Mediacorp is laying off 93 employees, or slightly over 3% of its total staff strength, to adapt to “the
rapidly evolving media landscape and to better align its operations amid the prevailing economic and commercial uncertainty.”
The company did not detail the departments affected by the retrenchment, but shared that it was an organisation-wide exercise, according to CNA.
Affected staff will have until the end of Sept to apply for alternative roles within the organisation, however, those who are unsuccessful will see their employment end after Sept 30.
They will receive a severance payment of one month per year of service, up to 25 months or S$250,000, depending on their years of service, current salary, and seniority. In addition, they will also get a training grant to support skills upgrading and preparation for future career opportunities.
Mediacorp is also partnering with the National Trades Union Congress’ (NTUC) Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to provide job-matching services and career guidance.
All affected employees will continue to have access to Mediacorp’s wellbeing support programme for up to one year. They will also receive support from the Singapore Union of Broadcasting Employees (SUBE).
A rapidly changing media landscape & economic uncertainty
Mediacorp’s announcement comes amid a wave of restructuring across the media industry. In Jul, Tech in Asia said it was streamlining operations, cutting staff, and shutting down its Indonesian publication as part of cost-saving measures.
Globally, media companies are also grappling with shifts in audience behaviour and advertising models, with short-form, mobile-first, and social-driven content rising in dominance while traditional long-form formats face mounting pressure.
Mediacorp noted these changes, stating: “Client expectations have also evolved. 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 headwinds are compounded by global economic pressures, including inflation, trade disruptions, and market volatility—challenges that have impacted not just the media sector, but also industries such as technology, logistics, and F&B, many of which have seen significant layoffs in recent months.
For instance, logistics provider Ninja Van has laid off about 12% of its Singapore workforce on Aug 12, and had also previously conducted layoffs in Apr and Jul 2024.
Just about a week ago, 30 employees were laid off by Changi Travel Services, with the company citing a “strategic review amid evolving market conditions.”
Mediacorp said it has been taking proactive steps to respond to these shifts over the years by rationalising its content portfolio, reallocating resources toward higher-growth platforms, and investing in new creative and operational capabilities.
“These changes 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.”
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