Latest news with #ChatriSityodtong
Time Out
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
ONE Championship goes all-in on Bangkok
When it comes to sports that dominate weekend buzz, ONE Championship is always in the spotlight. Since launching in Singapore in 2011, this combat sports powerhouse has exploded onto the global stage, becoming one of the biggest names in martial arts. Though many of its adrenaline-pumping bouts happen in Thailand, the heart of its global operations has stayed in Singapore – until now. Big news: ONE is packing up and heading to Bangkok. That's right, the capital is about to become the new international production hub of one of the world's fiercest fight scenes. In a statement posted on their Facebook page on June 30, the company confirmed the relocation of its production hub from the Lion City to the Big Mango. The decision, it said, was driven by rising production demands, improved logistical efficiency and the growing scale of its flagship weekly series, ONE Friday Fights. Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong explained, 'Over the past two and a half years, Thailand has become central to our global content production. As we continue to scale, this move will allow us to centralise operations and improve coordination while increasing our event and content production capabilities.' The shift comes as the ONE Lumpinee events continue to fuel Asia's fight scene, now contributing over B16 billion annually to the Thai economy. The weekly bouts are now broadcast to 195 countries during primetime hours across Asia and the momentum isn't slowing. A brand-new, traditional five-round Muay Thai series is also in the works and slated to debut later this year. While this move marks a major shift, Singapore will continue to serve as a corporate headquarters, handling investor relations, strategic planning and senior leadership operations. To date, the martial arts organisation has staged over 50 events annually at Lumpinee Stadium. It's clear that the kingdom is no longer just the setting for the action – it's now driving it, both in and out of the ring. With ONE's bold leap and Thailand's growing ambition including the buzz around potentially bringing Formula 1 to the country, we are racing toward becoming a global sports tourism hotspot. So, what's next on the horizon? Which major sporting event do you think we will host next?
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
ONE Championship shifts global production hub to Bangkok as revenue ‘nears US$200 million'
ONE Championship has officially moved its global production operations to Bangkok – marking another shift in the martial arts promotion's centre of gravity, as it leans deeper into its weekly Lumpinee Stadium events and reports a sharp rise in revenue. The company confirmed on Monday that it has relocated its production hub from Singapore to the Thai capital, citing increased output, logistical efficiency, and the growing scale of its weekly ONE Friday Fights broadcasts. 'This move allows us to centralise production and improve coordination,' ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong said in a statement, adding that Thailand has 'played a key role in our global production efforts over the past two and a half years.' The decision comes amid what Chatri called a 'step forward' in the company's growth as a media property – revealing that ONE's overall revenue for 2025 is 'approaching US$200 million,' up from US$148 million last year. Bangkok's operational importance has risen steadily since the launch of ONE Friday Fights in January 2023, with the weekly shows now broadcast to 195 countries during primetime hours in Asia. A new traditional five-round Muay Thai series is also in the pipeline, set to debut later this year. Singapore will remain the company's corporate headquarters, home to investor relations, strategic planning, and senior leadership, the statement added. The firm also remains domiciled in the Cayman Islands as 'part of long-term capital planning and corporate structuring'. 'This is a step forward in our evolution as a global sports media property,' Chatri said. A recent Nielsen study claimed ONE contributes more than US$470 million in annual economic impact to Thailand – figures the promotion has leaned on to underscore its growing role in the local sports and tourism ecosystem. ONE now runs more than 50 shows annually at Lumpinee Stadium alone, forming the backbone of its global content output. Its long-term strategy appears increasingly tied to Thailand – both in the ring and behind the scenes. The company did not disclose whether the move would affect staffing levels in Singapore but reiterated its long-term commitment to the city-state. 'We remain committed to Singapore while re-allocating resources to where it makes the most operational sense,' Chatri added. ONE was reported by Bloomberg to have raised US$50 million in new funding from the Qatar Investment Authority and a group of investors last October, soon after making a 'few dozen' job cuts including some at its Singapore headquarters in a bid for profitability, according to AFP.
Business Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
One Championship to relocate global production hub from Singapore to Bangkok
[SINGAPORE] One Championship announced on Monday (Jun 30) that it will relocate its global production hub from Singapore to Bangkok, with the move aiming to 'centralise production' and better support the company's expanding content operations. The mixed martial arts organisation, which was founded 14 years ago in 2011, said it will continue to maintain its global corporate headquarters in Singapore. One Championship's chairman and chief executive Chatri Sityodtong said that Thailand has played a key role in the company's global production efforts over the past two-and-a-half years. 'As we scale our operations, this move allows us to centralise production and improve coordination, while continuing to grow our event and content output,' he added. Sityodtong said the move to make Bangkok as the primary production base for global content delivery is 'a step forward in our evolution as a global sports media property'. 'We remain committed to Singapore while reallocating resources to where it makes the most operational sense,' he said. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up The statement on Monday said that Bangkok has 'steadily grown in operational importance' for One Championship, with the weekly One Friday Fights event taking place at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in the Thai capital. These shows are broadcast to some 195 countries during Asia prime-time hours. A recent Nielsen study estimated that One Championship generates US$470 million annually in economic value for Thailand. 'Given the scale and consistency of these events, consolidating production in Thailand is a logical next step operationally,' the statement said. 'The company has also aggressively adopted artificial intelligence-powered tools for its global content engine across all platforms, boosting productivity and efficiency while streamlining operations.' The statement did not say how many employees, if any, would be impacted by the relocation of the global production hub to Bangkok. When approached for comments, One Championship's co-founder and group president Teh Hua Fung told The Business Times that the relocation is an ongoing process. The plan in the near term is to hire an additional 50 people in Thailand, of which 20 have already been recruited. 'Singapore is still the country with the most staff today, and also remains our global corporate headquarters,' said Teh, adding that Singapore is home to the company's senior leadership, investor relations and strategic planning. Last October, it was reported that One Championship laid off a few dozen employees as part of a cost-cutting strategy to bring the company to profitability. In an internal e-mail sent to staff on Oct 16, Sityodtong wrote that the company was 'on the verge' of profitability on the back of 'record revenues and cost efficiencies', alongside strong viewership numbers. The company has continued to achieve 'new highs' in its key markets, especially across Asia, he said then. Fighters in action at the One Friday Fights shows in Bangkok. These shows are broadcast to some 195 countries during Asia prime-time hours. PHOTO: ONE CHAMPIONSHIP Growing revenues One Championship re-domiciled to the Cayman Islands in 2022 as part of its long-term capital planning and corporate structuring. Based on latest available figures provided to BT on Monday, the company's annual revenues over the last five financial years have shown a steady increase. Revenue for FY2020 stood at US$57 million, and this went up to US$68 million (FY2021), US$84 million (FY2022) and US$128 million (FY2023). The expected revenue for FY2024 is US$143 million. 'Our revenue has been growing steadily year on year and will be approaching US$200 million this year,' said Teh. Apart from the One Friday Fights in Bangkok, One Championship continues to stage events in other parts of the world. Earlier this year, there was a major show in the Qatari city of Lusail in February, as well as in the Japanese city of Saitama in March. Its website stated that the next two events outside of Thailand will take place in Tokyo in November, and in the US state of Colorado in June 2026. The latter event was originally scheduled to take place this August, but it was moved to next June after the advertised main event and several other world championship bouts could not take place as scheduled. The last time One Championship held a live event in Singapore was the One Fight Night show in September 2023 at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang.
