Singapore Press : SPH partners IMDA to produce and distribute short form digital video content on SPH multimedia platforms as part of pilot Public Service Broadcast initiative

Singapore, 23 November 2016- Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) today announced an inaugural partnership to produce and distribute short form digital video content on SPH multimedia platforms as part of a pilot Public Service Broadcast (PSB) initiative.

The programmes will feature local content produced in both English and Mandarin on key themes such as current affairs, culture, sports, entertainment and lifestyle. Each episode will span 3 to 8 minutes in length and will be made available to audiences across SPH's digital content network.

Mr Alan Chan, CEO of SPH, said: 'With the digital medium becoming increasingly visual, videos are an important and growing segment of digital content consumption. We are pleased to be working with IMDA to contribute meaningfully to Singapore's PSB media ecosystem.'

The first series, 'InstaScram', launches on 25 Novemberacross various SPH sites and platforms, including AsiaOne and STOMP. The fortnightly programme is a socially-networked, local travel show that features 'Instagram-worthy', heritage locations around Singapore inspired by our viewers.

Other anchor series include 'AskST', a programme produced in conjunction with The Straits Times' Ask ST initiative that aims to educate Singaporeans by curating and answering readers' questions, and 'Why It Matters', a Chinese-language animation series that explains major global issues and trends, and their relevance to and potential impact on Singaporeans.

'The convergence between infocomm and media presents fresh opportunities to showcase and deliver compelling content to a wider, and increasingly digital savvy audience. IMDA is delighted to partner SPH on this initiative to introduce a slate of informative and entertaining PSB content on its digital platforms,' said Mr Gabriel Lim, CEO, IMDA. 'We hope our collaboration with SPH, known for its strength in factual content, will continue to encourage Singaporeans to watch and appreciate local productions.'

More details on the programmes can be found in Annex A.

Attached:

Issued by Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (Co. Regn. No. 198402868E) and Info-communications Media Development Authority

For more information, please contact:

Leonard Boey
Assistant Manager
Media Strategy & Analytics Division
Singapore Press Holdings Limited
DID: 6319 5789
Email: leonardb@sph.com.sg

Vanni Cheong
Assistant Manager
Corporate Communications & CSR
Singapore Press Holdings Limited
DID: 6319 1553
Email: cvanni@sph.com.sg

Joannah Zhong
Assistant Manager
Industry & Marketing Communications
Info-communications Media Development Authority
Email: joannah_zhong@imda.gov.sg

About Singapore Press Holdings Ltd

Incorporated in 1984, main board-listed Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (SPH) is Asia's leading media organisation, engaging minds and enriching lives across multiple languages and platforms.

Media

The English/Malay/Tamil Media group comprises the print and digital operations of The Straits Times, The Business Times, The New Paper, Berita Harian and their respective student publications. It also includes subsidiaries Tamil Murasu Ltd, which publishes Tamil Murasu and tabla!; book publishing arm Straits Times Press; SPH Data Services, which licenses the use of the Straits Times Index in partnership with the Singapore Exchange and FTSE-Russell Ltd; financial data company ShareInvestor; the two English stations of SPH Radio - Kiss92 and ONE FM 91.3, and SPH Golf (including SPH Pacom Ltd).

The Chinese Media group publishes three Chinese newspapers in print and digital format - Lianhe Zaobao, Lianhe Wanbao and Shin Min Daily News; four student weeklies - zbCOMMA, Thumbs Up, Thumbs Up Junior and Thumbs Up Little Junior, and ZBBZ Newsgazine. It also operates SPH Radio's Chinese radio station, UFM100.3, and Focus Publishing, which produces a range of books and magazines including U-Weekly.

SPH's other new media initiatives include AsiaOne, Stomp, zaobao.sg, zaobao.comand SPH Razor. On an average day, 2.5 million* individuals or 59 per cent of people above 15 years old, read one of SPH's news publications in print copies or one of our digital platforms. (* Nielsen Media Index 2016, Monday-Sunday, read any SPH newspapers in print or digital format)

SPH Magazines, SPH's wholly-owned subsidiary, publishes and produces about 100 magazine titles and has various online sites, like hardwarezone.com, herworldplus.comand luxuryinsider.comin Singapore and the region, covering a broad range of interests from lifestyle to information technology. It has also invested in digital newsstand Magzter.

SPH also provides out-of-home (OOH) advertising options where it manages large format digital screens and static billboards at key locations in the Central Business District, Orchard Road, City Fringe as well as major heartland hubs.

SPH Buzz is a modern retail convenience chain with a network of stores around the island.

SPH has a 20 per cent stake in MediaCorp TV Holdings Pte Ltd, which operates free-to-air channels 5, 8 and U, and a 40 per cent stake in MediaCorp Press Limited, which publishes the free newspaper, Today.

PropertiesSPH REIT is a Singapore-based REIT established to invest in a portfolio of income-producing real estate primarily for retail purposes. SPH REIT comprises Paragon, a premier upscale retail mall and medical suite/office property in Orchard Road and The Clementi Mall, a mid-market suburban mall in the centre of Clementi town.

The Seletar Mall, located in Sengkang, is SPH's latest retail development. This property is a potential asset to be injected into SPH REIT. SPH's wholly-owned subsidiary, Times Development Pte Ltd, also developed a 43-storey upmarket residential condominium, Sky@eleven, at Thomson Road.

Other Businesses

Online ClassifiedsSPH's online classifieds include the leading online marketplace for jobs (STJobs, FastJobs), property (STProperty), cars (STCars) and general classifieds (STClassifieds,Trezo), sgCarMart and StreetSine.
SPH's regional joint venture online classifieds business has a number of leading online classifieds sites in the region.

Events and ExhibitionsSphere Exhibits, Sphere Conferences, Exhibits Inc and Bizlink Exhibition Services organise innovative consumer and trade events and exhibitions as well as large scale conferences in Singapore and the region.

EducationSPH has a 22 per cent stake in preschool and enrichment provider MindChamps.

For more information, please visit www.sph.com.sg.

About the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA)

The Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) will develop a vibrant, world-class infocomm media sector that drives the economy, connects people, bonds communities and powers Singapore's Smart Nation vision. IMDA does this by developing talent, strengthening business capabilities, and enhancing Singapore's ICT and media infrastructure. IMDA also regulates the telecommunications and media sectors to safeguard consumer interests while fostering a pro-business environment. IMDA also enhances Singapore's data protection regime through the Personal Data Protection Commission. For more news and information, visit www.imda.gov.sgor follow IMDA on Facebook IMDAsg and Twitter @IMDAsg.