Star Media Group Berhad

What Star Media Group Berhad does

Star Media Group Berhad (SMG) is a publicly listed Malaysian media company incorporated in 1971 and listed on Bursa Malaysia under ticker STAR, headquartered at Menara Star in Petaling Jaya with a printing plant in Shah Alam and a northern regional office in George Town, Penang. The group operates an integrated multi-platform media portfolio spanning print (The Star newspaper and specialist pullouts including StarBiz, StarEdu, StarProperty, and Kuntum), digital properties (The Star Online, Mstar, R.AGE, StarESG, Kuali.com, CarSifu, myStarJob, Life Inspired, Beli Lokal, StarCherish), radio broadcasting (988 FM reaching 2M+ weekly listeners across Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore and the Malay-language Suria FM), and a portfolio of recurring events and awards programmes including SOBA, ESG Positive Impact Awards, Export Excellence Awards, StarProperty Awards, StarProperty Fair, myStarJob Fair, Star Education Fair, and the Star Golden Hearts Award. The group employs approximately 800 people as of 2024 and runs wholly-owned subsidiaries including 988 FM, Suria FM, StarProperty Sdn Bhd, MyStarJob Network, StarESG and StarESG Academy, Leaderonomics, and Star Publications (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Name

Star Media Group Berhad

Legal name

Star Media Group Berhad

Website

https://starmediagroup.my

Company type

Public

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Platform Media and Publishing

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Media & Community Management (BPAFAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Full-Service Media Planning & Buying (MPAAABAA)

Keywords

• Newspaper publishing
• Digital media platforms
• Radio broadcasting
• Content marketing services
• Business awards events

Headquarters

HQ city

Shah Alam

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: Traditional and digital advertising across print, online, radio, and event platforms. Includes mainstream media, trusted portals for fact verification, and digital advertising.
2. Print Media: Revenue from newspapers including The Star, with declining but steady circulation and readership base.
3. Radio Broadcasting: 988 FM (Chinese-language radio reaching 2M+ weekly listeners) and Suria FM (Malay-language radio) generate advertising revenue.
4. Digital Subscriptions: Revenue from ePaper subscriptions, digital content, and online services.
5. Events & Awards: Organizing signature events including SOBA, ESG PIA, Export Excellence Awards, StarProperty Awards, Star Education Fair, myStar Job Fair.
6. Property Development & Investment: Development of adjacent land to printing plant in Shah Alam, Menara Star 2 office building (23% occupancy), and investment in TrustCapital Australian Office Fund No 3.
7. Investment Income: A$35.5mil (RM99.4mil) investment in TrustCapital Australian Office Fund No 3 targeting 10% IRR over 8 years; other money market fund placements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Star Media Group Berhad is a multi-platform media company that publishes The Star newspaper and operates a portfolio of digital news portals, FM radio stations (988 FM and Suria FM), niche content platforms (StarProperty, MyStarJob, StarESG, True or Not), and business events and awards (such as SOBA). It monetizes audiences through advertising, digital subscriptions, ePaper access, event sponsorships, branded content marketing services, and proprietary ESG-linked investment vehicles. The company serves both mass-market consumers of news and entertainment and corporate clients seeking advertising, sponsorship, and content marketing solutions.

Product overview

Star Media Group Berhad (SMG) operates as a fully integrated, multi-platform media company spanning print, digital, radio, events, and content marketing. The core portfolio includes flagship newspaper The Star with its digital counterpart The Star Online, complemented by specialist verticals including StarESG (ESG editorial and training), StarProperty (real estate), CarSifu (automotive), myStarJob (employment), and R.AGE (youth). Radio operations include 988 FM and Suria FM. The events and awards division manages major properties including SOBA (business awards), Export Excellence Awards, ESG Positive Impact Awards, Star Golden Hearts Award, and StarProperty Awards. SMG Brand Studio provides content marketing services while Star Foundation handles corporate social responsibility initiatives. The company leverages its multi-channel ecosystem to engage audiences across multiple touchpoints, delivering credible news while creating impactful content and experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Star: Flagship English-language newspaper and news brand, one of Malaysia's most trusted media outlets
• The Star ePaper
• StarBiz7
• Life Inspired
• Star ESG
• StarProperty
• Mstar
• R.AGE
• Kuali.com
• MyStar Job
• 988 FM
• Suria FM
• CarSifu
• Star Foundation
• Star Education Fund
• Star Golden Hearts Award

