SCMP Hearst Hong Kong

What SCMP Hearst Hong Kong does

SCMP Hearst Hong Kong operates the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong's English-language newspaper of record founded in 1903 and owned by Alibaba Group since December 2015. The company runs a 650+ person multinational newsroom across Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore and the USA, producing the daily South China Morning Post newspaper, the SCMP.com digital platform, mobile apps on iOS and Android, video and podcast content, and specialized sub-brands such as Goldthread (food, travel, culture), Abacus (China tech), Inkstone, Young Post, PostMag, Style, and 100 Top Tables. Underlying technology includes a proprietary content management system, the SCMP Lighthouse first-party data platform, the SIGNAL 2.0 brand suitability and attention metrics tool, and the Project Hercules content recommendation engine built with the Google News Initiative.

SCMP Hearst itself is a 2013 joint venture with Hearst Corporation that publishes Chinese-language lifestyle magazines in Hong Kong — ELLE MEN, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Esquire — reaching over 4 million monthly website audiences and over 3 million social followers. SCMP Group more broadly monetizes through eight distinct streams: consumer subscriptions (digital and print), corporate/enterprise subscriptions, advertising and marketing solutions (Advertising+ and Morning Studio branded content), events and conferences (China Conference, Redefining Hong Kong, GBA-Asean Summit, etc.), SCMP Learn education services, research and intelligence reports (China Internet, AI, Healthcare, Fintech, Computer Vision reports), the G Suite C-Suite community, and the SCMP Hearst magazine portfolio.

The customer base spans Hong Kong general readers (4.8 million article pages read monthly), international China-watchers (read in 190 countries, 35 million global reach, 50 million MAU), C-Suite executives, corporate enterprises, brand advertisers, education sector participants and affluent lifestyle readers. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer digital/print subscriptions with enterprise field sales, event-driven thought-leadership marketing, and channel partnerships through the Hearst JV for magazine distribution.

Name

SCMP Hearst Hong Kong

Legal name

South China Morning Post Publishers Limited

Website

https://corp.scmp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SCMP Hearst Hong Kong operates the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong's English-language newspaper of record founded in 1903, and is jointly owned by Alibaba Group and Hearst Corporation, serving global readers, C-Suite executives, enterprises and advertisers via digital, print, events and branded content.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lifestyle Media Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Women’s Interest & Parenting Magazines (MPAJAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Men’s Interest Magazines (MPAJAEAC), Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines (MPAJAEAM)

Keywords

• Chinese-language lifestyle magazines
• Fashion and beauty publishing
• Luxury lifestyle media
• Hong Kong magazine portfolio
• Branded lifestyle content

Headquarters

HQ city

Hong Kong

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consumer Subscriptions: Digital and print subscription plans for individual readers offering premium news access across SCMP.com, mobile apps, and print editions including Monday-Saturday South China Morning Post and Sunday Morning Post
2. Corporate/Enterprise Subscriptions: Group subscription packages for enterprises providing holistic solutions combining comprehensive award-winning news reporting and industry insights for global business decision makers
3. Advertising and Marketing Solutions (Advertising+): Branded content, display advertising, native advertising, and video solutions through Morning Studio (award-winning branded content arm), connecting brands with affluent and influential audiences. Includes double-digit YoY revenue growth
4. Events and Conferences: Revenue from flagship events including China Conference series, Redefining Hong Kong, GBA-Asean Summit, and various industry-specific summits
5. Magazine Publications: Print and digital lifestyle magazines including Style, PostMag, 100 Top Tables guide, and SCMP Hearst titles (ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Harper's BAZAAR, Esquire)
6. SCMP Learn Education Services: Educational products and services for children, parents and educators including Young Post Club, STANCE storytelling competition, and signature English-language learning tools
7. Research and Intelligence Reports: Specialized industry reports including China Internet Report, China AI Report, China Healthcare Report, China Fintech Report, Computer Vision Report and SCMP Research publications for business leaders
8. Enterprise Services (G Suite): C-Suite exclusive community platform by invitation only for influential decision makers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SCMP Hearst is a joint venture between South China Morning Post Publishers Limited and Hearst Corporation that publishes five Chinese-language lifestyle magazine brands in Hong Kong — ELLE MEN Hong Kong, Cosmopolitan Hong Kong, ELLE Hong Kong, Harper's BAZAAR Hong Kong, and Esquire Hong Kong. The portfolio covers fashion, beauty, luxury, culture, men's and women's lifestyle content for affluent audiences, distributed via dedicated websites, social media, and print editions, alongside branded content marketing solutions through Morning Studio.

