Can Media Prima take on Malaysia Today and Malaysiakini?

This is a piece I wrote for Asia Times about Media Prima’s intention to plunge into the Internet in a big way, ostensibly to diversify its revenue base and tap into on-line advertising revenue. Telekom Malaysia is spending billions to prepare the ground with high-speed broadband around the country. Though the main focus of Media Prima - which owns TV3, ntv7, 8TV and TV9; yes all the private stations! - appears to be entertainment, it also recognises that news is going to be crucial. Will the combined resources of Harian Metro (the country’s top selling newspaper), Berita Harian and New Straits Times prove more than a match for independent websites such as Malaysia Today and Malaysiakini?

Malaysian media giant grasps for Internet
By Anil Netto

PENANG - The media battle for Malaysian hearts and minds, pitting the government-controlled print and electronic media against critical Internet websites and blogs, is heating up in the run-up to general elections. Now, Malaysia’s largest private media conglomerate, Media Prima, has unveiled big investment plans to generate Internet content, a revenue diversification strategy aimed at getting a larger slice of the growing on-line advertising pie. For the full article, click here.

4 Responses to “Can Media Prima take on Malaysia Today and Malaysiakini?”

  1. Is Media Prima ready to report news in a more balanced manner on the net? If not then we should avoid it like the plague. : )

  2. The proof of the media is in the reading, seeing, hearing.
    Give it an try with an open mind, then decide whether to accept it or reject it.

  3. take over malaysiakini? good heavens! i hope not. certainly not. not for any UMNO controlled company.

    Not “take over” - but “take on” meaning “compete with”…cheers, Anil

  4. nO WITH TM INVOLVED..AND THE CURRENT MONOPOLISTIC CHOKE ON THIS BY THE UMNO GOVERNMENT…SORRY MATE..

    ALREADY THE OTHER GUYS LIKE MAXIS, DIGI ARE PLAYING SECOND FIDDLE TO TM….

    NOW IF ONLY THE PLAYING FIELD IS LEVEL???

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