02 December 2005 | MEDIA PRIMA TV NETWORKS ‘PURE MAGIC’: MEDIA PRIMA TV NETWORKS OFFER BETTER PROGRAMMES AND CONTENTS IN 2006!

Kuala Lumpur , December 2, 2005 – Malaysian television viewers can look forward to an exciting line-up of high quality and differentiated content from Media Prima TV networks, comprising TV3, 8TV, ntv7 and Channel 9.

Unveiling the Media Prima Screenings 2006, Media Prima TV Networks Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Farid Ridzuan said the Group would focus on its proven formula of best-of-breed programming content and to bring the best of local and international contents for Malaysian viewers.

Media Prima Bhd Group Managing Director, Encik Abdul Rahman Ahmad said the potential of cross media offering provided by the four stations would provide huge opportunities for its clients to communicate with the television audiences more effectively through the network’s combined reach.

Dato Farid said the 2006 programming line-up would include a combination of new locally produced and syndicated shows, and returning favourites, reaffirming Media Prima’s desire to make its four station offerings the network of choice among Malaysians.

Our objective is to expand the audience share and viewing time across all our four networks in 2006,” he added.

Dato’ Farid said the Group would invest in 2006 about RM200 million in contents and programmes to support its expanded network. In addition, Media Prima would adopt a portfolio segmentation approach, leveraging on the strength and strong brand equity of each station to reach the different market segments more effectively and better serve the media buyers and advertisers.

“Each network will have its own clear positioning and differentiated content to minimize cannibalization of viewers,” he said.

Currently, Dato’ Farid said Media Prima collectively register 48 per cent share of TV viewership.

He also said Channel 9 would resume its service by the first quarter of next year, adding it would focus on young Malays who strongly associate themselves with traditional Malay values.

“We believe the market is ready for a Malay-focused channel after an extensive market research we undertook recently,” he added.

On-ground marketing activities will also play a pivotal and strategic role to support the Group’s business beyond the TV medium. The nationwide Karnival Sure Heboh roadshow, a hit with the rakyat, will involve all four stations.

The other ground activities are Songket – The Regal Heritage (promote and preserve the Songket as an item of regal heritage), Anugerah Juara Lagu, Untukmu Wanita (seminar to empower women and to be held in conjunction with International Woman’s Day) and Junior Sports Carnival.

TV3

Dato’ Farid, who is also TV3 Chief Executive Officer, said TV3, despite intense competition, remained the most popular TV station in Malaysia and the most watched channel even on ASTRO.

“2005 has been another remarkable year in TV3’s 22 years of history. We are No. 1 in every viewer segment – women, kids and teens, and professionals, managers, entrepreneurs and businessmen (PMEB), young working adults and even Chinese.

“It will continue to remain a mass market channel and the voice of the nation,” he added.

“TV3 will also spearhead and pioneer innovations in in-house and local productions in the upcoming season, including new shows like Anita, Misi XX Ray, Dunia Baru.”

8TV

On 8TV, the strategy for next year will continue to focus on best International and Asia, including local Chinese programmes, targeting primarily at the young urban and vernacular audience.

Taking the lead from the highly successful Malaysian Idol and Most Beautiful, 8TV will introduce two Malaysian drama series, reality and KL Lights, a first for 8TV.

“It’s no longer demographic, no longer Chinese, Malay or Indian. It’s all Malaysian,” said Encik Izham Omar, Chief Operating Officer of 8TV.

8TV’s new line-up includes Invasion, Ghost Whisperer, Prison Break, Everybody Hates Chris, Criminal Minds; returning series – Lost, Joey, Alias, Top Model; new drama series – Green Rose, My Lovely Sam Soo, Fashion 70s and Reaching For The Stars; and local Chinese shows – Project Superstar, Top Kid and I Wanna Be A Model.

ntv7

ntv7 will continue to leverage on its strong brand appeal among higher income urban households. For the 2006 season, it will refresh and rejuvenate the “Your Feel Good Channel” branding among its key audiences – urban adults aged 25 and above, Malay urban adults, Chinese urban viewers and urban kids.

The content line-up would include the CSI franchises – CSI, CSI Miami and CSI New York; popular realities – Amazing Race, Fear Factor and Survivor; and comedy favourites – Friends, Scrubs, War at Home and My Name is Earl.

ntv7 also aims to build a strong Malay content for higher income Malay households with the introduction of Kirana – a new brand segment. Similarly, it aims to continue its domination in the kids and teens categories with the best of kids franchises, including Doraemon and popular programmes from Disney and Nickelodeon.

Channel 9

Channel 9 which will be re-launched in the first quarter of 2006, will target young Malays who strongly associate themselves with traditional Malay values.

Dato’ Farid said there was a huge untapped market, adding the market, contrary to current perception, was not limited to rural communities with minimal purchasing power.

He believed Malays with strong tradition values represent nearly 20 per cent of the Malays who were willing and able to spend.

About Media Prima Berhad

Media Prima Bhd, a company listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia, is one of Malaysia’s leading integrated media investment groups.

Media Prima currently owns 100 per cent equity interest in TV3 ( Malaysia’s no. 1 free-to-air television network), 80 per cent equity interest in Metropolitan Television Sdn Bhd (owner and operator of 8TV), 100 per cent equity interest in Natseven TV Sdn Bhd (owner and operator of ntv7) and 100 per cent equity interest in Ch-9 Media Sdn Bhd (owner and operator of Channel 9).

In addition, Media Prima owns 43 per cent equity interest in The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd, one of Malaysia’s largest publishing groups, that publishes leading newspaper titles such as the New Straits Times, Malay Mail, Berita Harian and Harian Metro.

Media Prima also has interests in other media activities, such as radio broadcasting (Max Airplay Sdn Bhd which manages and operates the recently launched Fly.FM), content creation (Grand Brilliance Sdn Bhd), event management (Tiga Events Sdn Bhd) and outdoor advertising (The Right Channel Sdn Bhd).

Outside of Malaysia, Media Prima has a stake in TV3 Network Ltd, Ghana’s leading private free-to-air television network.

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For further information, please contact Ratnawati Jamil/ Muhammad Aziz/ Shaffique Ahmad Zehnun at the Corporate Communications Department. Tel: 03-7726 6333 ext 1319/ 5134/ 5448.