TOM Group
Encyclopedia
TOM Group Limited is a Chinese-language media company
in the Greater China
region, with business interests across markets in Mainland China
, Taiwan
and Hong Kong
. Its business covers four media sectors, Internet (TOM Online
), Outdoor (TOM Outdoor Media Group), Publishing, and Television and Entertainment.
In 2008, TOM Group was crowned In-House of the Year - Media & Entertainment In-House Team of the Year at the 2008 ALB Hong Kong Law Awards.
between Hutchison Whampoa
, Cheung Kong Holdings, and other strategic investors, principally Solina Chau
. In March 2000, it was listed on the Growth Enterprise Market
as HKEx:8001. The Group subsequently transferred its listing to the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (stock code: 2383).
, the Group has regional offices in Beijing
, Shanghai
and Taipei
and operating bases in about twenty cities. The Group generated revenues of HK$2,728 million in 2008, a 2% growth over 2007. Sing Wang has been the CEO up to end of 2005, the then CFO Tommei Tong was promoted to CEO in January 2006. Tommei Tong resigned in early 2008 and Ken Yeung was appointed as the CEO of TOM Group since 26 March 2008. Angela Mak Soek Fun
was also appointed as the CFO.
, MMS
, WAP
, IVR, RBT
, and Java ME.
TOM has acquired the exclusive rights to operate the official NBA websites in Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The NBA official site in the Mainland was launched in October 2008 with live broadcast of games and various social networking features for sports fans to communicate, interact and share.
In addition, through TOM-Skype, a joint venture with Skype
, the Company offers peer-to-peer
software that allows mainland Chinese users to communicate using IM, voice and video. At the end of 2008, TOM-Skype had 80 million registered users.
Also under the internet division is a C2C
e-commerce platform TOM Eachnet. By integrating the internet technologies into the online products and services, the company is working towards a direction to deliver a seamless online-to-mobile experience.
expert in mainland China, TOM Outdoor Media Group (OMG) operates an extensive advertising billboard and unipole network with media assets space over 300,000 square meters covering nearly 60 cities. Capitalizing on its innovative media and comprehensive network, OMG has 15 subsidiaries located in major cities including Beijing
, Shanghai
, Shenzhen
and Chengdu
to provide clients with tailor-made services and one-stop shop solutions. To capture cross-strait opportunities, the company has acquired assets in second-tier cities, underpinned by the acquisition of over 140 units of media assets including billboards, unipoles and light boxes in Fuzhou Airport, totalling over 3,500 square metres.
, a 24-hour Putonghua general entertainment channel providing the latest Asian and International entertainment programming, as well as bringing pioneering and innovative original productions to Mainland China audiences.
CETV was the first of the 6 foreign satellite television channels to have been granted landing rights into the cable systems of Guangdong
, and has also secured nationwide distribution via the Central Platform, covering hotels and foreign apartment compounds. In aggregate, with distribution via the AsiaSat 3S and Sinosat platforms, it is estimated that CETV now reaches approximately 21 million households throughout Mainland China.
Hit programming for the Channel include the renowned Korean dramas “Jewel In The Palace” and “The Legendary Doctor – Hur Jun”, as well as original productions “Super Search Warrant” and “Scent Of A Woman”. Original programming of CETV is now being syndicated to Hunan, Fujian, Henan and other local networks.
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
in the Greater China
Greater China
Greater China is a term used to refer to mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. As a "phrase of the moment", the precise meaning is not entirely clear, and people may use it for only the commercial ties, only the cultural actions, or even as a euphemism for the Two Chinas, while others may...
region, with business interests across markets in Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Its business covers four media sectors, Internet (TOM Online
TOM Online
TOM Online is a mobile Internet company in China, operating the popular Chinese-language Internet portal and offering a variety of online and mobile services, including wireless internet and online advertising. The TOM Group is the majority shareholder...
), Outdoor (TOM Outdoor Media Group), Publishing, and Television and Entertainment.
In 2008, TOM Group was crowned In-House of the Year - Media & Entertainment In-House Team of the Year at the 2008 ALB Hong Kong Law Awards.
History
The TOM Group was founded in October 1999 as a joint ventureJoint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
between Hutchison Whampoa
Hutchison Whampoa
Hutchison Whampoa Limited or HWL of Hong Kong is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. HWL is an international corporation with a diverse array of holdings which includes the world's biggest port and telecommunication operations in 14...
, Cheung Kong Holdings, and other strategic investors, principally Solina Chau
Solina Chau
Solina Chau Hoi Shuen is a businesswoman in Hong Kong, a business partner in the Cheung Kong Group, and director of the Li Ka Shing Foundation...
. In March 2000, it was listed on the Growth Enterprise Market
Growth Enterprise Market
Growth Enterprise Market is a stock market set up by Stock Exchange of Hong Kong for growth companies that do not fulfill the requirements of profitability or track record....
as HKEx:8001. The Group subsequently transferred its listing to the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (stock code: 2383).
Operations
Headquartered in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, the Group has regional offices in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
and operating bases in about twenty cities. The Group generated revenues of HK$2,728 million in 2008, a 2% growth over 2007. Sing Wang has been the CEO up to end of 2005, the then CFO Tommei Tong was promoted to CEO in January 2006. Tommei Tong resigned in early 2008 and Ken Yeung was appointed as the CEO of TOM Group since 26 March 2008. Angela Mak Soek Fun
Angela Mak Soek Fun
Angela Mak Soek Fun is the chief financial officer and executive director of TOM Group .-Career:A practicing solicitor in New South Wales, England and Wales and Hong Kong with more than 10 years of experience in managing corporate and commercial matters, Mak joined TOM in 2000 as General Counsel...
was also appointed as the CFO.
