OVERVIEW

Media Prima Berhad (MPB), the largest integrated media investment group in Malaysia, was listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia (the Malaysian Stock Exchange) on 22 October 2003.

The Group has a diversified interest in both the electronic (TV and radio) and print media apart from content development, events management and outdoor advertising.

MPB’s origins date back to 1983 when shareholders of The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad (NSTP) launched TV3, the nation’s first private TV network, in June 1984. TV3 subsequently went public in April 1988 and was placed together with NSTP under the holding of Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad. These media assets were unbundled and established under a separate holding company, MPB, in September 2003.

After 8TV was added to MPB’s portfolio the following year, the Group consolidated its leadership in the broadcast industry further with the acquisitions of two more TV networks – ntv7 and TV9 in 2005, bringing the total to four free-to-air TV networks in Malaysia.

MPB also has interests outside Malaysia and the 1997 venture in TV3 Ghana, which has since emerged as Ghana’s preferred free-to-air TV network, has proven to be a strategic expansion of its media assets. Besides the TV networks, it also has a 43 per cent equity interest in NSTP, one of Malaysia’s largest publishing groups that publishes leading newspaper titles such as the New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro.

The Group also owns two radio networks, Fly FM and Hot FM. MPB acquired Perintis Layar Sdn Bhd, the holding company of Max Airplay Sdn Bhd (“Max”) on 29 April 2005. Max has been awarded the right to manage, operate and maintain a radio station by Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd. Having made a record of sorts by becoming the first radio station in the world to be located in an airport when it began broadcasting in October 2005, Fly FM is fast becoming a real hit among its target listeners with its tagline, “It's All About the Music”. As Malaysia's fastest growing English radio station enjoying the highest increase for any English radio station with a 60 per cent gain to record a listenership of 639,000 listeners, Fly FM is now ranked No. 2 English format radio station. On Fly FM, advertisements are innovative, less cluttered and targeted to the right audience through lifestyle-driven personalities. Fly FM provides an integrated marketing plan with other Media Prima group's channels to maximize clients' reach and frequency, with options to focus on spot buy campaigns, venturing into a creative sales promo with the station plus other media such as SMS, website and on-ground daily promotions team by its "Fly FM Troopers".

Synchrosound Studio Sdn Bhd, the license owner of Hot FM, was acquired by MPB on 30 December 2005.

Hot FM is the fastest growing local Malay radio station, having captured 2.9 million listeners within 8 weeks of its launch on 1 February 2006. Aimed at young urban Malay listeners with a tagline “Lebih Hangat Daripada Biasa” (Hotter than Usual ), Hot FM is now rated Malaysia 's overall No. 2 radio network - an impressive track record achieved within 2 months of its debut on the airwaves. According to latest survey data released by Nielsen Media Research, listenership for Hot FM rose significantly by nearly 300,000 listeners or 8 per cent to nearly 4.3 million listeners. Affirming its position as the nation’s No.2 radio station. Operating within the group's broadcasting heart, Sri Pentas, Hot FM is able to offer creative and integrated marketing solutions with other electronic and print media to maximize clients' reach and frequency. Cross-promotional activities including SMS, website and on-ground daily promotions team (Hot FM Zoomerz) can also be extended to other channels.

Other cross media interests of Media Prima include content creation (Grand Brilliance Sdn Bhd), events management (Big Events Sdn Bhd) and outdoor advertising (Big Tree Outdoor Sdn Bhd, UPD Sdn Bhd and The Right Channel Sdn Bhd).

MPB’s media platforms offer unparalleled and cost-efficient reach to advertisers, seeking to target different market segments. Collectively, MPB’s media assets currently reach close to 22 million Malaysians daily, including 11.2 million television viewers, 6.8 million newspaper readers and 3.5 million radio listeners.

TV3 boasts 44 per cent share of advertising expenditure (ADEX) and 32 per cent share of television viewers across FTA and Pay-TV networks based on data for 2007. Into its fiftth year of operations, 8TV has grown to 16 per cent share of ADEX and 5 per cent share of television viewers.

NSTP has also made significant inroads in the print media. New Straits Times continues to improve after going fully compact in April 2005, enabling it to achieve an eight per cent increase in sales in 2005. Berita Harian has emerged as the No. 1 Bahasa Malaysia newspaper while Harian Metro is now the leading Bahasa Malaysia tabloid.

Recently, the Group completed the acquisitions of three outdoor media companies, The Right Channel Sdn Bhd (TRC), UPD Sdn Bhd (UPD) and Big Tree Outdoor Sdn Bhd (BTO).

BTO is the leading outdoor advertising outfit in Malaysia. It has prominent presence along Malaysia’s key expressways, transportation hubs and retail and shopping malls in Malaysia.

UPD is primarily engaged as an outdoor media company providing advertisers with out-of-home advertising solutions and owns over 2,400 active outdoor advertising panels nationwide and holds a long-term concession on STAR Light Rail Transit. It owns strategic sites including within the Kuala Lumpur inner city areas which would complement BTO’s expressway and retail business.

TRC’s principal activities are managing, selling and maintaining outdoor advertisements from billboards to transit advertising. TRC also owns the concession for the KLIA ERL trains and the retail advertising panels at Alam Sentral shopping mall, as well as outdoor sites along the Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong and in the Kuala Lumpur inner city area.

Outside of Malaysia, Media Prima has a controlling stake in TV3 Network Ltd , Ghana’s leading private television station.

MILESTONES