The Straits Times
The Straits Times is Singapore's flagship English-language daily newspaper, founded in 1845 and published by SPH Media Limited, delivering news, multimedia, podcasts, newsletters, and educational content to Singaporean readers and international audiences via myST+ subscriptions, advertising, and live events.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1845
- HeadquartersSingapore, Singapore
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The Straits Times does
The Straits Times is Singapore's flagship English-language daily newspaper, founded in 1845 and published by SPH Media Limited (Co. Regn. No. 202120748H), a publicly listed company on the Singapore Exchange. Headquartered in Singapore with 1,001-5,000 employees, the publication operates across print, web, mobile, e-paper, podcast, newsletter, and live-event channels under dedicated Singapore and International editions, serving general news readers, business professionals, students and parents, and young Singaporeans.
The core technology is a multi-channel digital news platform combining a content-rich website (straitstimes.com), a mobile app, an e-paper replica, multiple podcasts, an RSS distribution layer, and over ten segmented newsletters. Specialized newsroom functions include an Interactive Graphics Editor, Visualization desk, Picture Editor, and an Audience Lab team, supporting award-winning multimedia storytelling (109 awards at the Society for News Design Creative Competition 2026, including 4 gold medals) and SOPA, INMA, and WAN-IFRA recognition. Adjacent products include the PSLE Companion educational microsite, the 'What's The News?' quiz competition, InvestMe financial literacy initiative, Scholars' Choice scholarship platform, and the premium myST+ subscription.
The business model blends recurring subscription revenue (myST+ digital and print), display and programmatic advertising across owned channels, branded content and native advertising, and ticketed educational and cultural events such as the PSLE Prep Forum and the Sing60 Music Festival. Revenue for The Straits Times is not separately disclosed within the SPH Media group, and growth is being pursued through vertical diversification (education, financial literacy, youth engagement) and experiential channels (live podcast events, music festivals) alongside the legacy print and digital subscription base.
The Straits Times firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Straits Times
- Legal name
- SPH Media Limited
- Website
- https://straitstimes.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1845
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- The Straits Times is Singapore's flagship English-language daily newspaper, founded in 1845 and published by SPH Media Limited, delivering news, multimedia, podcasts, newsletters, and educational content to Singaporean readers and international audiences via myST+ subscriptions, advertising, and live events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Straits Times industry classification
Industry- Product category
- News Media and Digital Journalism
- NAICS
- Newspaper Publishers (513110)
- SIC
- Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)
Keywords
Where The Straits Times is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Singapore
- HQ country
- Singapore
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Straits Times business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Digital and Print Subscriptions: Subscription revenue from myST+ digital and print subscriptions offering exclusive stories, in-depth analyses, and award-winning multimedia content
- Advertising: Display advertising across website, e-paper, newsletters, and podcasts; including branded content and sponsored articles
- Branded Content / Native Advertising: Sponsored content partnerships with brands presented as branded content articles on topics like travel, health, finance, and lifestyle
- Events and Competitions: Revenue from ticketed educational forums, competitions, and live podcast events; also attracts sponsorship from partners like government agencies and corporations
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | myST+ Subscription |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Straits Times product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Straits Times is a multi-platform English-language news publication delivering daily journalism on Singapore, Asia, and global events through its website, e-paper, mobile app, podcasts, and newsletters. It operates a premium subscription (myST+) alongside advertising, branded content, events, and educational products such as PSLE Companion and the What's The News? competition.
Product overview
The Straits Times is Singapore's flagship English newspaper offering a multi-platform news operation. The product portfolio includes the core digital news website (straitstimes.com), premium subscription service (myST+), educational products (PSLE Companion, What's The News? competition, Scholars' Choice, InvestMe), multimedia content (ST Podcasts, E-Paper), and a suite of newsletters targeting different audience segments (Morning Briefing, Headstart, ST Food, Asian Insider). The company also organizes events like the PSLE Prep Forum and publishes branded content through partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ST: Abbreviated brand name used for The Straits Times content and competitions
- PSLE Companion
- What's The News?
- ST Podcasts
- InvestMe
- PSLE Prep Forum
- Scholars' Choice
- Study Smart
Products and services
- myST+ Subscription
Quantifiable outcome
- 109 awards won at Society for News Design Creative Competition 2026, including record 4 gold medals
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Straits Times
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Straits Times technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Straits Times partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Mind Stretcher Education CentrecoreEducation expert Moses Soh of Mind Stretcher demonstrates AI-powered tools like CompoCoach for composition practice at ST's PSLE Prep Forum, providing educational content for students and parents.
