“Media company in Malaysia” covers two kinds of business: the digital media and advertising companies you hire to reach customers, and the big media groups that own the country’s TV, radio, newspapers, and digital platforms. This guide ranks 10 media companies in Malaysia for 2026 across both, so whether you want to advertise or understand who owns Malaysian media, you find what you need.
What is a media company?
A media company either owns content and channels (television, radio, print, digital) or helps brands plan and buy advertising across them. The big groups like Media Prima and Astro own the channels. Digital media and advertising companies like MediaPlus Digital plan, buy, and measure the advertising that runs across those channels. Below we cover both, starting with the media partner most businesses actually work with.
Comparison table: media companies in Malaysia
|
# |
Company |
Type |
Best for |
|
1 |
MediaPlus Digital |
Digital media & advertising |
Advertising measured in leads and sales |
|
2 |
Media Prima Berhad |
Integrated media group |
Mass-reach TV, print, radio, digital |
|
3 |
Astro Malaysia Holdings |
Pay-TV & content |
Broadcast and streaming reach |
|
4 |
Star Media Group |
News & publishing |
English-language news and events |
|
5 |
REV Media Group |
Digital publisher |
Young, digital-first audiences |
|
6 |
Media Chinese International |
Chinese-language media |
Chinese-speaking readership |
|
7 |
Innity |
Digital ad-tech |
Programmatic and interactive ads |
|
8 |
Universal McCann (UM) |
Media agency (network) |
Big-brand media planning and buying |
|
9 |
Lion & Lion |
Digital agency |
Brand and regional campaigns |
|
10 |
RTM |
Public broadcaster |
National reach across TV and radio |
The top 10 media companies in Malaysia
1. MediaPlus Malaysia
Best for: Businesses that want media buying tied to real conversions, not just impressions.
MediaPlus Digital is a performance-focused media agency that blends strategy, data, and execution across Google Ads, social, display, and programmatic. Rather than acting as a channel-specific vendor, it plans and buys across the full funnel, then connects the spend to leads and sales through performance marketing and conversion tracking. That makes it a good fit for businesses that want one partner accountable for outcomes. New advertisers can claim a free RM300 media audit before committing.
2. Media Prima Berhad
Best for: Mass-reach across TV, print, radio, and digital.
One of Malaysia’s largest integrated media groups, Media Prima owns free-to-air television (TV3, 8TV, ntv7, TV9), radio networks, the New Straits Times and other newspapers, and digital platforms. Its cross-channel reach makes it a cornerstone of Malaysian media and a major advertising channel.
3. Astro Malaysia Holdings
Best for: Broadcast and streaming reach.
Astro is the country’s dominant pay-TV and content group, reaching a large share of households through satellite TV, radio brands, and streaming. It is a major force in local-language entertainment and content.
4. Star Media Group Berhad
Best for: English-language news and events.
Publisher of The Star, one of Malaysia’s leading English newspapers, Star Media Group has expanded into digital news, radio, and events. It remains a major voice in Malaysian print and online news.
5. REV Media Group
Best for: Young, digital-first audiences.
Malaysia’s leading digital publisher, REV Media Group runs popular online and lifestyle brands, reaching a large young, digital audience. It is a key player in Malaysia’s shift from print to digital.
6. Media Chinese International
Best for: Chinese-speaking readership.
A major Chinese-language media group, Media Chinese International publishes titles including Sin Chew Daily and China Press, serving Malaysia’s large Chinese-speaking audience across print and digital.
7. Innity
Best for: Programmatic and interactive advertising.
Innity is a leading Malaysian digital media and advertising technology company, offering programmatic, influencer, and interactive ad solutions across the region. A fit for brands that want tech-driven digital reach.
8. Universal McCann (UM) Malaysia
Best for: Big-brand media planning and buying.
Part of the global IPG Mediabrands network, UM is a major media agency handling planning and buying for large brands, with strong data and strategy capabilities.
9. Lion & Lion
Best for: Brand and regional campaigns.
Founded in 2012, Lion & Lion is an award-winning digital agency headquartered in Kuala Lumpur with offices across Asia, pairing media with strategy, creative, and social for big brands including global names.
10. Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM)
Best for: National public-broadcast reach.
The national public broadcaster, RTM runs government television and radio channels across the country, with a long history and broad national reach.
Media ownership and brands change; confirm current details before relying on them.
Media company vs media agency: what is the difference?
|
Media company (owner) |
Media agency |
|
|
What it is |
Owns content and channels |
Plans and buys advertising across channels |
|
Examples |
Media Prima, Astro, Star, REV Media |
MediaPlus Digital, Innity, UM |
|
You work with it to |
Advertise on its channels, or consume content |
Plan and run advertising across many channels |
To advertise your business, you usually do not deal with each media owner directly. You work with a digital media or media agency that plans and buys across them for the best value, and measures the results.
How to choose a media partner in Malaysia
- Decide your goal: mass-reach brand awareness, or measurable leads and sales.
- Match the channels to your audience, digital-first for most SMEs, broadcast for mass campaigns.
- Look for data and measurement, so spend ties to results.
- Check the track record with businesses your size.
- Confirm transparency on fees, media costs, and reporting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest media company in Malaysia?
Media Prima and Astro are generally considered the largest media companies in Malaysia. Media Prima is the biggest integrated group across TV, print, radio, and digital, while Astro dominates pay-TV and content. Star Media Group and REV Media Group are also major players.
What is the difference between a media company and a media agency?
A media company owns content and channels and sells advertising space. A media agency, or digital media company like MediaPlus Digital, plans and buys advertising across those channels for brands and measures the results.
Who are the top media companies in Malaysia?
Major media groups include Media Prima, Astro, Star Media Group, REV Media Group, Media Chinese International, and RTM. On the advertising side, digital media companies and agencies like MediaPlus Digital, Innity, and UM plan and buy media for brands.
How do I advertise with a media company in Malaysia?
Most businesses work with a digital media company or media agency, which plans and buys advertising across the relevant channels for the best value, rather than negotiating with each media owner directly.
How much does it cost to advertise in Malaysia?
Media agencies usually charge a fee or around 10 to 20 percent of media spend, plus the media cost. Digital campaigns can start small and scale; traditional TV and print need larger budgets.
Final thoughts
Malaysia’s media companies range from the big content and channel owners like Media Prima and Astro to the digital media companies and agencies that help brands advertise across them. If you want mass reach or to understand who owns Malaysian media, the groups above lead the market. If you want your advertising planned, bought, and measured for results, a digital media company is your partner.
If you want media and advertising measured in leads and sales, talk to MediaPlus Digital about media and performance marketing and claim a free RM300 audit.
