Singapore’s national broadcaster Mediacorp is laying off about 3% of its workforce in a move the national broadcaster says is in response to the “rapidly evolving media landscape".  

A total of 93 positions are impacted by the first decision of its kind made public in Singapore in TV industry memory, indicating the dramatic scale of the challenges facing traditional platforms. Mediacorp's last layoffs in 2018 were all related to its move from print publications to digital.

Affected staffers are being given until 30 September to apply for other roles within the organisation. Retrenchment packages involve payment of one month per year of service, up to 25 months or S$250,000, as well as re-skilling grants.

Announcing the move this afternoon, Mediacorp said the staffing adjustments would allow the company to “better align its operations amid the prevailing economic and commercial uncertainty”. 

“Over the past few years, the media environment has undergone rapid and fundamental transformation. Short-form, mobile-first and social-driven formats are becoming dominant, while traditional long-form content and platforms face growing pressure to compete for audience attention and commercial revenue,” Mediacorp said.

Client expectations have also evolved, the corporation added.

“There is increasing demand for more agile, tailored and platform-native campaigns that deliver measurable performance. Content-driven strategies and cross-platform delivery are now norms in the media ecosystem.”

“These industry trends are set against the backdrop of an increasingly uncertain economic and commercial landscape. Global macro-economic pressures – such as inflation, trade disruptions and market volatility – have added further complexity.”

Mediacorp said it had for several years “been taking proactive steps to rationalise its content portfolio and reallocate resources toward formats and platforms with stronger growth opportunities”. 

The changes implemented support the company’s “continued commitment to fulfilling its role as Singapore’s national media network and strengthening its ability to serve audiences with meaningful, high-quality content”. 

“Mediacorp has made efforts over the years to adapt to change while prioritising job preservation. The company has undertaken process improvements, implemented cost-saving initiatives, and made careful trade-offs to preserve roles and provide stability. However, the scale and pace of transformation now require further action to strengthen long-term organisational sustainability. One of these adjustments is a reduction in the current workforce.” 

“This is a difficult decision and one not taken lightly,” said Tham Loke Kheng, CEO, Mediacorp.