What Harian Metro does

Harian Metro is a Bahasa Malaysia-language newspaper and digital news platform, founded in 1991 and operated by The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad (NSTP), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia's Media Prima Group. The publication serves a broad horizontal readership of Malaysian consumers with daily news across verticals including Utama (main), Mutakhir (latest), Global, Arena (sports), Rap (entertainment), Bisnes (business), Addin, WM, Akademia, and lifestyle segments. Its readership is concentrated among young Malaysians aged 20-39 (63%), positioning it as a high-value advertising channel for brands targeting consumers with purchasing power.

The product portfolio extends well beyond print into a multi-format digital ecosystem. Core assets include the hmetro.com.my news website (over 8 million monthly page views), the MetroTV video platform, the Audio+ audio streaming service, six radio stations (Hot FM, KOOL 101, Eight FM, Fly FM, Molek FM), and the 1Klassifieds classified advertising marketplace. Distribution is amplified by Media Prima Group's TV channels and radio networks, plus social media channels (notably TikTok @hmetromy, Facebook, Instagram) and RSS feeds. The underlying technology is a standard web content management system supporting text, video (JW Player), audio, infographics, and photo galleries across web and mobile.

Revenue is generated through three streams: digital display and banner advertising (managed by Media Prima's sales executives), classified advertising (jobs, property, vehicles, legal notices via 1Klassifieds at 1k.com.my), and print newspaper subscriptions for the daily Harian Metro and weekend Metro Ahad editions. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer via owned digital properties, supplemented by cross-promotion through Media Prima's radio and TV assets. Pricing for digital access is not publicly disclosed; ad rates are managed through NSTP/Media Prima sales channels. Harian Metro operates as a division of NSTP, headquartered at Balai Berita, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, and does not separately disclose financials—revenue is consolidated within the publicly-listed Media Prima Group on Bursa Malaysia.

Name

Harian Metro

Legal name

The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad

Website

https://hmetro.com.my

Company type

Public

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Harian Metro is a Bahasa Malaysia-language newspaper and digital news platform operated by NSTP under Media Prima Group, serving general Malaysian readers (63% aged 20-39) via print, web, mobile, video (MetroTV), audio (Audio+), and six radio stations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Newspaper Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (513110), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

News OTT & Live News Streaming Channels (MPABAHAK), Content Syndication, Distribution & Rights Management Platforms (BPAMAJAN), Podcast Hosting, Distribution & Listening Platforms (BPAMAJAD), Subscription & Fulfillment Services (Print & Digital) (MPAJAKAB)

Keywords

• Bahasa Malaysia newspaper
• Digital news publishing
• Classified advertising platform
• Radio broadcasting network
• Online news portal

Headquarters

HQ city

Selangor

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Digital advertising: The website sells display and banner advertisements, with over 8 million monthly page views referenced as a key advertising metric. Website ad sales are managed by Media Prima's sales executives.
2. Classified advertisements: Classified ads (job listings, legal notices, lelong/auction notices) are sold through the 1Klassifieds platform (1k.com.my), a joint platform under Media Prima. Ad sales contact: 1300-808-123 or 03-2299 6000.
3. Print newspaper: Physical newspaper sales and subscriptions, including the Harian Metro print edition and Metro Ahad.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Harian Metro publishes a Bahasa Malaysia-language daily newspaper and operates a multi-format digital news platform covering Malaysian and international news, sports, business, entertainment, lifestyle, and opinion content. Its distribution spans a website (hmetro.com.my), the MetroTV video platform, six radio stations (Hot FM, KOOL 101, Eight FM, Fly FM, Molek FM), the Audio+ streaming service, RSS feeds, and print editions (Harian Metro and Metro Ahad), with monetization primarily through digital advertising, classified advertising via 1Klassifieds, and print subscriptions.