Product overview

SCMP Hearst is a collaboration between SCMP and Hearst Corporation that operates a portfolio of Chinese-language lifestyle media brands in Hong Kong. The company manages five magazine titles: ELLE MEN Hong Kong, Cosmopolitan Hong Kong, ELLE Hong Kong, Harper's BAZAAR Hong Kong, and Esquire Hong Kong. With more than three million social followers and reaching over four million website audiences monthly, SCMP Hearst's products focus on fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and culture content targeting both male and female affluent audiences in Hong Kong.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SCMP Plus: Premium news platform helping business leaders decode news on China with curated analysis, summaries, fact sheets, and opinion
• Morning Studio
• Young Post
• Posties
• Style
• 100 Top Tables
• PostMag
• SCMP Learn
• SCMP Live
• Goldthread
• Abacus
• Inkstone

Products and services

• ELLE MEN Hong Kong A men's fashion and lifestyle magazine targeting sophisticated urban men in Hong Kong, delivering cutting-edge content and award-winning videos on style and multifaceted lifestyle.
• Cosmopolitan Hong Kong A women's lifestyle magazine covering fashion, beauty, fitness, health and mindful living, adapted for the Hong Kong Chinese-language market.
• ELLE Hong Kong A premier fashion and style magazine in Hong Kong providing exclusive access to creative talents, celebrities and influential opinion leaders, with content embracing diversity, sustainability and creativity.
• Harper's BAZAAR Hong Kong A leading luxury lifestyle magazine for discerning women in Hong Kong, covering fashion, jewellery, travel, art and gastronomy, including the 'BAZAAR At Work' initiative for career-focused women.
• Esquire Hong Kong A leading lifestyle publication for stylish men in Hong Kong, serving as a guide to fashion, watches, dining, investments, cultural experiences, cars and gadgets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Most trusted newspaper in Hong Kong for 25 consecutive years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, strategic and core.

