Skip to main content

Entity Type: Domestic Media Company

Matichon

Written by CMP Staff on .

Matichon is a major Thai-language daily newspaper founded by progressive writers in 1978, when Thailand was emerging from authoritarian rule following the October 6, 1976 Massacre. The newspaper positions itself as a quality, upmarket publication with a strong focus on politics, distinguishing itself from sensationalist mass-circulation papers. With a circulation of approximately 120,000 in 1997, Matichon became one of Thailand’s most politically influential newspapers alongside Thai Rath. Since the late 2000s, the publication has faced criticism for alleged pro-Red Shirt bias and controversies regarding editor dismissals and a bribery investigation by the National Press Council of Thailand, for which the paper resigned from the council in protest. The newspaper is owned by Matichon Public Company Limited and operates within the larger Matichon Group, which includes sister publications Khaosod and Prachachat Business. The company maintains both print and online operations, with Matichon Online having a separate editorial board from the print edition.

Sing Sian Yer Pao

Written by CMP Staff on .

The Sing Sian Yer Pao, also known as The Sing Sian Yer Pao Daily News, is a Chinese-language newspaper based in Bangkok, Thailand, founded on June 23, 1950. Originally published in traditional Chinese characters, it switched to simplified Chinese after 2010. In November 2013, the newspaper formed a partnership with China’s Southern Media Group. As of February 2016, the paper was priced at 5 baht in Bangkok and 6 baht elsewhere in Thailand. The newspaper operates from its headquarters on Silom Road in Bangkok’s Samphanthawong district, continuing its long tradition of serving Thailand’s Chinese-language readers.

Bangkok Post

Written by CMP Staff on .

The Bangkok Post, founded on August 1, 1946, is Thailand’s oldest English-language newspaper still in publication. Published in broadsheet and digital formats, it maintains a daily circulation of 110,000 copies with 80 percent distributed in Bangkok. The newspaper was established by former OSS officer Alexander MacDonald and Thai associate Prasit Lulitanond (ประสิทธิ์ ลุลิตานนท์), initially selling for one baht per four-page issue. Now owned by Bangkok Post Public Company Limited (SET: POST), whose major shareholders include the Chirathivat family, South China Morning Post, and GMM Grammy, the publication employs journalists, including foreign nationals. The Bangkok Post is widely considered Thailand’s newspaper of record and portrays itself as comparatively free in a country where media censorship is common, though critics have noted instances of self-censorship on sensitive topics. The South China Morning Post, founded in 1903 by Tse Tsan-tai (謝纘泰) and Alfred Cunningham, was acquired by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group (阿里巴巴集團) in 2015 for $266 million.

Kathimerini

Written by CMP Staff on .

Kathimerini is a Greek conservative newspaper founded on September 15, 1919, by George A. Vlahos. Based in Athens, this broadsheet maintains a legacy of reliability and prestige alongside a strong digital presence. Originally established as strongly anti-Venizelist, it was later owned by his daughter Helen Vlachos before being acquired by the Alafouzos family in 1988. Kathimerini publishes in both Greek and English, with its English edition distributed exclusively with the International New York Times in Greece and Cyprus. Though historically conservative, the newspaper now represents broader center-right perspectives while featuring columnists from across the political spectrum. The publication also produces various magazines and is published by Nees Kathimerines Ekdoseis Single-Member S.A., incorporating a polyphony of opinions and beliefs in its pages.

Independent Media

Written by CMP Staff on .

Independent Media describes itself as one of South Africa’s leading multi-platform content companies, with an array of publications including some of the country’s best-known newspapers in major metropolitan areas. Formerly known as the Argus Group, Independent Media has a history going back more than a century. The first newspaper launched by the group’s forebear was the Cape Argus, founded in 1857 — the first afternoon daily in Cape Town. In 2002, the group founded Isolezwe, the country’s first vernacular daily newspaper. In 2013, Independent News & Media South Africa was returned to home soil after being bought back from the Irish by a consortium led by the Sekunjalo Investment Group and was renamed Independent Media (Pty) Ltd. The current shareholders include Sagarmatha Technologies Limited (a subsidiary of the Sekunjalo Group) and Interacom Investment Holding Limited, which represents China International Television Corporation (中國國際電視總公司) and China Africa Development Fund (中非發展基金).

Chongqing Jiazuo Film and Culture Media

Written by CMP Staff on .

Established in Chongqing, Jiazuo Film and Television Culture Media Co., Ltd., specializes in film production, distribution, digital cultural creative activities, and broadcast media services. The company is headquartered in Building 7 of Jingyu International Cultural and Creative Park in Jiulongpo District. With a registered capital of 5 million yuan, the firm is majority-owned by CEO Zuo Yue (左越), with 80 percent, and Yin Boyu (尹博宇) as a minority shareholder with 20 percent. While there is no evidence of direct state involvement in Jiazuo Film and Television Culture Media, the company has been involved in international content distribution with explicit governmental involvement. The company has participated in the “China Time Slot” initiative in Peru and Colombia, facilitating the distribution of Chinese visual content abroad. The National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) pushed these initiatives “under the auspices of the National Radio and Television Administration and the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government.” The NRTA, a ministry-level agency controlled by the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party, has promoted international cooperation and exchange in radio, television, and online audio-visual content. In November 2024, Jiazuo signed a trilateral cooperation agreement with Peru’s Willax TV and Classic Media China International Ltd. to expand Chongqing’s film and television industry in the Latin American market.

RTVC Sistema de Medios Públicos

Written by CMP Staff on .

RTVC Sistema de Medios Públicos (Radio Televisión Nacional de Colombia) is Colombia’s public broadcasting service, operating under the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications. Created in October 2004 through Decree 3525 after dissolving Inravisión, RTVC manages two national television channels—Señal Colombia (cultural and educational programming) and Canal Institucional (government information)—plus one regional channel, Canal Trece. The system also operates two national radio networks: Radio Nacional de Colombia (cultural and informative) and Radiónica (youth-oriented music), broadcasting on 73 frequencies nationwide. Additionally, RTVC maintains 16 “Peace Stations” established under the 2016 peace agreement, runs the digital platform RTVCPlay, and preserves Colombia’s audiovisual heritage through Señal Memoria.

Classic Media China Internacional SAC

Written by CMP Staff on .

Classic Media China Internacional, a company mentioned in Chinese state media reports but having only an online presence on Facebook, seems to operate in close alignment with Chinese state actors in distributing Chinese media content — mostly entertainment — across Latin American markets, particularly Peru. In November 2024, Classic Media China Internacional directly collaborated with the National Radio and Television Administration (国家广播电视总局), Chongqing Municipal Propaganda Department (重庆市委宣传部), and Peru’s National Congress Cultural and Heritage Committee to launch the “China Time Slot” and “China Audio-Visual Exhibition Month” in Lima. There is no record of the company prior to 2023. The company’s generqal manager is Katherin Minna.

United Group

Written by CMP Staff on .

United Group, a Netherlands-based telecommunications conglomerate operating across Southeastern Europe, completed its acquisition of Greek mobile operator Wind Hellas in January 2022. Originally formed in 2007 through mergers in the former Yugoslavia region, United Group has grown into a major alternative telecom provider under majority ownership by British private equity firm BC Partners since March 2019, with founder Dragan Šolak (德拉甘·索拉克) retaining approximately 33% of the company. The company provides integrated telecommunications services including mobile, landline, internet, and pay-TV across eight countries. In Greece, United Group operates under the Nova brand, which combines Nova’s satellite television platform with Wind Hellas’s mobile operations to create what the company describes as the country’s second-largest provider in both fixed and pay-TV services.