Product overview

Harian Metro is a Malaysian newspaper operated by New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad, part of Media Prima Group. The company offers a comprehensive digital news platform providing news across multiple categories including Utama (main news), Mutakhir (latest), Global (world news), Arena (sports), Bisnes (business), Rap (entertainment), Addin (opinion/religious content), WM (women/muslim topics), Akademia (education), and more. The product portfolio includes the Harian Metro news website, MetroTV video platform, six radio stations (Hot FM, KOOL 101, Eight FM, Fly FM, Molek FM), Audio+ digital audio service, RSS feed subscriptions, and CSR initiatives such as Titipan Kasih and Ziarah Berkat charitable programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Harian Metro News Website Malaysian online news portal providing breaking news, current affairs, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle content across multiple categories including Utama, Mutakhir, Global, Arena, Bisnes, and more. Targeted at Malaysian readers seeking news in Bahasa Malaysia.
• MetroTV Video news platform featuring news clips, interviews, and video coverage of current events, accessible through the Harian Metro website and a dedicated video section. Targeted at Malaysian viewers seeking video journalism.
• Harian Metro Print Newspaper (Harian Metro and Metro Ahad) Physical Bahasa Malaysia-language daily newspaper editions (Harian Metro and Sunday edition Metro Ahad) sold via newsagents, convenience stores, and subscriptions across Malaysia.
• Hot FM Malaysian radio station operated under the Harian Metro/Media Prima group, featuring music and entertainment content for general Malaysian listeners.
• KOOL 101 Malaysian radio station under the Harian Metro/Media Prima group offering music and entertainment programming.
• Eight FM Malaysian radio station operated by the Harian Metro/Media Prima group featuring entertainment and music content.
• Fly FM Malaysian radio station under Harian Metro/Media Prima group with music and entertainment programming.
• Molek FM Malaysian radio station operated by the Harian Metro/Media Prima group featuring entertainment content.
• Audio+ Digital audio streaming service providing access to radio station content and podcasts from the Harian Metro/Media Prima group.
• 1Klassifieds Classified advertising platform under Media Prima Group offering job listings, legal notices, auction (lelong) notices, property, vehicles, and other classifieds to Malaysian consumers and businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 8 million page views per month
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Gardenia NuMeeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026Gardenia NuMee and Harian Metro formed a strategic CSR partnership through the 'Ziarah Berkat Ramadan' program, providing food assistance and donations to underprivileged families during Ramadan. The collaboration was part of Harian Metro's community outreach initiatives.
• Tune InsuranceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Tune Insurance partnered with Harian Metro through the Titipan Kasih program to support environmental conservation efforts, including ecosystem preservation initiatives in Port Dickson.
• EZ QurbanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026EZ Qurban partnered with Harian Metro for the '#MariLokal' initiative to distribute Qurban (sacrifice) meat during Aidiladha, supporting local communities.
• Affin BankminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Affin Bank partnered with Harian Metro through the Titipan Kasih program to support special needs individuals and small business owners in Klang, providing RM2,000 donations to help recipients grow their businesses.
• Media Prima GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Harian Metro is a division of The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad (NSTP), which is part of Media Prima Group. The group operates multiple media assets including TV channels, radio stations (Hot FM, KOOL 101, Eight FM, Fly FM, Molek FM), and digital platforms that cross-promote Harian Metro content.
• U Mobile (Pesta Bola Sepak)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026U Mobile partnered with Harian Metro to offer free streaming of FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 matches through the PAS Ultra Bola Sepak di RTMKlik program, with a widget displayed on the Harian Metro homepage.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Astro Awani: Malaysian 24-hour news channel and digital portal operated by Astro Malaysia Holdings. Comparable as a Malaysian multi-format (TV/web) news brand monetizing via advertising, competing for the same Bahasa-speaking audience's attention budget across video and text formats.
• Bernama: Malaysian national news agency and government-linked wire service operating in Bahasa Malaysia and English. Comparable as a multi-platform Malaysian news provider syndicated across publishers, and as a source Harian Metro draws on for local and regional news.
• The Star (Malaysia): Malaysia's largest English-language newspaper and a broad incumbent across print, digital, TV (StarTV/Radio), and classifieds. Comparable as a Malaysian multi-platform news publisher with diversified ad-revenue streams competing for overall advertiser share, though focused on English-language audiences.

Emerging players

• Free Malaysia Today: Malaysian independent online-first news outlet publishing in English with a Bahasa Malaysia section. Emerging digital-native competitor targeting Malaysian news audiences with ad-supported and sponsored content models that overlap with Harian Metro's digital ad-revenue stream.

Direct peers

• Malay Mail: Malaysian bilingual news outlet operating across English and Bahasa Malaysia with strong digital presence. Direct competitor for Malaysian digital news readership and online ad inventory, with similar multi-vertical coverage (news, sports, business, entertainment).
• Utusan Malaysia: One of Malaysia's oldest Bahasa Malaysia newspapers, historically a flagship publication of the Utusan Melayu group. Direct competitor in Bahasa daily news with parallel sports, business, and entertainment verticals targeting similar Malaysian demographics.
• Sinar Harian: Major Bahasa Malaysia daily newspaper in Malaysia operated by Karangkraf Media Group. Direct competitor targeting the same Bahasa-speaking Malaysian audience with print and digital news, plus entertainment and lifestyle verticals — the principal independent rival to Harian Metro in Bahasa news.
• Berita Harian: Bahasa Malaysia daily newspaper also published by NSTP under the same Media Prima Group parent. Direct same-language, same-group competitor with overlapping editorial teams and audience, making it the closest functional peer in terms of content, monetization, and distribution model.
• New Straits Times: The English-language sister publication of Harian Metro under NSTP/Media Prima. Direct multi-platform news competitor sharing the same corporate structure, ad-sales force, and digital infrastructure (hmetro/nst domains, revmedia CMS), differing primarily in language and audience segment.
• Kosmo!: Bahasa Malaysia newspaper under Utusan Melayu group, positioned similarly to Harian Metro as a tabloid-style Bahasa daily. Direct peer competing for the same Bahasa reader demographics and advertising budgets across both print and digital.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/@hmetromy
• Xx.com/hmetromy
• Facebookfacebook.com/harianmetro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harianmetro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Harian Metro