Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报

What Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 does

Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报) is a Singapore-based Chinese-language news publication founded in 1983 and operated under SPH Media (formerly Singapore Press Holdings), a publicly listed entity on the Singapore Exchange. It is positioned as a Chinese-language news media brand with editorial recognition in Singapore and internationally, serving Chinese-speaking readers through three distinct editions: a Singapore edition, an International (Global) edition, and a China-facing edition at zaobao.com. Content coverage spans Singapore news, China news, international affairs, Southeast Asia, finance (including Singapore and US stock market coverage), entertainment, lifestyle, and an opinion/forum section (社论, 评论, 交流站, 漫画), with contributors and editorial addresses (e.g., 言论组投稿, 《四方八面》投稿, 《校园》《取火》投稿) indicating an active newsroom operation.

The platform's product surface extends well beyond a digital newspaper. Built around the core Zaobao digital newspaper and electronic paper edition (电子报), it offers iOS and Android mobile applications, a daily podcast ('老总Group Chat') syndicated via SPH's 96.3好FM radio, additional podcast series such as '东谈西论' covering international affairs, a video section with in-depth series ('未知365', '世界大解说'), an interactive graphics capability for data-driven storytelling, a livestream offering for real-time coverage, a ZShop e-commerce storefront integrated with the publication, the Zaobao Club membership program, and a newsletter service (新闻速递). A companion publication, Xin Ming Ri Bao (新明日报), is also distributed through the same platform, suggesting shared editorial and commercial infrastructure within SPH's Chinese Media Group.

The business model is primarily subscription-driven, with paid access to e-papers and premium digital content supplemented by advertising (a published Zaobao advertising contact line is maintained) and now commerce revenue from the ZShop storefront. The target customer base is segmented geographically — primary Chinese-speaking readers in Singapore, with secondary overseas Chinese diaspora readers via the Global edition and mainland Chinese readers via the China edition. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer across owned channels (website, apps, e-paper, audio, video), with distribution amplified by an SPH radio partnership and an embedded Singapore stocks portal at stock.zaobao.com.sg. Specific subscription pricing is not publicly disclosed in the supplied source material, and Lianhe Zaobao's revenue is not broken out separately from its parent SPH Media.

Name

Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报

Legal name

Singapore Press Holdings Limited

Website

https://zaobao.sg

Company type

Public

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报) is a Singapore-based Chinese-language news publication founded in 1983, operated under SPH Media, serving Chinese-speaking readers in Singapore, the global diaspora, and mainland China through three editions and a multi-format digital platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chinese-language Newspaper

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (513110), Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer News & Digital Newsrooms (Web/App-First) (MPAJADAD)

Keywords

• Chinese-language newspaper
• Digital news media
• News subscription
• Multimedia journalism
• Chinese news coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Subscription Revenue: The platform generates revenue primarily through subscription services, with paid access to e-papers and premium content.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报) is a Singapore-based Chinese-language newspaper publishing daily news across Singapore, China, Southeast Asia, and international affairs through its digital platform (zaobao.com.sg). The publication distributes content via a website, mobile applications, e-papers, podcasts, videos, and livestreams, serving Chinese-speaking readers in Singapore, overseas markets, and mainland China through three distinct editions (Singapore, Global, and China).

Product overview

Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报) is a Chinese-language news media platform operated by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), offering a comprehensive digital newspaper experience. The core product is the Zaobao digital newspaper, supplemented by the e-Paper edition. Additional offerings include video content, podcasts (老总和东谈西论), interactive graphics, and livestream capabilities. The platform also features a membership program (早报俱乐部), email newsletters (新闻速递), and an e-commerce store (ZShop). Content is organized into major sections: News (Singapore, China, World, Southeast Asia), Finance, Entertainment, and Lifestyle categories. A related publication, 新明日报, is also operated under the same media group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lianhe Zaobao Digital Newspaper (联合早报) A Chinese-language digital newspaper serving Singapore and international readers, providing news coverage across Singapore, China, world affairs, finance, entertainment, and lifestyle topics through its main digital platform at zaobao.com.sg.
• Zaobao E-Paper (电子报)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 96.3好FM (SPH Radio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLianhe Zaobao partners with 96.3好FM radio station to broadcast '老总Group Chat', a daily podcast featuring senior editors from the SPH Chinese Media Group. The show airs weekdays at 9:20am and 12:20pm, discussing current news topics and featuring editorial insights from various SPH Chinese publications.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AsiaOne: Singapore-based digital news aggregator/news platform. Comparable as a Singapore-headquartered general news destination competing for the same digital audience and advertising budgets.
• Channel News Asia (CNA): Singapore-based news publisher and broadcaster covering regional/international news. Comparable as a general-news digital Chinese/English competitor for Singapore and Southeast Asian readers, with broader multimedia (TV, online) distribution.
• The Business Times (Singapore): Singapore-based financial newspaper (SPH Media group). Comparable as a subscription-based English-language business news brand competing for the same Singapore advertisers and finance-focused readers.

Emerging players

• Caixin Global: China-focused digital financial news platform with English-language coverage. Comparable as a digital subscription news brand covering Chinese economic and political affairs for international audiences, competing for overlapping Chinese/Asia-aware reader segments.
• Mothership: Singapore-based digital news and lifestyle publisher. Comparable as a multi-platform digital-first news outlet competing for the same Singapore audience, with strong social media reach and younger reader segments.

Direct peers

• South China Morning Post: Hong Kong-based English-language news platform covering China, Asia, and international affairs. Comparable to Lianhe Zaobao in providing trusted Asia-based journalism to international and China-facing audiences, with a similar digital subscription model.
• The Straits Times: Singapore's flagship English-language newspaper, also operated by SPH Media. Highly comparable as a sister publication under the same parent, competing for the same Singapore audience and advertising market across English/Chinese language segments.
• Ming Pao (明报): Hong Kong-based Chinese-language newspaper with print and digital editions serving Chinese readers in Hong Kong and overseas. Direct competitor in the Chinese-language news category with multi-platform distribution and editorial depth.
• Sin Chew Daily (星洲日报): Malaysia's largest Chinese-language newspaper, also serving the Southeast Asian Chinese-speaking community. Comparable in targeting Chinese-language readers across the region, with similar coverage of Singapore, Malaysia, China, and international news.

Regional players

• The Edge Singapore: Singapore-based business and financial news publisher. Comparable in competing for advertisers and finance readers in Singapore, with overlap in coverage of Singapore, regional, and Chinese financial markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zaobaosg
• Facebookfacebook.com/sph
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lianhe-zaobao-%E8%81%94%E5%90%88%E6%97%A9%E6%8A%A5

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报