Nation Group Explained

Nation Group (Thailand) PCL
Type:	Public
Location City:	1858/118–119, 121–122, 124–130, Interlink Tower 27th-32nd Fl, Bangna-Trad Rd, Bang Na, Bangkok^[1]
Location Country:	Thailand
Key People:	Ms Duangkamol Chotana (CEO)^[2]
Industry:	Media and publishing
Revenue:	3.2 billion baht (2015)^[3]
Net Income:	35.6 million baht (2015)
Assets:	8.2 billion baht (2015)
Equity:	3.9 billion baht (2015)
Owner:	News Network Corporation PCL

Nation Group (Thailand) Public Company Limited (NATION) (Thai: บริษัท เนชั่น กรุ๊ป (ไทยแลนด์) จำกัด (มหาชน)) is one of Thailand's largest media companies. The company operates two digital television stations, three national newspapers (English, Thai business, and Thai mass circulation), a university, a book and cartoon unit, printing and logistics operations, and new media and digital platforms. Its symbol on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is "NATION".

History

Nation Group was founded on 1 July 1971 by a group of Thai journalists with the launch of The Voice of the Nation, an English language newspaper. It was later renamed The Nation with the motto "Thailand's Independent Newspaper". The company later expanded into Thai business newspaper publishing and television media, both of which are number one in their respective news categories in Thailand. Nation Group is a founding member of Asia News Network, an alliance of 21 media in 19 Asian countries.

In January 2018 the Nation Multimedia Group, in a hostile acquisition, was taken over by Sontiyan Chuenruetainaidhama, founder of conservative outlets T News and INN News.^[4]

Significant developments

1971: Nation Group founded to publish the country's first Thai-owned and managed English newspaper.
1976: Business Review Co established to publish The Nation Review newspaper, forerunner of The Nation.
1987: Krungthep Turakij launched as a daily Thai-language business newspaper.
1988: Company renamed "Nation Publishing Group Co Ltd" in preparation for listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).
1990: License received to locally print and distribute The Asian Wall Street Journal and Yomiuri Shimbun.
1992: Nation Radio established and two new publications launched, Nation Weekender and Nation Junior.
1996: Company renamed "Nation Multimedia Group Public Company Limited".
2000: Nation Channel, Thailand's first 24-hour news television station began broadcasts.
2001: Kom Chad Luek launched as a daily Thai-language mass-circulation newspaper.
2002: Nation Books established to support rising demand in the paperback industry.
2005: WPS (Thailand) Co Ltd established to handle the printing business.
2006: Kyodo Nation Printing Services Co Ltd launched to provide commercial printing services.
2011: Nation U Co Ltd established to operate Nation University.
2013: Licenses received to operate two digital television channels, "NOW 26" and "Nation TV".
2019: Paper issues of the English-language daily The Nation will be discontinued, replaced by an online edition. The last paper copy will be the 28 June edition.^[5]
2020: There was a consumer activism campaign against sponsors of Nation Multimedia Group during the 2020 Thai protests due to the former's "pro-establishment bias".^[6] ^[7] ^[8]
2022: Company renamed "Nation Group (Thailand) Public Company Limited"

Organization

The Nation Group operates eight business units:

Thai-language Business News Unit, Krungthep Media Company Limited (KTM)
General Thai News Business Unit, Kom Chad Luek Media Company Limited (KMM)
English News Business Unit, Nation News Network Company Limited (NNN)
Digital TV Business Unit

Spring 26 Digital TV Channel: Spring 26 Company Limited

Nation TV 22: Nation TV Company Limited (NTV)
Edutainment and International Business Business Unit, Nation International Edutainment PLC.
Printing Business Unit, WPS (Thailand) Company Limited (WPS)
Logistics Business Unit, NML Co., Ltd.
Education Business Unit, Nation U Co., Ltd.

Publications

The Nation Multimedia Group publishes the following:

Krungthep Thurakij (Bangkok Business News): A daily Thai-language business newspaper with circulation in the 80,000-100,000 range. This paper is also popular with Thai intellectuals. Its political stance is progressive.
Kom Chad Luek (Sharp, Clear, Deep): A mass-circulation, Thai-language daily, with circulation in the 500,000-600,000 range. It was launched in 2001.^[9]
The Nation

An English-language daily with circulation in the 60,000-80,000 range. Maintains a progressive editorial line.

NJ Digital: A youth-targeted multimedia English learning.
Nation Weekend: A weekly Thai-language news magazine.

Notes and References

Web site: NMG: Nation Multimedia Group PCL; Profile. Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). 21 July 2016. 15 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815102538/http://www.set.or.th/set/companyprofile.do?symbol=NMG&ssoPageId=4&language=en&country=US. live.
Book: Nation Multimedia Group PCL; Annual Report 2015. Nation Group. Bangkok. 21 July 2016. English. 14 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160914015747/http://www.nationgroup.com/attachfile/Annual_Report_2015_EN.pdf. live.
Web site: NMG: Nation Multimedia Group PCL; F/S & Highlights. Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). 21 July 2016. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075330/http://www.set.or.th/set/companyhighlight.do?symbol=NMG&ssoPageId=5&language=en&country=US. live.
News: Thaitrakulpanich. Asaree. NATION MULTIMEDIA TAKEN OVER BY FAR-RIGHT NEWS CORP. 22 January 2018. Khaosod English. 22 January 2018. 23 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180123072202/http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/business/2018/01/22/nation-multimedia-taken-far-right-news-corp/. live.
News: THE NATION TO DITCH PAPER EDITION: SOURCE . 2019-05-16 . Khaosod English . 2019-05-15 . 2019-05-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190518012814/http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/business/2019/05/15/the-nation-to-ditch-paper-edition-source/ . live .
News: Advertisers scramble to curb 'cancel' damage . Bangkok Post . 2020-09-17 . 2020-08-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200824211842/https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1972739/advertisers-scramble-to-curb-cancel-damage . live .
News: Thai protest boycotts force businesses to pick sides. Reuters. 26 August 2020. 17 September 2020. 19 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919042915/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-protests-business-analysis-idUSKBN25M0X6. live.
Web site: Boycott calls spread from regime backers to celeb targets | Coconuts . 2020-09-17 . 2021-01-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210120143431/https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/boycott-calls-spread-from-regime-backers-to-celeb-targets/ . live .
News: Limsamarnphun . Nophakhun . New paper aims to tap market's vast potential . 21 July 2016 . The Nation . 2001-10-29 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20030709090907/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/page.arcview.php3?clid=6&id=50526&usrsess=1 . 9 July 2003 .