Media Prima

Media Prima Berhad is a Malaysian media and entertainment company headquartered in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. It is one of the country’s largest integrated media groups and forms, together with Astro, a central part of Malaysia’s highly concentrated mass-media landscape. Its activities cover free-to-air television, radio broadcasting, newspaper publishing, digital media, content production and distribution, and out-of-home advertising. The company’s corporate origins date to 27 November 2000, when it was incorporated as Profitune Sdn. Bhd. The business took its present name in 2002 as it prepared to become the vehicle for the separation of Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad’s media assets from that group’s infrastructure and property activities. Media Prima began operating in 2003 after the demerger of Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad, the company associated with TV3, and The New Straits Times Press. It subsequently assumed the listed status of the television company on Bursa Malaysia. Television has historically been the group’s most visible business. Media Prima operates TV3, NTV7, 8TV and TV9, serving Malay-, English- and Chinese-speaking audiences through general entertainment, news, drama, factual programming, sports and religious content. TV3, launched in 1984 before Media Prima’s formation, was Malaysia’s first private television station and remains a major national broadcaster. The group also owns or operates five radio stations: Kool 101, Fly FM, Eight FM, Hot FM and Molek FM. Media Prima’s print interests are concentrated in The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad, publisher of the New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro. Through Primeworks Studios, the group produces, distributes and commercialises television and other audiovisual content, while also supporting the international licensing and circulation of Malaysian programmes. Its digital operations include the streaming and catch-up service tonton, digital publishing assets associated with Media Prima Digital, and the Audio+ podcast and audio platform. The group expanded beyond conventional broadcasting through acquisitions and partnerships. It developed an out-of-home advertising portfolio through Big Tree Outdoor, UPD and The Right Channel, entered a television partnership in the Philippines through MPB Primedia, and later invested in digital publishers including Rev Asia and Vocket Media. It also created CJ Wow Shop with CJ Group and worked with YouTube, Garena and other partners to extend its content and commercial reach across digital platforms. Media Prima has periodically reorganised its operations in response to advertising-market pressure, changing audience behaviour and the shift from print and linear television toward mobile and online consumption. These measures have included employee separation schemes, printing-operations restructuring, asset disposals and the consolidation of digital activities. As of 2023, the group employed more than 6,000 people across its businesses, including approximately 1,300 in private-sector broadcasting. Its present positioning is that of a broad Malaysian content, audience and advertising ecosystem rather than a single television network.

Media Prima’s heritage is connected to the development of Malaysia’s private broadcasting and newspaper industries. The New Straits Times Press and Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad were previously associated with Fleet Holdings, which had acquired the Malaysian assets of the Singapore-based Straits Times Press Group in 1972. The newspaper assets were consolidated under NSTP in 1973. In 1983, the Malaysian government granted a licence for TV3, which began broadcasting on 1 June 1984 and ended the effective monopoly of government television in the country. TV3 and NSTP later passed through Renong Berhad and were acquired by Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad in 1993. TV3 also led the creation of Mega TV, an early Malaysian pay-television venture launched in the mid-1990s, although that operation was later closed during MRCB’s restructuring. Media Prima itself was incorporated as Profitune Sdn. Bhd. on 27 November 2000. During 2001 and 2002, the company became the corporate vehicle for MRCB’s media restructuring, changed its name to Media Prima and prepared to receive the television and newspaper assets. A court-sanctioned demerger was completed in 2003. Media Prima began operations on 23 September 2003 and assumed the listed status of Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad on Bursa Malaysia in October of that year. The group then pursued a consolidation strategy in television. It acquired Metropolitan TV and relaunched 8TV in January 2004 as the successor to MetroVision. In 2005 it acquired Channel 9 and renamed it TV9, followed by the acquisition of Natseven TV, operator of NTV7. These transactions gave Media Prima ownership of Malaysia’s principal private free-to-air television networks. The company subsequently added outdoor advertising through Big Tree Outdoor, UPD and The Right Channel. From 2007 onward, Media Prima broadened its business into online video, portals, music and content distribution. Primeworks Studios was established in 2008 to manage production and commercial distribution. The group also pursued regional opportunities, including a Philippine television partnership and a content-exchange relationship with Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. Its Philippine venture was divested in 2009. The company continued to develop partnerships around content, distribution and creative-industry training. In 2009 it joined other Southeast Asian broadcasters in the Smart Alliance, while a Disney-ABC programme-distribution agreement expanded the supply of international programming. Media Prima Digital was created in 2012 to coordinate the group’s online operations. It also worked with Malaysian public institutions on creative-industry initiatives and collaborated with Universiti Sains Malaysia on Malay subtitles for selected programmes intended to improve accessibility for hearing-impaired viewers. During the second half of the 2010s, the group responded to digital disruption and pressure on traditional media. It introduced a home-shopping service with CJ Group, restructured printing operations, launched the Ais Kacang podcast service, acquired Rev Asia and invested in Vocket Media. It also formed digital and distribution partnerships with Garena and YouTube. Asset disposals, including newspaper-printing and related property transactions, accompanied the broader shift toward digital publishing and multiplatform distribution. Media Prima remains an active Malaysian media group with interests in television, radio, newspapers, online services, production and advertising. Its scale is built on the combination of national broadcast brands, newspaper readership, digital audiences and ownership of production and distribution capabilities.

