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BIBLIOASIA APR – JUN 2016 Vol. 12 / Issue 01 / Feature

Mention Growing Up to any 30-something A lawyer by training, Lau Joon-Nie spent 15 TV fan and watch his or her face years in broadcast as a reporter, light up with a wistful look of nostalgia. Sin- interactive producer, current affairs producer gapore’s longest-running English language and editor at ’s Channel News mdrama series – which debuted in 1996 and and its predecessors SBC News and ended its run in 20011 – ran for six seasons, TCS News. She now heads Newsplex Asia, a detailing the ups and downs of the fictional convergent training newsroom and media lab at the Nanyang Technological University. Tay family who lived through the 1960s to the 80s. Viewers lapped up the meticulously recreated scenes of yesteryear with its retro (“Malaysian Mixture”). Transmis- outfits and hairstyles, and carefully curated sion ended at 7.40 pm.3 furniture, cash registers, telephones, radio At the time of the launch in 1963, just and TV sets, and other such miscellany of 8 percent of households owned a TV set.4 For the period. those without one, 50 public viewing points By coincidence, the Tay family grew were set up across the island, at places such up in an era when television first made its as community centres. Within six months, foray into Singapore. 15 February 1963 was the broadcasts in English and a momentous day for TV in Singapore when Malay increased from a weekly one-hour the government started a pilot service, fol- programme to five hours a day on week- lowing a feasibility study in the 1950s2 and days and 10 hours a day over the weekend. a series of test transmissions before the was launched in November that official launch. “Tonight might well mark same year with programmes in Mandarin the start of a social and cultural revolution and Tamil. By 1965, all programming was in our lives,” said then Minister for Culture handled by Radio and Television Singapore S. Rajaratnam, the first person to appear (RTS), under the Department of Broadcasting on national TV when he launched Television of the Ministry of Culture. Singapura at the Victoria Memorial Hall. Outside, thousands had gathered in Colour Comes to Singapore anticipation to watch the first black-and- white TV images come to life on a few dozen Singaporeans were ecstatic to be among TV sets placed around Empress Place for the first in Southeast Asia to enjoy colour the occasion. The first programme aired at broadcasts in mid-1974, snapping up home exactly 6.05 pm was a 15-minute documen- colour TV sets during the first 10 weeks of its tary, TV Looks at Singapore, introducing the launch. Not all programming was available concept of television and its impact on the in colour though. Newscasts only went full lives of Singaporeans. This was followed by colour during phase two of the roll-out in two cartoon clips, news in English, a comedy November that year. Colour TV sets soon Lau Joon-Nie charts the rise of skit and a variety show titled Rampaian replaced black-and-white ones at the Singaporean television from the first test (Facing page) “Tonight might well mark the start of a social and cultural revolution in our lives,” said then transmissions to the advent of foreign Minister for Culture S. Rajaratnam, the first person to appear on national TV when he launched Television Singapura at the Victoria Memorial Hall on 15 February 1963. Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, competition posed by the arrival of cable. courtesy of National Archives of Singapore. (Below) Growing Up was Singapore’s longest-running English drama series and lasted six seasons from 1996 to 2001. Courtesy of Mediacorp Pte Ltd.

