Media Prima en route to becoming leading digital-first content and commerce company

Media Prime records 89% revenue increase in total digital and commerce revenue

Media Prima Berhad is confident that results derived from strategic initiatives implemented during the financial year ended 31 December 2017 including an 89% digital and commerce revenue increase will accelerate the Group’s transformation into a leading digital-first content and commerce company.

“We are pleased with the encouraging outcome of our transformation efforts and we exceeded many of our FY2017 targets ahead of schedule.

“We will remain focus on honing our competitive advantage in the digital media landscape while keeping a close watch on our traditional media segments,” said Tan Sri Ismee Ismail, Group Chairman of Media Prima.

“Our achievements to date underscore the progress of our transformation plan and fuels our confidence in Media Prima’s future.

“Last year, we continued to dominate the digital space with our award-winning content. We believe the Group has established much-needed foundations to grow further,” said Datuk Kamal Khalid, Group Managing Director.

Media Prima recorded RM193 million in digital and commerce revenue driven by the increase in demand for digital advertising, rising popularity of digital content and growing e-commerce among consumers.

Media Prima ventured into digital and consumer-based businesses that complemented its traditional media segments under its business transformation plan, Odyssey, in 2016.

The plan enabled the Group to generate new and sustainable revenue streams across its media platforms that include television, print, radio, out-of-home advertising, content production and digital.

Among the new business initiatives that performed well in FY2017 include CJ Wow Shop. Media Prima’s home shopping business continues to gain traction with a customer base of 640,000 shoppers and total sales of RM130 million for the year.

Meanwhile, the Group’s education portal FullAMark, reached over 5,000 subscribers with a 52% conversion rate from registered to paid subscribers, a significant increase from a 15% conversion rate in 2016.

Media Prima Television Network’s tonton, Malaysia’s pioneer over-the-top (“OTT”) service, expanded its reach to Brunei and Singapore, with more plans to expand regionally.

Revenue generated from tonton in FY2017 increased by 38% on the back of higher user subscription to the service as compared to a year ago.

The popular OTT service – which has over 7.6 million registered users to date and continues to grow by 15,000 users weekly – recorded a significant increase of 84% in hours watched and 104% increase in average watch time.

Media Prima’s Primeworks Studios (PWS) secured deals with the world’s leading OTT provider Netflix, which bought over 45 titles comprising of Chinese drama series, and Malay films and drama series.

PWS also increased its audience reach through the distribution of local content overseas including its popular animated series, Ejen Ali, which was sold to over 45 countries.

The year under review saw Media Prima rank third in Malaysia behind Google and Facebook in digital reach after the acquisition of Rev Asia Holdings Sdn Bhd, one of Southeast Asia’s leading digital media companies, by Media Prima Digital.

Media Prima reached a monthly digital audience reach of 11.1 million in November last year.

The rapid increase in digital reach is also attributed to the implementation of digital-first strategies across the Group.

The strategy has benefitted The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad (“NSTP”) as it aims to capitalise on the growing demand for digital news content. NSTP’s online news portals are Malaysia’s industry leaders according to ComScore Inc’s data as at December 2017 with Harian Metro in pole position with 4.7 million monthly unique visitors and BH in second place with 3.9 million.

New Straits Times’ website reached 1.3 million monthly unique visitors last year.

As Media Prima rapidly embarks on digital-driven business strategies, its traditional media platforms continued to deliver substantial revenue to the Group.

Revenue from Media Prima’s Out-of-Home advertising business increased by 6% against the corresponding year, contributed by higher yield from digitalised sites.

Nonetheless, the continued challenging operating environment faced by media companies in Malaysia has impacted the industry.

The drop in total advertising expenditure for the year resulted in lower revenues for Media Prima’s television, print and radio platforms.