TOM Group

TOM Group Limited (SEHK: 2383) 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.[1]

History

The TOM Group was founded in October 1999 as a joint venture between Cheung Kong–Hutchison Group, Solina Chau and other investors. In March 2000, it was listed on the Growth Enterprise Market (ticker symbol: 8001). The Group has subsequently transferred its listing to the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (ticker symbol: 2383).

Operations

Headquartered in Hong Kong, the Group has regional offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei and operating bases in about twenty cities.

Technology

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 SMS, 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.[2] 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 offered peer-to-peer software that allows mainland Chinese users to communicate using IM, voice and video. However, Microsoft terminated the contract in 2013.[3]

Also under the internet division is a C2C e-commerce platform TOM Eachnet.

In June 2014, TOM group also invested in a Chinese fintech player, WeLab, which is a company that operates online lending platforms in Hong Kong and China.[4]

Publishing

TOM Group publishing arm has developed into a publishing platform in Greater China. In Taiwan, a total of 40 publishers are consolidated under Cite Publishing Holding Group. 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.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.legalbusinessonline.com.au
  2. ↑ Staci D. Kramer (October 20, 2008). "Tom Group, NBA Partner On Chinese Web Sites; Free Live Games Online Daily During Regular Season". cbsnews.com. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  3. ↑ Carsten, Paul (November 27, 2013). "Microsoft blocks censorship of Skype in China: advocacy group". reuters.com. Beijing. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  4. ↑ Dorbian, Iris (June 16, 2014). "Sequoia Capital and TOM Group invest in WeLab". pehub.com. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  • Leung, H. "Forms snapped up in two hours; Stampede as tom.com goes public," Hong Kong Standard, 19 February 2000.
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