Internet
TOM Group’s internet arm targets the young, trendy and technology-savvy demographic, serving around 300 million online users. The portal has been upgraded and is transitioning to a tool- and user-centric widgetised open platform. TOM’s wireless division serves a wireless user base of some 400 million people, offering a range of products and services including SMSSMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
, MMS
Multimedia Messaging Service
Multimedia Messaging Service, or MMS, is a standard way to send messages that include multimedia content to and from mobile phones. It extends the core SMS capability that allowed exchange of text messages only up to 160 characters in length.The most popular use is to send photographs from...
, WAP
Wireless Application Protocol
Wireless Application Protocol is a technical standard for accessing information over a mobile wireless network.A WAP browser is a web browser for mobile devices such as mobile phones that uses the protocol.Before the introduction of WAP, mobile service providers had limited opportunities to offer...
, IVR, RBT
RBT
RBT may refer to:* Ringback tone, audible ringing that is heard on the telephone line by the calling party after dialing and prior to the call being answered...
, and Java ME.
TOM has acquired the exclusive rights to operate the official NBA websites in Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The NBA official site in the Mainland was launched in October 2008 with live broadcast of games and various social networking features for sports fans to communicate, interact and share.
In addition, through TOM-Skype, a joint venture with Skype
Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
, the Company offers peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer computing or networking is a distributed application architecture that partitions tasks or workloads among peers. Peers are equally privileged, equipotent participants in the application...
software that allows mainland Chinese users to communicate using IM, voice and video. At the end of 2008, TOM-Skype had 80 million registered users.
Also under the internet division is a C2C
Copy to China
Copy to China refers to when a company in China copies the business model of a successful foreign company, especially web and other IT companies. Such companies have often been very successful, out-competing the foreign company on the Chinese market...
e-commerce platform TOM Eachnet. By integrating the internet technologies into the online products and services, the company is working towards a direction to deliver a seamless online-to-mobile experience.
Outdoor media
As an outdoor advertisingAdvertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
expert in mainland China, TOM Outdoor Media Group (OMG) operates an extensive advertising billboard and unipole network with media assets space over 300,000 square meters covering nearly 60 cities. Capitalizing on its innovative media and comprehensive network, OMG has 15 subsidiaries located in major cities including Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
and Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
to provide clients with tailor-made services and one-stop shop solutions. To capture cross-strait opportunities, the company has acquired assets in second-tier cities, underpinned by the acquisition of over 140 units of media assets including billboards, unipoles and light boxes in Fuzhou Airport, totalling over 3,500 square metres.
Publishing
TOM Group publishing arm has developed into a unique publishing platform in Greater China. Through the formation of joint ventures, TOM Group is able to substantially increase its presence in the publishing market on the Mainland. In Taiwan, a total of 40 publishers are consolidated under Cite Publishing Holding Group, the top-ranked magazines and books publishing group in the region. In Hong Kong, the CUP magazine is very popular among young business executives. Over 60 magazine titles with annual printing volume exceeding 29 million copies; a total of 5 new magazines on computer, digital related and lifestyle genres were launched. More than 2,000 new book titles; and the annual printing volume reached to 19 million copies; a total catalogue of 14,000 titles out of which 400 more were licensed for local production by publishers in Mainland China.TV & entertainment
TOM Group is the majority shareholder of CETVCETV
China Entertainment Television is a Mandarin Chinese-language satellite television channel in the Greater China region, owned jointly by the Hong Kong-based TOM Group and the United States’ TBS Networks . The broadcaster is based in Shenzhen, China.- External links :...
, a 24-hour Putonghua general entertainment channel providing the latest Asian and International entertainment programming, as well as bringing pioneering and innovative original productions to Mainland China audiences.
CETV was the first of the 6 foreign satellite television channels to have been granted landing rights into the cable systems of Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, and has also secured nationwide distribution via the Central Platform, covering hotels and foreign apartment compounds. In aggregate, with distribution via the AsiaSat 3S and Sinosat platforms, it is estimated that CETV now reaches approximately 21 million households throughout Mainland China.
Hit programming for the Channel include the renowned Korean dramas “Jewel In The Palace” and “The Legendary Doctor – Hur Jun”, as well as original productions “Super Search Warrant” and “Scent Of A Woman”. Original programming of CETV is now being syndicated to Hunan, Fujian, Henan and other local networks.
Competition
Other publishing rivals include:- Sing Tao Holdings Ltd.
- Hong Kong Standard
- Next MediaNext MediaNext Media Limited , founded by serial entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, has more than 3,600 employees and is the largest-listed media company in Hong Kong....
and Apple DailyApple DailyApple Daily is a Hong-Kong-based tabloid-style newspaper founded in 1995 by Jimmy Lai Chee Ying and is published by its company, Next Media. A sister publication carrying the same name is published in Taiwan, Republic of China under a joint venture between Next Media and other Taiwanese companies... - SCMP GroupSCMP GroupThe SCMP Group is a publishing group in Hong Kong. SCMP publishes:* South China Morning Post - a daily English-language newspaper in Hong Kong* Hong Kong edition of Cosmopolitan, CosmoGirl and Harpar's Bazaar* Automobile...