1. 2021Ais Kacang becomes Audio+

   The group’s podcast platform was rebranded as Audio+.

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2. 2017Acquires Rev Asia

   The acquisition accelerated the group’s digital-media expansion.

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3. 2012Media Prima Digital is launched

   The group consolidated its digital business under a dedicated unit.

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4. 2008Primeworks Studios is established

   The production and distribution subsidiary was created to develop and commercialise local television content.

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5. 2005Adds TV9 and NTV7

   The acquisitions of Channel 9 and Natseven TV expanded the group’s private television network portfolio.

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6. 20048TV is relaunched

   Media Prima relaunched 8TV as the successor to MetroVision.

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7. 2003Begins operations after media-asset demerger

   The demerger of MRCB’s television and newspaper assets was completed and Media Prima commenced operations.

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8. 2002Adopts the Media Prima name

   Profitune changed its name to Media Prima as it shifted toward media and entertainment.

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9. 2000Incorporated as Profitune

   The company was established as Profitune Sdn. Bhd. with a multimedia and communications focus.

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Integrated Malaysian media and entertainment group combining mass-reach television, radio, national newspaper publishing, digital platforms, content production and advertising.

• TV3Free-to-air television1984

  TV3 is Media Prima’s flagship general-entertainment television network and Malaysia’s first private television station. Launched in 1984, it carries news, drama, entertainment, factual, religious and other locally produced programming for a broad national audience.

• NTV7Free-to-air television

  NTV7 is a Media Prima television network acquired through Natseven TV. Its programming has included general entertainment, news and imported content, contributing to the group’s multi-language and multi-channel broadcast portfolio.

• 8TVFree-to-air television2004

  8TV was relaunched by Media Prima in 2004 as the successor to MetroVision. The channel is associated with entertainment and programming aimed particularly at Chinese-speaking and urban Malaysian audiences.

• TV9Free-to-air television2005

  TV9 is the channel created from Media Prima’s acquisition and rebranding of Channel 9. It forms part of the group’s national free-to-air television portfolio and carries Malay-language entertainment and other programming.

• Radio networkRadio broadcasting

  Media Prima’s radio operations include Kool 101, Fly FM, Eight FM, Hot FM and Molek FM. Together they provide Malay-, English- and Chinese-oriented audio programming, music, news, talk and commercial content.

• New Straits Times PressNewspaper publishing1973

  The New Straits Times Press publishes the New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro. These national news brands give Media Prima a substantial presence in English- and Malay-language print and digital journalism.

• tontonStreaming video2007

  tonton is Media Prima’s over-the-top and catch-up video service. It extends selected television programming to online audiences and supports the group’s transition from linear broadcasting toward on-demand distribution.

• Primeworks StudiosContent production and distribution2008

  Primeworks Studios produces, distributes and sells programmes associated with Media Prima’s television networks. It also helps package Malaysian content for commercial exploitation and international distribution.

• Audio+Podcast and audio2017

  Audio+ is the group’s podcast and audio-content platform, rebranded from Ais Kacang in 2021. It represents Media Prima’s effort to extend its radio and content capabilities into digital audio.

• CJ Wow ShopTelevision commerce2016

  CJ Wow Shop is a home-shopping channel established with CJ Group. It combines television distribution with retail and product-marketing capabilities.

