news 2 Thursday September 3, 2009 TODAY news 3 Thursday September 3, 2009 TODAY Programme Advisory committee report Programme Advisory committee report Radio: Moulding Committee praises Channel NewsAsia a strong identity FOR its extensive coverage of the the public’s views on a topic, and an And while some felt CNA’s cover- on Talking Point every Sunday. Programmes such RADIO stations have “continued to strength- American presidential elections, and analysis by the presenter afterwards. age of current affairs and info-edu- as BlogTV.Sg and Get Real target young people, en and develop their individual identities”, for keeping viewers well abreast of To improve the news channel fur- cational programmes was sufficient, said MediaCorp. said Pace — highlighting, for example, how the political situations in Malaysia ther, Pace called for more programmes others felt the programmes lacked Programmes for Singaporeans, it explained, MediaCorp’s Lush 99.5 FM had reinvented and Thailand, MediaCorp’s Channel dealing with relevant and current is- the “X-Factor” to attract loyal view- must be “balance(d) with the fact that the chan- itself by coming up with new programming NewsAsia was yesterday praised by sues, “in the form of hard-nosed inter- ers, noted the report. nel is a regional news and information channel and picking music that was “reflective” of the Programme Advisory Committee view programmes, forums, magazine In response to Pace’s comments competing with global news players”. social changes. for English Programmes (Pace). programmes, talk shows and docu- on the merging of Singapore Tonight It added, MediaCorp will work with the It was also glad to note that content Also given the thumbs up: The mentaries”. Pace also wanted more and Singapore Business Tonight, Media Media Development Authority on more “hard- breaches by radio stations from 2007 to 2009 channel’s “wide variety” of info-edu- “thought-provoking” discussions. Corp said this was “to create a more nosed” interview programmes, while pointing have dropped, and that deejays were making cational programmes and documen- The report noted that despite focused Singapore half hour” as well to programmes such as In Conversation With, attempts to ensure their language and con- taries on wide-ranging topics, from CNA’s efforts, overall, “the broadcast- as respond to viewers who wanted which have “received good reviews”. Sports@SG got tent were acceptable to general listeners. travel to technology — plus inter- er was still adopting a conservative more coverage of global and regional CNA’s assistant vice-president Rohana Mo- the thumbs up Singled out for commendation for their views and discussions with experts. and careful approach in its reports financial news”. Overall, reports on hammed said CNA is “constantly evolving” to for its coverage efforts to maintain a “good standard of Eng- of local sports. In its 12th biennial report, Pace and programmes”. Singapore have not been reduced, serve local and international viewers. For in- lish” were MediaCorp 90.5 FM’s Tim O, Den- noted that CNA has tried “to be opin- The trouble with this, said Pace, the broadcaster assured. stance, there is now an online component within ise Tan, Hamish Brown and Maggie Lim. ion leaders instead of merely reporters was the public perceiving CNA as the CNA also discusses regional and BlogTV.sg. “We will also continue to improve But, as it had in its previous reports, the of facts”. For instance, its current af- “voice of the Government”, rendering world issues on Insight and 360, and come up with more incisive and probing Thumbs up for local sports coverage committee signalled its concern about the fairs programme, ! Say, sought to offer it less effective in difficult times. while Singapore issues are discussed programmes.” LOCAL sports programming — on free-to- MediaCorp Channel 5’s use of “excessive Singlish” on air. In particu- air and cable channels — earned a glowing lar, Pace felt Safra Radio’s Power 98 deejays’ report card from Pace. The Schools Nationals, overuse of Singlish to “appeal” to National MediaCorp Channel 5’s The Schools Na- Pace said, motivated Servicemen “was not only an embarrassment Some local dramas provided good entertainment Other recommendations tionals, it said, motivated young athletes to the station, but it also sent the wrong mes- IT PRAISED local dramas such as Said chairman Leo Tan: “You can In response, MediaCorp said that PROGRAMMES FOR KIDS and instilled a sense of school pride, and young athletes and sage to young listeners that speaking Singlish Sayang Sayang — a series about a Per- see the Singapore public appreci- S Factor was “meant to be an enter- Pace was “pleased” the new okto channel the committee hoped to see more pro- instilled a sense of was acceptable and cool”. anakan family that offered a “unique ates such programmes (like Fighting taining, light-hearted and tongue-in- offered more choices for young viewers, grammes targeting youth. Pace also felt Power 98 and MediaCorp’s perspective of Singapore” rarely seen Spiders). It endeared my generation