- BlueTree EducationcoreEducation expert Jolene Ang of BlueTree Education teaches parents how to help children avoid common thinking traps in Science at ST's PSLE Prep Forum.
- Minister of State for Education and Digital Development and InformationcoreMinister Jasmin Lau presented awards at ST's 'What's The News?' quiz competition finals, providing government endorsement for youth education initiatives.
- Central Narcotics BureaucoreCNB partnered with The Straits Times for the 'What's The News?' competition, featuring gamified challenges testing current affairs knowledge and strategic thinking while promoting anti-drug awareness among youth.
- PSLE NinjacorePSLE Companion extended its free trial partnership with online revision tool PSLE Ninja through the end of May, providing additional digital resources for PSLE preparation.
- Ministry of Education SingaporecoreMOE supported the 'What's The News?' current affairs competition for students, providing institutional backing and enabling participation from schools across Singapore. The competition engaged over 7,400 students from more than 70 educational institutions.
- Scholars' Choice Platform PartnersminorOver 40 organizations participated in the Scholars' Choice outreach event organized by SPH Media and The Straits Times to provide scholarship information for A-level graduates.
- The Rice Company LimitedmajorCo-organized Sing60 Music Festival at Fort Canning Park featuring over 60 home-grown musical acts and drawing 11,000 attendees over two days.
- Global Cultural AlliancemajorCo-organized Sing60 Music Festival at Fort Canning Park featuring over 60 home-grown musical acts and drawing 11,000 attendees over two days.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Straits Times competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Mothership: Leading digital-native Singapore news publisher with strong social media reach among younger audiences. Emerging competitor for ST's 15-35 demographic and digital advertising share.
- The Edge Singapore: Singapore-based business and investment news outlet. Partial overlap: covers Singapore business audience that also overlaps with ST's Business section readership.
Direct peers
- Channel NewsAsia: Mediacorp's flagship English-language 24-hour news outlet combining broadcast, digital and social. Direct regional English-language news rival targeting Singapore and Southeast Asia professionals.
- The Business Times: Singapore-based English-language daily also published under SPH Media, covering business and financial news. Direct comparable: sister flagship within the same parent group targeting overlapping English-speaking Singapore professional readership.
- Lianhe Zaobao: SPH Media's flagship Chinese-language newspaper covering Singapore. Sister publication within same parent; comparable scale, multi-platform distribution, and event business, but serves Chinese-speaking readership.
- TODAY Online: Mediacorp-owned English-language daily in Singapore pivoted to digital-first. Direct comparable: competing Singapore English daily targeting similar general-interest reader base.
- South China Morning Post: Hong Kong-based English-language daily covering Asia with strong digital subscriptions business. Direct comparable: regional English-language newspaper with subscription-led model and international ambitions.
Regional players
- The Edge Malaysia: English-language business news outlet across the causeway covering Malaysia and Singapore. Adjacent geographic peer: regional English-language publisher with overlapping Asian business coverage audience.
Broad incumbents
- The Japan Times: Japan's largest English-language daily covering regional news with subscription model. Comparable as an established English-language national newspaper in an Asian market transitioning from print to digital.
- The Guardian (Asia edition): UK-headquartered English-language global newspaper with strong digital subscriptions and Asia coverage. Comparable as established national-origin newspaper that has expanded internationally via digital subscriptions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Straits Times social profiles
Digital presenceThe Straits Times financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Straits Times leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
The Straits Times funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Straits Times M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Straits Times
What does The Straits Times do?
The Straits Times is a multi-platform English-language news publication delivering daily journalism on Singapore, Asia, and global events through its website, e-paper, mobile app, podcasts, and newsletters. It operates a premium subscription (myST+) alongside advertising, branded content, events, and educational products such as PSLE Companion and the What's The News? competition.
Is The Straits Times a public or private company?
The Straits Times is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was The Straits Times founded?
The Straits Times was founded in 1845. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is The Straits Times based?
The Straits Times is headquartered in Singapore, Singapore, in the Asia region.
How does The Straits Times make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Digital and Print Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are advertising, branded Content / Native Advertising and events and Competitions.
Who are The Straits Times's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Mothership and The Edge Singapore. Direct peers are Channel NewsAsia, The Business Times, Lianhe Zaobao, TODAY Online and South China Morning Post. The Edge Malaysia is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are The Japan Times and The Guardian (Asia edition).
Does The Straits Times have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Straits Times.
What industry is The Straits Times in?
The Straits Times's product category is News Media and Digital Journalism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAA, National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital), with a secondary code of MPAJADAB, Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital). Its NAICS code is 513110 and its SIC code is 2711.