32 33 BIBLIOASIA APR – JUN 2016 Vol. 12 / Issue 01 / Feature

Then Minister for Culture Jek Yeun Thong tours the which was not ideal given that 80 percent 12 (STV12) and Radio Corporation of Singa- early Chinese immigrants in the 19th century. colour television studios at Radio and Television of the population lived in high-rise build- pore (RCS). These newly created corporate Indeed, local dramas became such a staple Singapore in 1974. Ministry of Information and ings, affecting signal reception.12 Viewers structures gave the respective entities that by 1987, they were telecast five nights the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives 16 of Singapore. also did not warm up to the high monthly greater autonomy and flexibility in making a week on Channel 8. SBC also developed subscription costs. strategic business decisions. Both Channel an overseas market for its dramas, sell- The launch of these early pay TV chan- 5 and Channel 8 started 24-hour transmis- ing them to broadcasters and home video was appointed chairman of SBC, with the nels proved unnecessary when in the same sion in 1995, and STV12 was revamped that distributors regionally. This has become so government categorically stating that it year, the government announced the nation- year into two channels: Prime 12 for Malay successful that, today, thousands of hours would “retain control over the policy of wide cable TV roll-out as part of a wider and Tamil programming, and Premiere of content are sold to partners in Australia, the corporation in the public interest” to plan to wire Singapore for the Information 12 for arts, documentaries and children’s , , Malaysia, the , ensure that air time for minorities would Age. SCV won the bid to build the hybrid- programmes. Singapore now had four TV , and Vietnam, in the process not be reduced.7 There was some loosen- fibre coaxial network and in a nod to its channels. Local production flourished dur- increasing the profile and popularity of our ing of control, however, when changes massive cabling effort, it was granted the ing this time. Between 1994 and 1995, local home-grown stars.17 were made to reduce the amount of public right to be the exclusive provider of pay TV output increased by 60 percent, with the English-language dramas in Singapore service broadcasting and messaging SBC services until June 2002.13 In June 1995, SCV Mandarin Channel 8 producing an average had a rockier start. The English Drama would have to carry. These programming launched its cable TV pilot in 10 public hous- of 600 hours of sitcoms, dramas and variety Division was set up in the early 1990s and changes enabled more advertisements to be ing blocks in , offering subscribers shows each year, thus making TCS one of the produced its first series,Masters of the sold, raising revenue rapidly and laying the an unprecedented broadcast buffet of over most prolific stations in the world.14 Sea (1994) with the help of Joanne Brough, groundwork for subsequent privatisation. 25 channels. Non-subscribers could receive Chinese drama production in Singapore a former executive producer of the hit The changes also paved the way for their regular -to-air channels by simply began in earnest in 1983 with the setting up American soap operas Dallas and Falcon more local programmes. In 1984, SBC plugging their TV sets into the cable points of SBC’s Chinese Drama Division, result- Crest, and a team of foreign writers.18 How- launched a third free-to-air channel, SBC 12, in their homes and not be at the mercy of ing in hundreds of serials since. What is ever, local viewers were unable to relate to to meet the need for more Malay and Tamil the weather for clear TV reception. Today, officially regarded as the first locally pro- the tumultuous tale of a wealthy Chinese programming, children’s content, and foster this is how we watch free-to-air content duced Mandarin drama, the 50-minute long shipping family and decried it for its lack community centres, the five-year roll-out of ignoring the game-and-quiz show format, an appreciation for arts and culture. Much now that all local channels are fully digital. The Robbery, was actually filmed a of authenticity and local actors who spoke costing S$8 million. preferring to maintain a low commercial of the children’s and minority programming year earlier.15 When the 1979 Broadcasting with fake British and American accents. By the mid-1970s, entertainment profile instead. was produced by SBC. In 1994, the Media Local Drama and Sitcoms Take Off Act limited the amount of foreign program- Eventually, producers struck the right accounted for about 74 percent of the con- When it came to factual content, RTS Development Authority (MDA) began award- ming allowed on TV, SBC was spurred to chord with viewers with Under One Roof tent broadcast across RTS’ combined pro- had a central production arm for civics ing grants to production houses to increase In the year before SCV launched its cable nurture its own team of actors, directors and (1994), about “Singapore’s funniest fam- gramme schedules, with drama forming the and international affairs programmes. the number of hours of locally made public TV pilot project, a major restructuring of scriptwriters. Specialists from ily” living in a public housing estate in the bulk, followed by variety shows. Most content It produced radio and TV current affairs service broadcasting and grow the media the local broadcast industry took place. and Taiwan were recruited to work and train middle-class suburb of Bishan. Under One – about 60 percent – was imported, mainly programmes such as talks, interviews, industry.8 Funding came from the manda- In 1994, SBC was corporatised to form the local staff. The Chinese Drama Division’s Roof ran for nine years and remains one of from North America. Older viewers will discussions and documentaries that were tory radio and TV licence fee paid by every Singapore International Media (SIM), the first major success wasThe Awakening TCS’ greatest commercial successes, gar- fondly recall popular detective shows such aired during . household and vehicle owner. When this parent company of Television Corporation (雾锁南洋) in 1984, a highly popular series nering multiple wins at the Asian Television as Hawaii Five-O, Toma and Mannix. Soon fee was abolished in 2011, the government of Singapore (TCS), Singapore Television about the toils and troubles of Singapore’s Awards over its seasons.19 enough, the influx of imported programmes, Greater Autonomy maintained its commitment to funding such particularly crime dramas, was blamed for content, and this has in fact increased since.9 the rise in violence and delinquency among However, bigger changes were afoot. On (Left) Under One Roof, about “Singapore’s funniest family” living in a public housing estate in the middle-class suburb of Bishan, ran for nine years and Singapore’s youth. 1 February 1980, RTS was restructured Turning Point remains one of TCS’ greatest commercial successes, garnering multiple wins The authorities drew this spurious into a statutory board called the Singapore at the over its seasons. Courtesy of Mediacorp Pte Ltd. conclusion based on figures from agen- Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). This would By the early 1990s, moves were underway (Below) SBC’s Chinese Drama Division’s first major success was The Awakening cies such as the Prisons Department and free RTS from governmental administrative to prepare the broadcast industry for the (雾锁南洋) in 1984, a highly popular series about the toils and troubles of Singapore’s early Chinese immigrants in the 19th century. Courtesy of Mediacorp Reformative Training Centre. This led to the and budgetary constraints that hampered inevitable influx of foreign competition. Pte Ltd. scheduling of several violence-free days it from upgrading its production facilities While the government would not budge on of programming. Mondays, Tuesdays and and skills pool. With its newfound flexibility allowing residential households to own TV Fridays saw dramas such as The Six Million in hiring and procurement, SBC increased satellite dishes,10 it did, however, permit SBC Dollar Man, I Love Lucy and The Waltons its staff strength from 1,335 to 1,648 and to launch the country’s first pay TV channel, taking up prime time slots. Unbeknownst spent S$8.6 million on new infrastructure NewsVision. This was done through the to Singaporeans, they were watching fewer and technology in its first year, including a creation of Singapore Cable Vision (SCV), a American police and detective shows than new radio transmission tower at 65:35 percent tie-up with Temasek Holdings- their counterparts in Southeast Asia, even and electronic news gathering equipment.6 owned Singapore International Media and as US shows remained the most affordable Then Acting Minister for Culture Ong SBC in 1991.11 to buy. Television Singapore had a US$1.2 Teng Cheong said in a newspaper interview NewsVision began transmission million a year acquisition budget in the mid- that the idea of a semi-government radio on 2 April 1992, providing 24-hour news 70s to buy content from overseas.5 and TV station was first mentioned in 1966, mainly from CNN, with some newscasts For the remaining 40 percent of content­ “but because of manpower resources and from Independent Television News and that was produced locally, the Chinese other more urgent requirements in other SBC’s 9 pm bulletin. This broke SBC’s Variety Show and Malay Pesta Pop proved sectors of the country, it dragged on for so local monopoly over TV news and for the to be hits. There were also Singaporean long.” While SBC was formed to liberate the first time, the public had access to foreign family magazine shows featuring everything old RTS from the bureaucratic shackles that news broadcasts on local TV. Two other from personality profiles to flower arrange- had long impeded its development, the new subscription channels, MovieVision and ment demonstrations. Without the pressing entity would continue playing an important VarietyVision, were launched on 1 June bottomline concerns that plague corporate role in nation-building and communicating 1992. All three channels were transmitted broadcasters today, officials had the luxury government policies and objectives. Ong on the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band,

34 35 BIBLIOASIA APR – JUN 2016 Vol. 12 / Issue 01 / Feature