Products and services

• The Star newspaper Malaysia's flagship English-language daily newspaper, delivering news, business, lifestyle, and opinion content to a wide Malaysian and regional audience.
• Digital subscription (ePaper + Online) Subscription offering that gives readers access to the print edition, ePaper, and online content at thestar.com.my, available as an annual bundle (RM360/year with 20% CIMB card discount).
• The Star ePaper Digital replica of The Star newspaper, available to subscribers via web and mobile, replicating the print edition in a digital format.
• 988 FM radio station Mandarin-language FM radio station in Malaysia, broadcasting music, news, and lifestyle programming to Chinese-speaking audiences.
• Suria FM radio station Malay-language FM radio station in Malaysia, broadcasting music, news, and lifestyle content to Malay-speaking audiences.
• StarProperty Digital property platform providing property listings, news, and market intelligence to Malaysian property buyers, sellers, and investors.
• MyStarJob Career and recruitment platform offering job listings, career advice, and employer branding content to Malaysian job seekers and employers.
• StarESG Digital ESG intelligence platform providing sustainability news, ratings, and analysis to investors, corporates, and ESG professionals.
• True or Not fact-checking platform Digital fact-checking platform that verifies viral claims and misinformation, supporting media literacy and brand-safety positioning for the Star Media Group.
• Content marketing services Custom branded content and content marketing services for corporate clients, combining editorial production with multi-platform distribution across Star Media Group's media properties.
• Star Outstanding Business Awards (SOBA) Annual business awards and recognition program for Malaysian SMEs and corporate brands, providing winners with publicity, networking, and credibility through The Star's media platform.
• thestar.com.my digital news portal Digital news portal operated by Star Media Group, offering continuous news, business, lifestyle, and opinion content to online readers in Malaysia and the region.

Quantifiable outcome

• RM99.4mil invested in Australian Office Fund generating 10% target IRR over 8 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• McDonald's MalaysiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025McDonald's Malaysia became strategic partner for Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA) 2025, introducing new McDonald's Caring Hearts Award category. Partnership aims to celebrate unsung heroes and foster inclusive, compassionate society.
• Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Bhd (CGC)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025CGC is main sponsor of SOBA 2025, supporting SME excellence recognition and providing visibility to deserving businesses that may benefit from greater access to financing.
• PKT Logistics Group Sdn BhdcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025PKT Logistics is main sponsor of SOBA 2025. As a homegrown company, PKT shares experiences with SME award winners on navigating challenges.
• RHB Bank BhdcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025RHB Bank is main sponsor of SOBA 2025, reflecting commitment to advancing SME excellence as national economic priority.
• U Mobile Sdn BhdcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025U Mobile is main sponsor of SOBA 2025 and Gala Night telecommunications partner, leading businesses on digital transformation journey.
• Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Matrade serves as official trade promotion partner for SOBA 2025, supporting recognition of outstanding businesses and encouraging global competitiveness.
• 30% Club MalaysiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025SMG partnered with 30% Club Malaysia to elevate DEI dialogue, participating in Men Allies for Parity initiative and supporting gender parity in boardrooms and leadership.
• Food Aid Foundation (FAF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025SMG collaborated with FAF for 'Food for Soul 2.0' initiative, contributing hot meals and dry foodstuff to 100 B40 families during Ramadan, with SMG volunteers participating in food preparation.
• OCBC Bank (Malaysia) BhdcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024OCBC Bank partnered with SMG to host ESG Positive Impact Awards 2024 Winners Showcase, featuring sustainable financing talks and enabling winners to share ESG insights with current participants.
• Standard Chartered MalaysiaflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Standard Chartered partnered with SMG for Export Excellence Awards 2024, marking fifth year collaboration to showcase exemplary Malaysian exporters and reinforce nation's trading competitiveness.
• Asia ESG Positive Impact Consortium (A-EPIC) - KG MediaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Indonesia's KG Media joined A-EPIC, a first-of-its-kind regional media alliance for ASEAN-wide ESG collaboration and accountability, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
• Asia ESG Positive Impact Consortium (A-EPIC) - Inquirer GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Philippines' Inquirer Group joined A-EPIC, creating a three-country regional media alliance for ASEAN-wide ESG collaboration and accountability.
• China Daily Asia WeeklycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014China Daily Asia Weekly joined CIMB-Asean ePaper collaboration, becoming fifth member alongside The Star, Jakarta Post, The Nation (Thailand), and Philippine Daily Inquirer.
• CIMB GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2014CIMB supported and sponsored the ASEAN ePaper collaboration, providing 20% discount on bundle subscription for CIMB credit card holders.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Emerging players