cheek reality TV series”. The broad- but noted cartoons promoting violence It gave its thumbs up to the channel’s school pride, and the 98.7FM “lacked consistency” in presenters’ on mainstream TV — and Fighting and the younger generation could caster said S Factor targeted a “more remained “common features” and there Sports@SG programme, which showcased committee hoped to news-reading. It was “often embarrassing” Spiders, about three boys coming of see what life was like.” discerning and mature audience who were more shows on the occult. It wanted local sporting personalities and the latest to hear, especially Power 98 presenters who age in 1960s that took older viewers But Pace took issue with cer- would be able to appreciate the ‘raw’ more fun and educational programmes. in the sporting world, and suggested broad- see more programmes “came across as being amateurish”. down memory lane. tain programmes, such as Fist of Zen unscripted content” of the show. MediaCorp said okto has “been mindful” casters also feature local sporting heroes, as In response, MediaCorp noted that the not to show violent trailers when young targeting youth. Pace also cited programmes on MTV S.E.A Channel, which were SingTel, title sponsor for this well as instructional sports videos. news is read by broadcast journalists or viewers are watching TV. It toned down shown on MediaCorp Channel 5 “deemed to be lacking in taste”. It year’s Formula 1 race, said: “Grid It would have liked to see more “live” presenters who are trained at least once a trailers for REM.2, and Freaky Friday that “provided good entertainment also found S Factor and SingTel Grid Girls on Tour is a travel and lifestyle was replaced with info-educational pro- free-to-air coverage of football games in- to in future cooperate on an arrangement month in presentation skills, pronunciation to viewers and some were also of Girls shown on Channel programme produced by MediaCorp, grammes. okto also shows dramas, come- volving the national teams, though Pace that would be better for viewers. and news delivery. Safra Radio said it would educational value”. These included 5 to be “degrading to and the ladies act as sporty and fun- dia and info-educational programmes. acknowledged poor viewership could be Panel member Raymond Lye, citing try to “maintain a good standard of English” Singapore Idol and Prove It! and ac- women”. loving travel guides at race venues a hurdle. recent speculation on a possible joint bid and ensure consistent news delivery. PROGRAMMES FOR SENIORS quired series such as CSI and The around the world.” Also praised: MediaCorp’s and for the English Premier League, said: “I Pace reiterated the need for programmes Hamish Brown was Amazing Race. Pace recommended more en- StarHub’s coverage of last year’s Olympics hope that comes true ... if it results in lower teaching seniors the importance of health one of several tertainment programmes focused and fitness, featuring activities they can and the recent Asian Youth Games. The costs for consumers, Pace would be very MediaCorp 90.5 on family values, and which were join, or on the songs of yesteryear. cable operator had dedicated extra chan- happy.” FM deejays “intelligent and thought-provoking”. nels to each event at no extra cost, while Also in for flak was the use of female lauded for maintaining a MediaCorp responded that Sayang PROGRAMMES ON CULTURE the local broadcaster was applauded for air- celebrities as presenters and interviewers. Pace wanted entertainment programmes ‘good standard Sayang and the upcoming Polo Boys ing Olympic-related documentaries ahead For instance, ESPN Star Sports has seen depicting cultures other than the Chinese of English’. drama would promote family values of the Beijing Games. Jamie Yeo, Paula Malai Ali and Georgina and Peranakan, without stereotyping them. and traditions. MediaCorp said it has developed a local But Pace was concerned about the “bid- Chang reporting on football, F1 and tennis Pace also advised broadcast- series, Stranger than You, which features ding war” between pay TV operators StarHub respectively. ers to “exercise discretion”, not- various cultures here and in the region. and SingTel over the exclusive broadcast Pace said it was important presenters ing that certain programmes, rights to the Uefa Champions League. This be prepared and “well-versed” in the sport. such as Hannah Montana and www.mda.gov.sg/pace had led to fans having to pay more to sub- Sports fan and magazine writer Lawrence High School Musical, “imparted @ See the full report here scribe to both operators’ channels. Tan could not agree more: “Some of them the wrong values to its young It “strongly encouraged” the operators are unbearable to watch.” viewers” as the characters got involved in love relation- ships at a young age. MediaCorp said it would “continue to ensure such con- tent, while reflect- ing the reality of issues that pre- teens are exposed to, are not overly emphasised”.

Local programmes such as Sayang Sayang were well- liked for their portrayals of unique elements of Singapore life.