In 1996, TCS struck gold again with crisis as a “bold move”. He said that CNA 1999) hinted at the possibility in Parliament Growing Up, which “was praised for its would “help meet a growing demand for in March 2000 and by June, announced a convincing performances, high-quality news in real-time presented from an Asian measured Singapore-style approach to 1965 Broadcasting comes scriptwriting and credible depiction of viewpoint” and that it would “supplement media liberalisation. Lee said the loosening Timeline of 1956 Feb 1963 Jan 1964 Singapore in the formative post-separation other international news channels and up would be done gradually, through the Preparations Television Singapura is launched First under Radio and Television years.”20 Buoyed by its success, the English help make Singapore a business centre introduction of “controlled competition”.25 Television begin for TV with a weekly hour-long commercials Singapore (RTS). Drama Division went on to tackle modern- and a media hub.”22 Today, CNA, which What this meant was that Singapore with feasibility programme on Channel 5. Within debut on 1966 day themes, churning out a series of shows broadcasts primarily out of Singapore, has Press Holdings (SPH) would be issued study and test six months, this goes up to 5 hours Channel 5. PM around corporate and “dot.com” lifestyles correspondents in over a dozen Asian cities broadcast licences for radio and TV, while transmissions. on weekdays, and 10 hours on opens the TV Centre on such as Three Rooms (1997), VR Man (1998) and major Western capitals and is watched Mediacorp would be allowed to operate a weekends in English and Malay. Caldecott Hill. and Spin (1999). These, however, gave way in over 25 territories across the world.23 newspaper. The announcement sparked off a Nov 1963 to local sitcoms as audiences sought relief In June 1999, TCS’ parent holding frenzy within both local media giants. Almost Channel 8 is launched with 1974 from the Asian financial crisis in the late company, Singapore International Media, overnight, in a bid to outdo each other, staff Mandarin and Tamil programming. Colour TV 1990s. Phua Chu Kang (1997) rode on this underwent a name change to Media Cor- members were poached, new newsrooms broadcasts begin. wave, cheering up audiences with its delight- poration of Singapore (MCS) or Mediacorp were built, haggling over content licensing fully subversive storylines that appeared Singapore. This paved the way for a subse- deals began and advertising rates were 1984 1983 1980 1979 to go against the grain of governmental quent restructuring of Mediacorp just three drastically slashed. The fallout was brutal. SBC 12 is launched to provide SBC’s Chinese RTS is restructured Singapore Broadcasting exhortations, e.g. to speak good English, weeks later. Seven strategic business units By the end of four years, the two companies more Malay, Tamil and children’s Drama Division as Singapore Act is passed to give have (more) children, and work hard.21 were formed for TV channel management had racked up losses totalling over S$200 programming, and arts and is set up. Broadcasting RTS more autonomy. Audiences embraced the loveable Singlish- with TCS (running Channels 5, 8 and tak- million. By September 2004, they declared cultural programmes. Corporation (SBC). speaking contractor, Phua Chu Kang – “the ing on sports programmes from STV12), a truce, and in fact, a merger. Mediacorp best in Singapore, JB and some say Batam” public service broadcasting (STV12), radio CEO, Ernest Wong, summed it up by saying: – and his dysfunctional family members (Mediacorp Radio), TV film production and “We are married.” The government denied it 1991 1992 1994 for 10 years, making the show Singapore’s distribution (Mediacorp Studios and - had directed the companies to do so, saying Singapore Cable Vision (SCV), a joint Cable TV is rolled out. SCV builds Corporatisation of SBC into Television longest-running English-language sitcom. tree Pictures), news and current affairs the commercial entities were answerable to venture between SBC and Singapore $600-million hybrid-fibre network Corporation of Singapore (TCS), Radio (Mediacorp News), print (Mediacorp Press) their shareholders.26 International Media (SIM), is set up. and is appointed exclusive pay-TV Corporation of Singapore (RCS) and Singapore provider for 10 years. Television 12 (STV12). Making News and multimedia (Mediacorp Interactive). In It was not all doom and gloom however. 2001, TCS was renamed Mediacorp TV and The four years of controlled competition With Singapore-made dramas already STV12 took on the name Mediacorp TV12.24 spurred both companies to think more making forays into other parts of Asia, it strategically and produce better content. 2000 1999 1997 1995 was only a matter a time before a dedi- Media Wars Mediacorp pre-emptively locked SPH out cated news channel would be set up. In from bidding for popular Hollywood shows by receives Channel NewsAsia is 40 channels STV12 revamped into Prime 12 March 1999, the English-language Channel These name changes were far from just aggressively securing the rights for eight of licence for two TV channels launched. SIM renamed Media available island- and Premiere 12. Channels 5 and (TVWorks and ) and NewsAsia (CNA) was launched, initially for cosmetic; they were to prepare Media- the 10 top American series for its TV station Corporation of Singapore wide on SCV. 8 begin 24-hour transmission. launches SPH MediaWorks. a Singapore-only audience. Its international corp’s business units for the onslaught SPH MediaWorks – the remaining two, Sex (Mediacorp Singapore). SCV launches cable TV pilot Prime 12 and Premiere 12 channel project in Tampines, offering feed began in September 2000. Then Min- of competition to come. Then Minister for and the City and Will and Grace would not restructured as Suria (Malay over 25 channels. ister for Information and the Arts George Information and the Arts Lee Yock Suan have been allowed on air due to censorship programmes) and Central (Tamil, Yeo hailed the launch at a time of economic (who succeeded George Yeo as minister in regulations.27 MediaWorks created the hit arts and children’s programmes).