• Malaysiakini (MK Media): Malaysia's largest digital-native news outlet, competing with The Star Online for premium digital advertising and political/news readership. Represents the digital-native competitive threat against SMG's traditional business.
• Inquirer Group (Philippines): Philippine Daily Inquirer operator with print, digital, and radio properties. Third A-EPIC consortium member with Star Media Group and KG Media, indicating a directly comparable multi-platform media business model focused on ASEAN markets.
• KG Media (Indonesia): Indonesia-based multi-platform media group (Kompas Gramedia) operating newspapers, digital news portals, and radio. Direct partner with Star Media Group in the A-EPIC ESG consortium, with overlapping audience verticals and a comparable multi-platform media business model across ASEAN.

Direct peers

• The Edge Malaysia: Malaysian business and financial media group (Edge Publishing) operating newspaper, digital, and events including the Malaysia's Best Managed Companies awards. Directly comparable to SMG's StarBiz7 and StarProperty verticals in business and property news plus event monetization.
• Media Prima Berhad: Malaysia's largest integrated media group operating TV3, NTV7, 8TV, TV9, Primeworks Studios, and major newspaper brands (New Straits Times, Berita Harian). Directly competes with Star Media Group across broadcast, print, digital, and out-of-home advertising for the same Malaysian advertisers and audiences.
• Sin Chew Media Corporation: Malaysia's largest Chinese-language newspaper group, competing with SMG's Chinese-language 988 FM and Chinese ePaper bundle for the same Chinese-Malaysian audience and advertisers. Closely comparable multi-platform Chinese media business.

Broad incumbents

• Reuters (Thomson Reuters): Global news and media organization with business news, digital subscriptions, and Reuters Institute Digital News Report (which recognizes Star Media Group). Comparable in trusted-news value proposition and editorial standards at vastly larger scale.
• News Corp Australia: Global multi-platform media conglomerate with newspaper, digital, and subscription properties including The Wall Street Journal, The Australian, and Foxtel. Comparable in operating model (legacy print pivoting to digital subscriptions and events) but at vastly larger scale.
• Astro Malaysia Holdings: Malaysia's dominant satellite TV and content distributor with radio, OTT, and digital advertising inventory. Competes with SMG for share of advertising wallet and audience attention, but operates at much larger scale and across broader distribution.

Regional players

• GMA Network (Philippines): Philippine broadcast and digital media group operating free-to-air TV, radio, and digital news. Closely comparable in regional ASEAN multi-platform media model, with overlapping advertiser and event property categories but geographically focused on the Philippines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/StarMediaGroupASIA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/star-media-group-berhad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries8 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 Star Media Group Berhad