Nation Group
Nation Group is a Thai media company operating news publishing, television, digital media, education, printing, logistics, and entertainment businesses.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Nation Group, formally Nation Group (Thailand) Public Company Limited, is a Thai media and communications company whose origins lie in English-language newspaper publishing. It was established on 1 July 1971 by a group of Thai journalists who launched The Voice of the Nation, an English-language newspaper intended to be owned and managed by Thais. The publication was subsequently renamed The Nation and became the foundation of the group’s news identity, using the motto “Thailand’s Independent Newspaper.” Over time, the company developed from a newspaper publisher into a diversified media group. Its publishing portfolio expanded into Thai-language business journalism through Krungthep Turakij, a mass-market Thai newspaper through Kom Chad Luek, weekly and youth publications, and book and cartoon publishing. The company also entered radio and television, eventually creating Nation Channel, described in the reference material as Thailand’s first 24-hour news television station. In the digital-television era, the group received licenses for Nation TV and NOW 26, later associated with the Spring 26 operation. The group’s business scope extends beyond editorial media. It has operated commercial printing through WPS (Thailand), commercial printing services through Kyodo Nation Printing Services, logistics through NML, an education business through Nation U, and book and entertainment activities through Nation International Edutainment. Its digital operations include online editions, news websites, multimedia publishing, and English-learning content aimed at younger audiences. This combination has allowed Nation Group to distribute news across print, television, radio, websites, and other digital platforms rather than relying on a single medium. Nation Group has also participated in regional media cooperation. It is identified as a founding member of Asia News Network, an alliance of media organizations from Asian countries. The network has provided a framework for sharing regional reporting and maintaining connections among national publishers. The company underwent several corporate-name changes as its activities broadened. It became Nation Publishing Group in 1988 in preparation for listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, adopted the name Nation Multimedia Group Public Company Limited in 1996, and was renamed Nation Group (Thailand) Public Company Limited in 2022. Its SET trading symbol is NATION. A significant ownership and control change occurred in January 2018, when Sontiyan Chuenruetainaidhama, associated with the conservative media outlets T News and INN News, took control of Nation Multimedia Group through a hostile acquisition. The change became relevant to later public debate about the editorial orientation of Nation-affiliated media. During Thailand’s 2020 protests, consumer activists organized a campaign directed at companies advertising with or sponsoring Nation Multimedia Group, alleging that its coverage displayed a pro-establishment bias. The campaign illustrated the political sensitivity of media ownership and editorial positioning in Thailand. In 2019, the group discontinued the printed edition of The Nation, with the final paper issue published on 28 June, and continued the English-language title as an online publication. This marked a major transition from the company’s founding newspaper model toward digital distribution. Nation Group remains structured around Thai business news, general Thai news, English-language news, digital television, education, printing, logistics, and edutainment businesses, although the source material does not provide enough information to characterize the current scale or financial performance of each unit.
History
Nation Group was founded on 1 July 1971 by Thai journalists who launched The Voice of the Nation, an English-language newspaper. The publication was later renamed The Nation and established the company’s long-running identity as a Thai-owned English-language news organization. Its early development was tied to the expansion of locally controlled journalism in Thailand. In 1976, Business Review Company was established to publish The Nation Review, a predecessor of The Nation. The group broadened into Thai-language business news in 1987 with the launch of Krungthep Turakij, a daily newspaper focused on business and economic reporting. In 1988, the company adopted the name Nation Publishing Group Company Limited as part of preparations for listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. It also secured licenses in 1990 to print and distribute The Asian Wall Street Journal and Yomiuri Shimbun in Thailand. The company continued expanding its media channels in the 1990s. Nation Radio was established in 1992, alongside the launch of Nation Weekender and Nation Junior. In 1996, the corporate name changed to Nation Multimedia Group Public Company Limited, reflecting a move beyond newspapers. The group entered 24-hour television news in 2000 with Nation Channel and launched Kom Chad Luek, a Thai-language mass-circulation daily, in 2001. Nation Books was established in 2002 as the company developed a larger paperback and publishing business. Printing and institutional expansion followed. WPS (Thailand) was established in 2005 to manage printing activities, while Kyodo Nation Printing Services began commercial printing operations in 2006. In 2011, Nation U was established to operate Nation University, giving the group an education arm. In 2013, the company received licenses for two digital television services, NOW 26 and Nation TV, strengthening its position in broadcast media during Thailand’s transition to digital television. The group’s regional role includes founding membership in Asia News Network, an alliance of Asian media organizations. Its portfolio has included Thai business news, general Thai news, English-language news, television, radio, books, cartoons, youth content, digital platforms, education, printing, and logistics. The organization has therefore functioned as an integrated media house rather than only as a newspaper publisher. Control of the company changed in January 2018, when Sontiyan Chuenruetainaidhama took over Nation Multimedia Group in a hostile acquisition. His media interests included the conservative outlets T News and INN News. The change became important in public discussions concerning the political orientation and editorial independence of Nation-affiliated media. The group’s transition toward digital distribution became especially visible in 2019, when it ended the printed daily edition of The Nation. The last paper issue was dated 28 June, after which the English-language title continued as an online publication. During Thailand’s 2020 protests, consumer activists organized a campaign against companies sponsoring Nation Multimedia Group, alleging that the group’s reporting favored the establishment. The episode demonstrated how media brands, advertisers, ownership, and political polarization had become closely connected in Thailand. In 2022, the company changed its name from Nation Multimedia Group Public Company Limited to Nation Group (Thailand) Public Company Limited. The group remains associated with Nation TV, Thai-language news operations, digital publishing, education, printing, logistics, and edutainment. The available reference material does not establish its current executive roster, detailed financial position, or the precise present status of every historical business unit.