(Below) Audiences embraced the loveable Singlish-speaking contractor, Phua Chu Kang – “the best in Singapore, JB and some say Batam” – and his dysfunctional family members for 10 years, making the show Singapore’s longest-running English-language sitcom. Courtesy of Mediacorp Pte Ltd. 2001 2002 2005 2007 (Below right) topped ratings on Malaysia’s and ’s AEC cable channel, even surpassing viewership for popular Hong Kong dramas in Malaysia. Courtesy of Mediacorp Pte Ltd. SPH’s TVWorks channel is SCV merges with StarHub to Over 90 percent StarHub renamed . STV12 form StarHub Cable Vision. of households Cable Vision is becomes Mediacorp TV12 and receive free-to-air rebranded as TCS is renamed Mediacorp TV. programming via cable. StarHub TV.

2011 2010 2008 Mediacorp and StarHub launch 8 Mediacorp and launch , offering Central splits into On-Demand (StarHub TV Channel 116) free video-on-demand from Mediacorp’s archives, Vasantham (Tamil offering Channel 8 productions before “catch-up” TV from the previous night’s telecasts, programmes) and they are aired on free-to-air TV and and Microsoft Network’s entertainment and sports (children’s, arts and access to video archives. news feeds. sports programmes).

2013 2015 Mediacorp launches Toggle, StarHub launches Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service which uses the a personal entertainment high-speed Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network. service on the Internet. PM opens Mediacorp’s new campus, Mediapolis@one-north, marking the start of a nine-month move from Caldecott Broadcast Centre.

36 37 BIBLIOASIA APR – JUN 2016 Vol. 12 / Issue 01 / Feature sitcom, Ah Girl (2001–03), and produced is also finding growth in lucrative markets cases, they also commission content to excellent nightly newscasts containing in- abroad, such as Vietnam, where it sold be made by local production houses. For depth analyses of local developments and nearly 1,500 hours of Mandarin content to example, Singapore-based Infinite Stu- polished TV graphics. Unfortunately for SPH, distributor, Goldia One Vision; THVL 1 and dios worked with HBO Asia, the Austral- these innovations and the many Chinese and THVL 2 channels and Today TV. In the same ian Broadcasting Corporation and Great Chinese-dubbed dramas it acquired were year, Vasantham channel’s most popular Western Entertainment to co-produce not sufficient to persuade more viewers to police drama series, Vettai, was acquired HBO Asia’s first original series, switch the channel in its favour. by Malaysian terrestrial channel, ntv7. Road (2013), a 10-episode detective series In the early 2000s, Mediacorp found Other major buyers of Mediacorp produc- set in 1960s Singapore. HBO Asia has since a new cash cow when it bought the rights tions include broadcasters in Hong Kong, inked a partnership with MDA to grow and and adapted Western TV game shows Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan. develop drama production in the local such as Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Such deals are an important source of media industry. The and The Wheel of revenue for the home-grown broadcaster Several times a year, MDA leads Fortune Singapore, for local audiences. to expand in an increasingly fragmented delegations of local media companies These proved so popular that Channel 5 and globalised market.29 to major industry marketplaces such as increased the proportion of hours of game Singapore has also become home to Cannes and Hong Kong to promote the shows it aired from 8 to 20 percent over a host of foreign broadcasters, including sale and distribution of Singapore-made four months in 2002.28 AXN, BBC, CNBC Asia, Discovery Asia, content. It also provides grant schemes HBO Asia, MTV Asia, Nickelodeon and Walt to support local production houses, from Going Global Disney Television, in no small part due to pitch and production to promotion of their the efforts of MDA. The state broadcasting content.31 These efforts have helped home- In a new development, Mediacorp started regulator and promoter has gone beyond grown media producers and directors selling its own home-grown programme encouraging media companies to provide win international awards and have their formats to other broadcasters to adapt. In services for hire to providing funding and works seen in over 70 countries around 2013, it closed a deal with the Thai Public promoting Singapore-made content. 30 the world, putting Singapore on the world Broadcasting Service to license Media- In recent years, many foreign broad- map for original English-language TV and Collecting the corp’s The Arena debate show for young casters have set up regional sales and animation content from Asia. people in the Thai market. The broadcaster distribution offices in Singapore. In some

