Malaysia Media Industry

Additional Information

The media industry can be categorized into three segments: print, broadcast and new media. There are currently 6 major publications in Malaysia with Sin Chew Daily and Harian Metro having the highest circulation in the entire industry. The Malay papers tend to have the highest readers per copy due to their larger-than-average family sizes compared to English and Chinese newspapers. The public-listed broadcasting companies, namely pay-TV Astro All Asia Networks plc and Free-to-Air TV Media Prima Berhad together contributed 0.8% of the total market capitalization on Bursa Malaysia (Malaysia Stock Exchange). According to Nielson Media Research, radio listenership remains high in Malaysia, reaching out to 92% of the total population. As at end 2008, Malaysia had a total of 17 radio stations.

Traditional media such as newspapers continue to receive its lion’s share of advertising expenditure (adex) in 2008, closely followed by television and radio medium. In the years ahead, television is expected to gradually take adex market share from the print segment due to the improving quality of programming and relaxation of Made-in-Malaysia ruling since 2003.