More than two decades after it was launched, and just months after it comprehensively revamped its website, news and lifestyle aggregator AsiaOne is expected to shut down as early as next month.
Various sources in Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) told Yahoo News Singapore on Friday (13 October) that the AsiaOne team, comprising about 10 members of staff, will be re-deployed to the Straits Times Digital team.
Yahoo News Singapore sent queries to SPH on the reasons for the planned shutdown of AsiaOne and has yet to receive a response.
AsiaOne is the primary content aggregator for SPH’s publications, featuring stories from the likes of The Straits Times and The New Paper, while also syndicating content from SPH magazines, such as Her World.
According to a YouGov poll released on Wednesday, AsiaOne was ranked by millennials as the most-improved brand.
In May, it touted a new logo, look and content mix, focusing on social news and trending topics in Singapore and the region.
The news comes on the back of Wednesday’s announcement that SPH will be cutting 230 jobs by the end of the year, as part of a previously announced 10 per cent reduction in its work force.
On Thursday, there were emotional scenes at the News Centre in Toa Payoh as the media giant began retrenching 130 employees. Flagship paper The Straits Times saw dozens of employees cut, while The Business Times lost 15 staff members.
It is a bit pitiful. I use to read news from there.