10 Generally, only foreign embassies, financial 26 Chia, S.-A. (2004, October 20). No going back on opening Notes institutions, hotels and selected educational up media market. , p. 7; Chua, M. 1 All six seasons of Growing Up are available for institutions are allowed to install satellite dishes or H. (2004, September 19). Media marriage: Happily viewing on Mediacorp’s online Toggle platform. subscribe to satellite TV operators. See Satellite dishes ever after? The Straits Times, p. 25. Retrieved from Scattered Remains 2 National Library Board. (2014, December 23). OK for hotels, some schools. (2003, June 21). The NewspaperSG; Singapore Press Holdings. (2004, Singapore’s first television station. Retrieved from Straits Times, p. 11. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. September 17). Mediacorp and Singapore Press Singapore Infopedia. 11 National Library Board. (2004). First subscription Holdings merge their TV and free newspaper operations The Raffles Library and Museum 3 Programme for TV pilot service. (1963, February 14). television channel written by Nureza Ahmad. [Press release]. Retrieved from SPH website. The Straits Times, p. 6. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. Retrieved from Singapore Infopedia. 27 Osborne, M. (2001, May 21–27). Mediacorp fights for 4 Koh, T., et al. (Eds). (2006). Singapore: The 12 Ang, P. H. (2007). Singapore media (p. 17). Unpublished dominance in TV arena. Variety, Special Report. p. 41. encyclopedia (p. 554). Singapore: Editions Didier manuscript. Nanyang Technological University. Retrieved from ProQuest. Millet in association with the National Heritage 13 Keshishoglou, J., & Aquilia, P. (2005). Electronic 28 Lim, T. (2004). Let the contests begin! ‘Singapore The National Library began life in 1837 Board. Call no.: RSING 959.57003 SIN-[HIS] broadcast media in Singapore and the region (2nd slings’ into action: Singapore in the global television as a school library of the Singapore 5 Lent, J. A. (Ed.). (1978). Broadcasting in Asia and the ed.) (p. 82). Singapore: Asian Media Information and format business (p. 114). In A. Moran & M. Keane. Gracie Lee charts the history of the Free School (precursor of the Raffles Pacific: A continental survey of radio and television (p. Communication Centre: Nanyang Technological (Eds.), Television across Asia. London and New York: Institution). The idea of a library was first 161). Philadelphia: Temple University Press. Call no.: University; Australia: Thomson Learning. Call no.: RoutledgeCurzon. Raffles Library – precursor of the RSEA 384.5095 BRO RSING q384.0959 KES 29 Mediacorp Pte Ltd. (2013, March 20). Mediacorp conceived in 1819 when Stamford Raffles 6 National Library Board. (2015, March). Singapore 14 Ang, 2007, unpublished manuscript, p. 17. sold The Arena programme format to Thai PBS; National Library – and its enigmatically tdrew up his vision of a native college that Broadcasting Corporation is established. Retrieved 15 Chan, B. (2013, May 30). 50 years of TV. The Straits Mediacorp Pte Ltd. (2013, July 15). Mediacorp’s would educate the sons of the Malay elite from HistorySG. Times. Retrieved from Factiva. content sales in Vietnam hit an all-time high; named “Q” Collection. and employees of the East Company. 7 Mahbubani, G. (1980, March 26). High hopes and old 16 Koh, 2006, p. 556. Mediacorp Pte Ltd. (2013, May 15). Vettai acquired problems for the new station. The Straits Times, 17 Mediacorp Pte Ltd. (2015). Activities/News. Retrieved by Malaysian channel ntv7; Mediacorp Pte Ltd. Part of his plan was a library that would p. 8. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Singapore. from Mediacorp website. (2009, September 10). A Mediacorp time-belt on the “… collect the scattered literature and Parliament. Parliamentary debates: Official report. 