• Danantara IndonesiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2026Partnership with Danantara Indonesia to organize Nusa Dua Forum 2026, marking an important step in Bali's transformation from holiday destination to rising international financial centre.
• Astana HubstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Memorandum of understanding signed with Astana Hub (Autonomous Cluster Fund), Gobi Partners, and Growth Vision Pro Ltd (Khan Tengri Innovation Hub in Shanghai) to strengthen startup ecosystems across Central Asia, Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland.
• AIFC AuthoritystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Memorandum of understanding with JSC Astana International Financial Centre Authority to promote business connections and unlock new growth opportunities across Kazakhstan, Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland.
• KADIN IndonesiastrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2025Memorandum of understanding to create a platform for dialogue among business leaders of Indonesia, Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong. Strategic partnership for business dialogue and economic connections.
• IpsosstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2025Brand study partnership with Ipsos revealing 'How Resilient Brands Grow' with findings that trusted brands drive 6x resilience and 7% price premium.
• WARCstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2024Partnership between SCMP Advertising+ and WARC (leading global authority on marketing effectiveness) to uncover insights into brands, marketing, and culture for catalysing business growth in Hong Kong and across Asia.
• Cyberport Hong KongstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2023Co-presented 2022 Asia Sustainability Conference with Cyberport Hong Kong as a hybrid conference bringing together speakers and audience members for sustainability discussions.
• IAB HKstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2023Landmark study partnership with IAB HK launching industry white paper 'Unlocking Brand Marketing's Potential in Asia' to help businesses capture growth opportunities.
• HarrisXstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2023Study partnership with HarrisX on 'The Intersection of Influence' revealing how news media captures deep attention and lasting cognitive engagement for marketers.
• Discovery Networks Asia PacificstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 February 2021Exclusive agreement with Discovery Networks for broadcast rights for 'Eat China' series across 39 territories in APAC, available on AVOD and SVOD platforms.
• Google News InitiativestrategicTechnology or Integration · 12 January 2021Partnership to build a reader-first, content recommendation engine called Project Hercules. The collaborative initiative aims to build an improved content recommendation engine for the benefit of readers.
• Times BridgestrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2018Strategic partnership with Times Bridge, the global investments and partnerships arm of The Times Group (India's oldest and largest media company), to expand reach and partnerships in the Indian market.
• The Hong Kong Jockey ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Sole sponsor of Student of the Year Awards, Hong Kong's most prestigious annual secondary school event running for over 40 years.
• Hearst CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 October 2013SCMP Hearst is a joint venture collaboration between SCMP and Hearst Corporation, bringing a vibrant array of Chinese-language lifestyle media brands to Hong Kong. The portfolio includes ELLE MEN Hong Kong, Cosmopolitan Hong Kong, ELLE Hong Kong, Harper's BAZAAR Hong Kong, and Esquire Hong Kong, reaching over 4 million website audiences monthly and 3 million social followers.
• Sino GroupstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Co-organizer of Spirit of Hong Kong Awards with Sino Group to celebrate achievements of remarkable people who demonstrate selfless contributions to Hong Kong.
• RTHKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988Operation Santa Claus is jointly organized by RTHK and SCMP since 1988, growing into one of the most well-known charity campaigns in Hong Kong. Has raised HK$415 million over 38 years supporting charitable causes.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• The Knot Worldwide: Digital lifestyle media and services company spanning wedding, fashion and lifestyle content; comparable as a next-generation lifestyle publisher blending editorial with commerce and digital subscription models.

Direct peers

• Bauer Media Group: International magazine and digital publisher operating lifestyle, fashion, entertainment and celebrity titles across Europe and Asia; directly comparable as a multi-brand lifestyle magazine operator.
• Burda Media: German-headquartered international media company publishing lifestyle, fashion and women's interest magazines across Europe and Asia; directly comparable as a multi-brand lifestyle magazine publisher.
• Hearst Corporation: Global diversified media conglomerate and SCMP Hearst's JV partner; owns/operates a portfolio of magazine brands including Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Esquire that SCMP Hearst licenses for the Hong Kong market.
• Condé Nast: Global publisher of premium lifestyle and fashion magazines (Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Wired); directly comparable as a peer publisher of luxury lifestyle magazine brands for affluent audiences.
• Meredith Corporation: Major US-based magazine publisher (People, Better Homes & Gardens, InStyle, etc.) with diversified print and digital lifestyle portfolio; directly comparable as a large-scale lifestyle magazine operator.
• Lagardère Publishing (Hachette): International publishing group with significant magazine operations (Elle, Paris Match, Le Journal du Dimanche); directly comparable as a publisher of premium lifestyle and women's interest magazines globally.
• ESI Media: UK-based independent media company publishing lifestyle and news titles (Evening Standard, Independent, etc.); comparable as a multi-title print and digital lifestyle publisher serving an affluent urban audience.

Regional players

• Cactus Media: China-based media company publishing lifestyle, fashion and design titles (That's, China Daily lifestyle editions, etc.); comparable as a Chinese-language lifestyle magazine publisher operating in adjacent regional markets.
• Prestige Media (Hong Kong): Asia-based luxury lifestyle magazine publisher (Prestige, PClab) serving affluent readers across Hong Kong and Southeast Asia; comparable as a regional lifestyle magazine competitor targeting similar demographics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scmp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/southchinamorningpost
• Facebookfacebook.com/scmp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scmp-hearst-hong-kong
• Instagraminstagram.com/scmpnews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries7 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 SCMP Hearst Hong Kong