2012 Annual Report - Media Prima Berhad

Media Prima Berhad
Chairman’s
Statement
8
annual
report
2012
At MPB we believe in providing the right
ecosystem to support the army of creative
talents and workers that we have. Creating a
conducive ecosystem is critical for a company
like us. After all, we are dealing with creative
people, not the factory-line system where all
products must be created equal. We support
the government’s view that in order to produce
a globally competitive, creative and innovative
workforce, we have to create the right
ecosystem. In fact, the culture for innovation is
a critical element in one of the eight core
values of the 1Malaysia principle.
Perhaps it is a cliché to speak about thinking“
out of the box”. Seriously, to us, it is forever
relevant. In the industry that we are in, we like
to pride ourselves as niche-busters, not just
thinking about creating blockbusters. We need
killer programmes. We need TV events that
will forever etched in the consciousness of the
people. We need more Jejak Rasul, now in its
17th year (debuted in January 1996), probably
the most successful documentary programme
in the history of this nation. We have series
like Wanita Hari Ini, Nona, Majalah 3 and 999
which are signature programmes for TV3 and
TV9’s religious fares, Raudah Dihatiku,
Tanyalah Ustaz, Tanyalah Ustazah and Halaqah
with their massive followings. More importantly,
these religious programmes portray Islam as a
progressive religion in line with the middle
path – wasatiah – taken by the government.
In a niche market, perhaps we need the idea
of boutique TV too. Or a radio station with a
difference. We have proven how we propelled
the outdoor advertisement company to greater
heights by setting new standards. And placing
the importance of content in our best selling
newspaper, Harian Metro (HM). We have
proven how some of our TV programmes
have survived the test of times. And how our
highly rated Buletin Utama (BU) at 8.00 p.m.
has massive followings night after night. Or
some of our newly launched dramas and
documentaries are making viewers glued to
the box.
“Setting new standards” is the mantra we have
set ourselves to achieve. The truth is we have
no other choice. We have been leading in
almost all our platforms. We lead the newspaper
business in terms of circulation numbers and
readership with our newspapers. HM is
currently the biggest selling newspaper and
read by at least four million readers every day.
TV3 is still the leader in the broadcast realm,
garnering a respectable 26% of total TV
viewership. ntv7 is the number one urban TV
channel and 8TV is the most watched Chinese
channel. TV9, despite being new, is carving its
own name and redefining a niche market of its
own. It is the younger version of TV3, but at
TV9, they like to see themselves as a station in
its own right, with a nuance, style and look that
is uniquely theirs. While TV3 caters for the
mass market, TV9 positions itself for a younger,
hipper and stylish Malay audience.
MPB has been experimenting with the
utilisation of all platforms in providing content,
a possibility of consuming them in a “however”,
“where-ever” and “when-ever” manner
as mentioned above. It is in fact seeing results.
The collaboration between print and broadcast
journalism, radio and TV and online and social
media applications has in fact rewritten the
rules of engagement in the mediasphere.
Just look at our Tonton, another proud
addition to our digital media alternatives,
overseen by Media Prima Digital. Since
officially launched in August 2010, it has
developed into a world-class viewing
experience. It heralds a new dimension in
digital media space. We too were surprised as
to the response to Tonton. Currently it has
over 2.8 million registered visitors and we
believe it is the hottest video portal in town.
Tonton’s technological features are superb
and little wonder with a 28-year library of TV3
programmes and latest offerings from all over
the world, not to mention made-for-Tonton
content that it continues to lead. It is also
available on smart devices. Tonton is a mustwatch
portal and is testimony to MPB’s
investment in its belief in a future where
content is to be available anywhere, anyhow
and anytime to everyone.
We are proud of the fact that, at any time of
the day, our products, contents and services
are watched, seen, heard and surfed. We like
to say, we reach out to 25 million Malaysians
every single day.
That is our mark of achievement. Our totem
pole of excellence. The standard that we set
for ourselves.