• 2018YouTube Players for Publishers partnership

  Malaysia

  Media Prima worked with YouTube to distribute selected television, radio, newspaper and digital video content through the platform.

  Outcome. Strengthened cross-platform distribution of the group’s content.

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• 2017Garena esports collaboration

  Malaysia

  Media Prima collaborated with Garena to promote esports and distribute related news, tournament coverage and game updates through its television and social-media channels.

  Outcome. Expanded the group’s engagement with gaming audiences and digital entertainment.

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• 2018Dispose selected newspaper and printing assetsStrategy

  The group was restructuring print operations and placing greater emphasis on digital initiatives.

  What changed. Media Prima sold selected NSTP property and printing-related assets while considering operational relocation.

  Aftermath. The disposals supported the group’s transition toward a more digitally oriented media model.

  Sale consideration for Balai Berita site and associated land. RM280 million (2018)

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• 2017Acquire Rev AsiaM&A

  Media Prima sought to accelerate its digital reach and integrate established online-media capabilities.

  What changed. The group agreed to acquire Rev Asia and incorporate it into its digital-media operations.

  Aftermath. The transaction expanded Media Prima’s digital publishing and audience-development footprint.

  Acquisition consideration. RM105 million (2017)

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• 2003Complete the MRCB media-asset demergerStrategy

  MRCB was separating its media operations from its infrastructure and property businesses.

  What changed. Media Prima became the operating and listed vehicle for the separated television and newspaper assets.

  Aftermath. The transaction created an integrated Malaysian media group centred on TV3 and NSTP.

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• 2018Media Prima acquires a stake in Vocket Media

  Through Rev Asia Holdings, the company acquired a 52% interest in digital publisher Vocket Media for RM2.6 million.

  M&A
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• 2018Media Prima partners with YouTube to distribute publisher content

  A partnership under YouTube’s Players for Publishers programme made selected content from the group’s television, radio, newspaper and digital operations available through YouTube.

  Campaign
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• 2017Media Prima acquires Rev Asia

  Media Prima agreed to acquire the Malaysian digital-media startup Rev Asia for RM105 million, integrating it into the group’s digital publishing and audience-development activities.

  M&A
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• 2017Media Prima launches Ais Kacang podcast platform

  The group launched Ais Kacang as a podcast platform; the service was later rebranded Audio+ in 2021.

  Product launch
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• 2016Media Prima and CJ Group launch CJ Wow Shop

  The partners established a home-shopping television venture, extending Media Prima’s activities into televised commerce.

  Product launchM&A
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• 2015Media Prima acquires Ultra FM and Pi Mai FM operator

  The group completed the acquisition of Copyright Laureate, which operated Ultra FM and Pi Mai FM, strengthening its radio portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2014Media Prima introduces a mutual separation scheme

  The company announced a one-time-payment employee separation programme as part of an organisational and operating-cost adjustment.

  Other
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• 2012Media Prima reorganises its digital business

  Media Prima Digital was launched as an expanded digital business unit intended to align and optimise the group’s online activities across platforms.

  Product launch
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• 2009Media Prima divests its stake in TV5 Philippines venture

  The company decided to sell its 70% interest in MPB Primedia to MediaQuest Holdings, ending its principal investment in the Philippine television venture.

  M&A
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• 2008Media Prima establishes Primeworks Studios

  Primeworks Studios was created to oversee production for Media Prima’s television networks and to promote Malaysian programmes to international markets.

  Product launch
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• 2007Media Prima launches digital media initiatives

  The group introduced a catch-up television service and online portals, including gua.com.my and guamuzik.com.my, as part of an effort to build a regional and digital media presence.

  Product launch
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• 2006Media Prima expands into out-of-home advertising

  The group acquired a majority stake in Big Tree Outdoor and full interests in UPD and The Right Channel, broadening its advertising business beyond broadcast and print.

  M&A
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• 2005Media Prima acquires Natseven TV and expands its television portfolio

  The group acquired Natseven TV, operator of NTV7, after earlier acquiring Channel 9, which it subsequently operated as TV9. The transaction made Media Prima the owner of Malaysia’s private free-to-air television networks.

  M&A
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• 2003Media Prima completes the demerger of TV3 and NSTP media assets

  The company began operations after Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad separated its media businesses, including TV3 and The New Straits Times Press, into the Media Prima structure.

  Other
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1. Media Prima
2. Media Prima corporate website