- 2022
Nation Group name adopted
[1]The company changed its name to Nation Group (Thailand) Public Company Limited.
- 2019
The Nation moves online
[1]The printed daily edition of The Nation ended, with the newspaper continuing as an online publication.
- 2018
Hostile acquisition
[1]Sontiyan Chuenruetainaidhama took over Nation Multimedia Group through a hostile acquisition.
- 2013
Digital television licenses received
[1]The company received licenses for the NOW 26 and Nation TV digital television channels.
- 2011
Nation University operating company established
[1]Nation U was established to operate Nation University.
- 2006
Kyodo Nation Printing Services launched
[1]The group entered commercial printing services through Kyodo Nation Printing Services.
- 2005
WPS printing unit established
[1]WPS (Thailand) was established to handle printing operations.
- 2002
Nation Books established
[1]Nation Books was established to develop the company’s paperback and book-publishing activities.
- 2001
Kom Chad Luek launched
[1]The group launched Kom Chad Luek, a Thai-language mass-circulation newspaper.
- 2000
Nation Channel begins broadcasting
[1]Nation Channel began broadcasting as a 24-hour news television service.
Products and positioning
A broad Thai news and information group combining newspapers, television, digital media, education, publishing, printing, and logistics. Its heritage is associated with independent English-language journalism, while its portfolio also includes Thai business, general-interest, and mass-circulation news.
English-language newspaper and digital news · 1971
The Nation
The Nation is the group’s historically central English-language news title. It developed from The Voice of the Nation and was associated with the motto “Thailand’s Independent Newspaper.” The printed daily was discontinued in June 2019, after which the publication continued in digital form.
Thai-language business newspaper · 1987
Krungthep Turakij
Krungthep Turakij is a Thai-language daily business newspaper launched in 1987. It forms the core of the group’s Thai business-news operation and covers economic, corporate, financial, and public-policy subjects.
Thai-language mass-circulation newspaper · 2001
Kom Chad Luek
Kom Chad Luek is a Thai-language general-news newspaper launched in 2001. It was developed as a mass-circulation title and represents the group’s general Thai news business alongside its business and English-language publications.
Digital television news channel · 2013
Nation TV
Nation TV is the group’s principal digital television news operation. The channel emerged from Nation Group’s earlier television activities and received a digital television license in 2013, extending the company’s news distribution from print and radio into the digital-broadcast environment.
24-hour news television · 2000
Nation Channel
Nation Channel began broadcasting in 2000 as a 24-hour news television station. It represented one of the group’s major moves into continuous broadcast news and helped establish its multimedia identity.
Book publishing · 2002
Nation Books
Nation Books was established in 2002 to support demand for paperback publishing. The unit sits within the group’s broader book, cartoon, and edutainment activities.
Higher education · 2011
Nation University
Nation University is the group’s education activity, operated through Nation U, which was established in 2011. Its inclusion broadened Nation Group beyond media production into education and knowledge services.
English-learning multimedia
NJ Digital
NJ Digital is a youth-oriented multimedia English-learning offering associated with Nation Group’s international and edutainment activities. The product combines educational content with digital publishing rather than functioning solely as a conventional newspaper.
Controversies
2020
Political-bias controversy and sponsor boycott campaign
Nation Multimedia Group faced consumer activism during the 2020 Thai protests. Activists criticized what they described as the group’s pro-establishment bias and campaigned against its sponsors. The available source describes the controversy but does not provide a definitive adjudication of the allegations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Consumer activism against Nation Group sponsors
Thailand
During Thailand’s 2020 protests, consumer activists urged the public to target companies that sponsored Nation Multimedia Group. The campaign was driven by allegations that the group’s coverage reflected a pro-establishment bias.
Outcome. The available reference does not establish a definitive financial or operational outcome, but the campaign brought advertiser relationships and perceived editorial alignment into public debate.
Brand decisions
2022
Corporate renaming to Nation GroupOtherBackground
The company had previously used names reflecting its transition from newspaper publishing to multimedia operations.
Action taken
Nation Multimedia Group Public Company Limited was renamed Nation Group (Thailand) Public Company Limited.
Aftermath
The new name aligned the listed company’s corporate identity with the Nation brand used across its media and related businesses.
2019
Discontinuation of The Nation print editionStrategyBackground
The group’s English-language newspaper faced the broader shift from printed news toward online distribution.
Action taken
The company ended the printed daily edition of The Nation after the 28 June issue and continued the title online.
Aftermath
The decision marked a significant change in the group’s historic newspaper model and emphasized digital delivery for the English-language title.
2013
Expansion into digital televisionStrategyBackground
Thailand’s move toward digital television created an opportunity for established news publishers and broadcasters to obtain new channel licenses.
Action taken
Nation Group obtained licenses for NOW 26 and Nation TV.
Aftermath
The licenses expanded the group’s television presence and added digital broadcasting to its newspaper, radio, and online operations.
Sources1 sources
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