mm2 Asia and Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), through its wholly owned subsidiary SPH Invest, will jointly operate AsiaOne, introducing more lifestyle and entertainment content to the 23-year-old online news site, the listed companies said in a joint statement yesterday.

mm2 and SPH Invest now own 51 per cent and 49 per cent interest, respectively, in AsiaOne Online, the operating joint venture company.

"We are excited to work with SPH on building up the AsiaOne brand across Asia. mm2 has always been observing and experimenting with different initiatives in digital content production and distribution," said mm2 group chief executive Chang Long Jong.

He added: "We hope to create engaging digital content, especially in video-based formats. We would also like to inject into AsiaOne our 'mm2 DNA' and create content centred on lifestyle and entertainment.

"As consumers of digital content ourselves, my team and I are eager to serve the growing local and regional demand for relevant and interactive digital editorial and video content."

Noting that AsiaOne was one of the first online news portals that rode on the Internet wave in the late 1990s, SPH deputy CEO Anthony Tan said the company looks forward to working with mm2 on its new phase of expansion to grow its audience locally as well as regionally.

"With more lifestyle and entertainment content added to the news site, AsiaOne will have a broader appeal and wider reach," he said.

"Coupled with the adoption of new technologies, especially in the mobile space, the product will better serve our readers and advertisers."

Ms Suzie Wang will be helming AsiaOne Online as its new CEO, while also taking on the role as head of mm2's digital media group.

She was formerly a vice-president of non-linear production and content distribution with Mediacorp.

Singapore-based AsiaOne was founded in 1995 by SPH. Since a relaunch in May last year, AsiaOne now focuses on social news and trending topics that are being discussed in Singapore, Malaysia and the region.