
Aftermath
The reorganization provided a unified organizational identity for the group’s media businesses.
2011
Launch of Kompas TVProduct launchBackground
The group sought to strengthen its broadcasting presence and complement its established newspaper, magazine, radio, and digital media operations.
Action taken
Kompas Gramedia launched the Kompas TV network on 9 September 2011.
Aftermath
Kompas TV became a major broadcasting asset within the group’s broader media portfolio.
2006
Sale of a majority stake in TV7M&ABackground
Kompas Gramedia had entered television through TV7 in 2001, but the channel required a different ownership and operating structure as the group’s broadcast activities developed.
Action taken
Trans Corp acquired 55 percent of TV7 and the channel was subsequently renamed Trans7.
Aftermath
The transaction ended Kompas Gramedia’s controlling ownership of TV7 while allowing the group to continue developing television activities through later projects such as Kompas TV.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/kompas-gramedia-group · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled