Media Prima
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Media Prima Berhad is the largest media corporation in Malaysia. Through its subsidiaries, it controls several television networks, newspapers and a radio station. The company was established and launched on 23 September 2003 and is linked to Malaysia's ruling party UMNO.
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[edit] History
The group was created out of the de-merger of Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad's media assets, namely Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (which runs the TV3 television network) and the New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad. The corporate restructuring exercise was completed in August 2003, paving the way for Media Prima's launch the following month. It assumed the listing status of Sistem Televisyen Malaysia on the Main Board of the Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad.
Media Prima shortly acquired an 80% stake in Metropolitan TV Sendirian Berhad, which owned a Content Application Service Provider (CASP) licence that permitted it to open a television station. On January 8, 2004, Metropolitan TV launched the 8TV television station.
Later on April 29, Media Prima acquired Perintis Layar Sendirian Berhad (PL). PL owns 75% of the shares of Max-Airplay Sendirian Berhad. Max-Airplay had earlier been given the right to open a radio station by Malaysia Airports Sepang, which holds a CASP licence for radio broadcasting. On June 30, the company began test transmissions in the Klang Valley before going nationwide with its full programming line-up on October 3 as the FLYfm radio station. Its Chief Operating Officer, Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, called its main attraction "the return of Fly Guy," who had previously been a deejay on the breakfast show on another radio station.
On June 10, Media Prima announced it had secured a 98% equity share for RM49 million in Ch-9 Media Sendirian Berhad, which runs the Channel 9 television network. The channel had closed operations earlier in 2005 for corporate restructuring. Media Prima announced it will be resume broadcasting by April 22, 2006.
In July of 2005, the company announced it was assisting Natseven TV Sendirian Berhad, Synchrosound Studio Sendirian Berhad and Questseven Dot Com Sendirian Berhad in undertaking "a corporate and debt restructuring scheme". In a press statement, the company also said it would "identify areas where both groups can form strategic alliance to work together." Natseven TV operates the NTV7 television network, while Synchrosound Studios and Questseven are the license-holders and operators of the WowFM radio station.
Soon to follow on October 27 was the disclosure that Media Prima had acquired 100% of the shares in Natseven TV for RM90 million. This acquisition brought Media Prima's share of television viewership to 48%, and made Media Prima the owner of all private free-to-air television networks in Malaysia.
[edit] Market share
As of 2005, Media Prima is the biggest media group in Malaysia, controlling approximately 48% of Malaysia television viewership, with its closest rival the pay-television satellite operator, Astro, which has a market share of roughly 20 to 30%. Media Prima also owns the Fly FM and Hot FM radio stations.
As owner of the New Straits Times Press (NSTP), Media Prima also controls English newspapers like the New Straits Times and the Malay Mail, as well as Malay newspapers like the Berita Harian. Media Prima claims the newspapers of the NSTP hold 50% of the newspaper market share in Malaysia, with daily readership of more than two million. However, independent surveys often showed the stable of papers lagged far behind the English-language daily The Star and the competing Malay newspaper Utusan Malaysia in readership and revenues.
[edit] Major investors and ownership
As of 2005, the Malaysia Employees Provident Fund (EPF) holds 14.9% of the Media Prima shares. The UMNO-linked Malaysia Resources Corporation Berhad owns a substantial portion of Media Prima as well.[1]
[edit] List of Media Prima Networks
[edit] Television
[edit] Radio
- Hot FM
- Fly FM
[edit] Press
- New Straits Times Press (NSTP)
- Berita Harian Sdn Bhd
- Berita Publishing Sdn Bhd
[edit] TV productions
- Grand Brilliance Sdn. Bhd (GBSB)
[edit] Trivia
In 1991, the "TV3 7:00 News" and the "TV3 Buletin Utama" were chosen to be Malaysia's news entries for the American cable TV network Scola, which carries news programs from around the world. The two TV3 news programs aired on alternating days in Scola's schedule.
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Central Elections Committee, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (2006). "Sham Democracy: A Report on Malaysian Elections", p. 19. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
[edit] Other references
- "TV9 to Commence Broadcast In April 2006". Retrieved Mar. 17, 2006.
- "Fly FM Unveils Full Content and Programming". Retrieved Oct. 29, 2005.
- "Media Prima Acquires Feel Good Station NTV7". Retrieved Oct. 28, 2005.
- "Media Prima Enters Into Collaboration and Assistance Agreement With NTV7". Retrieved Oct. 29, 2005.
- "Media Prima is about people, focus and passion". Retrieved Oct. 28, 2005.
- "Media Prima Takes Over Channel 9". Retrieved Oct. 28, 2005.
- "Media Prima to Buy Perintis Layar". Retrieved Oct. 29, 2005.
- Netto, Anil (Aug. 30, 2005). Making Media Monopolies. Inter Press Service News Agency.
- Netto, Anil (Sep. 05, 2005). Media Prima - rise of a media monopoly. Malaysiakini.
- Puah, Pauline (Oct. 27, 2005). Media giant monopolises free-to-air TV. Malaysiakini.
