In a move underscoring the seismic shifts in the global media landscape, Singapore’s national media network, Mediacorp, announced on September 1, 2025, the retrenchment of 93 employees—over 3 percent of its workforce. The layoffs, described by the company as a necessary adaptation to a rapidly evolving media environment, highlight the mounting pressures on traditional media outlets to remain financially viable amid technological disruption and economic uncertainty. As Mediacorp grapples with these challenges, the broader implications for Singapore’s media industry and its workers come into sharp focus.
Retrenchment Details and Support Measures
Mediacorp, the parent company of Channel NewsAsia (CNA), revealed that the layoffs are part of an organization-wide exercise, though specific departments affected were not disclosed. The company has given impacted staff until the end of September 2025 to apply for alternative roles within the organization. For those unable to secure new positions, their last day of employment will be September 30, 2025.
To ease the transition, Mediacorp is offering severance packages of one month’s pay per year of service, capped at 25 months or S$250,000 (approximately US$191,000 as of early September 2025), depending on tenure, salary, and seniority. Additional support includes a training grant for skills upgrading, access to the company’s wellbeing program for up to a year, and collaboration with the National Trades Union Congress’ (NTUC) Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) for job-matching services and career guidance. The Singapore Union of Broadcasting Employees (SUBE) will also provide assistance during this period. 
Tham Loke Kheng, Mediacorp’s CEO, expressed regret over the decision, stating on September 1, 2025, “This is a difficult decision and one not taken lightly. We are deeply grateful to our colleagues for their contributions, and our priority at this point is to ensure that those affected are supported with care, humility, and dignity during this transition.” The statement reflects the company’s attempt to balance corporate restructuring with compassion for its workforce.
A Rapidly Changing Media Landscape
The layoffs at Mediacorp are not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of broader trends reshaping the media industry worldwide. The company highlighted the shift toward short-form, mobile-first, and social-driven content formats, which have increasingly dominated audience attention and advertising revenue. Traditional long-form content and platforms, once the backbone of media organizations, are under growing pressure to compete in a fragmented digital ecosystem.
Client expectations have also evolved, with advertisers demanding agile, platform-native campaigns that deliver measurable results. Broadsheet Asia notes that content-driven strategies and cross-platform delivery have become industry norms, requiring significant investment in new creative and operational capabilities. At the same time, global macroeconomic challenges—such as inflation, trade disruptions, and market volatility—have compounded the financial strain on media companies, making cost-cutting measures like layoffs an unavoidable reality for many.
For several years, Mediacorp has been taking steps to adapt to these changes, including rationalizing its content portfolio and reallocating resources toward high-growth formats and platforms. The company has also reshaped parts of its organization to focus on emerging talent and skillsets critical for the future of content creation. Despite these efforts, the scale and pace of transformation have necessitated a reduction in workforce to ensure long-term sustainability.
Union Response and Worker Support
The Singapore Union of Broadcasting Employees (SUBE) was informed in advance of the layoffs and has worked closely with Mediacorp’s management to support affected workers. In a statement on September 1, 2025, SUBE emphasized its commitment to exploring redeployment opportunities within the organization where feasible. The union is also collaborating with NTUC’s Infocomm and Media Cluster and the wider labor movement to provide additional assistance.
Desmond Choo, SUBE advisor and NTUC’s deputy secretary-general, acknowledged the broader industry shifts driving the layoffs, noting on the same date, “We understand that the media industry is undergoing significant changes, driven by technological advancements and evolving audience content habits. SUBE is committed to standing alongside our members during this transition.” He highlighted upcoming initiatives, including a job fair organized in partnership with Mediacorp and e2i, aimed at connecting affected workers with potential employers and offering employability guidance.
Singaporean workers impacted by the layoffs can also access the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme through e2i’s job search activities. This program provides temporary financial support of up to S$6,000 (approximately US$4,600) over six months for involuntarily unemployed individuals, with payouts tied to meeting monthly job search requirements. Eligible union members can further tap into the Union Training Assistance Programme to offset training costs for skills upgrading, while SUBE offers additional financial hardship assistance.
Broader Implications for Singapore’s Media Sector
The retrenchment at Mediacorp raises critical questions about the future of Singapore’s media industry, which has long been a cornerstone of the city-state’s information ecosystem. As the national media network, Mediacorp plays a dual role: delivering high-quality content to local and regional audiences while fulfilling public service obligations. However, the financial realities of operating in a digital-first world have forced even state-backed entities like Mediacorp to prioritize cost efficiency over job preservation.
The shift to digital platforms has disrupted traditional revenue models, with advertising dollars increasingly flowing to global tech giants like Google and Meta rather than local media outlets. Paywalls, subscriptions, and diversification into ancillary services—such as financial forecasting or city guides—offer potential lifelines, but they come with their own challenges. Audience willingness to pay for news content remains limited against the background of a public Internet and social media, where free information is abundant, and diversification often requires significant upfront investment with uncertain returns.
Moreover, the rise of short-form content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram has fundamentally altered how younger audiences consume news, further eroding the relevance of traditional broadcasters. Media companies must now compete not only with each other but also with individual content creators who can produce viral, low-cost content at a fraction of the overhead. For Mediacorp, investing in new talent and digital capabilities is a necessary gamble, but it comes at the expense of long-serving staff who may lack the skills to transition into these emerging roles.
Economic and Social Context
The layoffs at Mediacorp also reflect broader economic pressures facing Singapore in 2025. Despite its reputation as a financial hub, the city-state is not immune to global headwinds such as inflation and market volatility. The media sector, often seen as a bellwether for discretionary spending, is particularly vulnerable to downturns in advertising budgets as businesses tighten their belts. This economic uncertainty amplifies the challenges of restructuring for companies like Mediacorp, which must balance fiscal responsibility with their role as a national institution.
On a social level, the layoffs highlight the human cost of technological disruption. The affected workers face not only financial uncertainty but also the emotional toll of career upheaval. While Mediacorp and SUBE have rolled out comprehensive support measures, the reality is that reemployment in a rapidly changing industry is far from guaranteed. For older workers or those with specialized skills tied to traditional media, the path to upskilling and finding comparable roles may be particularly arduous.
Looking Ahead: Can Media Adapt?
As Mediacorp navigates this latest round of restructuring, the question remains whether traditional media organizations can truly adapt to the digital age without sacrificing their core mission. The company’s commitment to serving audiences with “meaningful, high-quality content” is laudable, but it must be underpinned by a sustainable business model that can withstand the relentless pace of change.
For Singapore, a nation that prides itself on innovation and resilience, the challenges facing Mediacorp are a microcosm of broader tensions between progress and stability. How the government, unions, and private sector collaborate to support displaced workers will be a critical test of the city-state’s social safety net. Equally important is whether Mediacorp can reinvent itself as a leader in the digital media space, leveraging its national mandate to carve out a unique niche amid global competition.
As the dust settles on this round of layoffs, the media industry in Singapore—and across Southeast Asia—stands at a crossroads. The path forward is uncertain, but one thing is clear: adaptation is no longer optional. For Mediacorp and its peers, the ability to evolve while preserving trust and relevance will determine their survival in an increasingly unforgiving landscape.
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