18 Koh, 2006, p. 556. Philippines’ TV5 – A total of 520 hours of content to be traditions of the country, with whatever “The Raffles Library and Museum... is well worth a visit, for the (1979, December 11). Third Reading of the Singapore 19 Tan, K. P. (2008), Cinema and television in Singapore: scheduled in the first year!; Mediacorp Pte Ltd. (2012, may illustrate their laws and customs.” Library is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the Broadcasting Corporation Bill (Vol. 39, col. 535). Resistance in one dimension (p. 126). Leiden; Boston: October 18). Mediacorp sold more than 100 hours Raffles believed that “by collecting Singapore: [s.n]. Call no.: RSING 328.5957 SIN Brill. Call no.: RSING 791.43095957 TAN of content to TVB & 8TV; Mediacorp Pte Ltd. (2012, East, and the Museum, which is daily enriched by zoological, the scattered remains of the literature of 8 Ramesh, S. (2012, March 2). Public Service Broadcast 20 Koh, 2006, p. 556. November 22). Mediacorp’s international channel mineralogical, ethnological and archaeological collections from Review panel’s ideas to improve programmes. 21 Tan, 2008, p. 137. 8i turns one on Indovision!; Mediacorp Pte Ltd. these countries, by calling forth the liter- the Peninsula and the Archipelago, promises to be, in time, one Retrieved from Channel NewsAsia website. 22 Ministry of Information and the Arts. (1999. March 1). (2013, January 3). Mediacorp sold 61 hours of variety ary spirit of the people and awakening its of the finest exhibitions of its kind in Asia.”1 9 Channel NewsAsia. (2012, July 9). MDA gave S$470m Speech by George Yeo, Minister for Information and the programmes to Asia Travel TV in Taiwan! All press dormant energies…will our stations not in support of public service broadcasting over past Arts and 2nd Minister For Trade & Industry, at the launch releases retrieved from Mediacorp website. only become the centres of commerce 5 years. Retrieved from Channel NewsAsia website; of Channel NewsAsia on 1st March, 1999 at 9.00 am. 30 Media Development Authority. (2014). Broadcast & – George Murray Reith in Handbook to Singapore (1892) Ministry of Communications and Information. Retrieved from National Archives of Singapore website. public service broadcast. Retrieved from MDA website. and its luxuries, but of refinement and (2014, November 20). Public Service Broadcast 23 Channel NewsAsia. (n.d.). About us: Our coverage. 31 Media Development Authority. (2015, December 2). the liberal arts.”2 (PSB) programmes. Retrieved from Ministry of Retrieved from Channel NewsAsia website. HBO Asia works with the Media Development Authority Communications and Information website. [Note: 24 Mediacorp Pte Ltd. (2011). Mediacorp interactive of Singapore to develop local drama production Government funding for PSB programmes rose 35 history. Retrieved from Mediacorp website. capabilities [Press release]; Media Development Gracie Lee is a Senior Librarian with the percent from S$470 million (FY2007–11) to S$630 25 Chua, L. H. (2000, March 11). Media restructuring: Authority. (2014, October 9). Fact Sheet – Singapore National Library of Singapore. She works with million (FY2012–16). This supports over 4,000 hours The million-$ question. The Straits Times, p. 79; makes strong showing at MIPCOM with line-up of (Above) The library section of the the Raffles Library and Museum, circa the rare collections, and her research areas of programmes each year, about half of which are Chua, M. H. (2000, June 6). SPH offered broadcast over 530 hours of Asian and original TV and animation 1950s. The building on Stamford Road (which is today the National Museum of are in colonial administration and Singapore’s produced locally and the rest (e.g. educational, arts licences, Mediacorp a print licence. The Straits content [Press release]; Media Development Authority. Singapore) housed the library on the ground floor and the museum on the first publishing history. and cultural programmes) acquired from abroad.] Times, p.1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. (2014). Grants & schemes. Retrieved from MDA website. floor.Courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore, National Heritage Board.

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