Singapore International Television

Television channel

Singapore International TelevisionCountry| Singapore

|

Broadcast area| Southeast Asia/ASEAN and Asia–Pacific (including Singapore) (now officially moved to becomes Channel NewsAsia Singapore International Television/Channel NewsAsia International)
Network| Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (New Year's Day 1994—30 September 1994)
Television Corporation of Singapore (1 October 1994—11 February 2001)
Affiliates| Channel 5
Channel 8
Channel 12
Channel NewsAsia International (28 September 2000—11 February 2001)
Headquarters| Caldecott Broadcast Centre, Singapore
Programming
Language(s)| English/Singlish, Mandarin/Singdarin and Malay
Picture format| 4:3 576i SDTV
Ownership
Owner| Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (New Year's Day 1994—30 September 1994)
Television Corporation of Singapore (1 October 1994—11 February 2001)
Sister channels| Channel 5
Channel 8
Channel 12
Channel NewsAsia International (28 September 2000—11 February 2001)
History
Launched| 1 January 1994; 30 years ago (1994-01-01) at 10:00pm Singapore Time (officially opening took place from 10:00pm to 11:00pm Singapore Time) (live simulcast on SBC/TCS) (officially opened by Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong)
1 January 1996; 28 years ago (1996-01-01) at 10:00pm Singapore Time (officially commenced its full 24-hour 7-days a week broadcasts) (live simulcast on TCS)
Closed| 31 December 2000; 23 years ago (2000-12-31) at 11:59pm Singapore Time (merger with Channel NewsAsia Singapore International Television)
11 February 2001; 23 years ago (2001-02-11) at 11:59pm Singapore Time (merger with Channel NewsAsia International)
Replaced by| Channel NewsAsia Singapore International Television (New Year's Day 2001—11 February 2001)
Channel NewsAsia International (since 12 February 2001)
Availability
Terrestrial
Free-to-air terrestrial television in Singapore (SBC/TCS) (New Year's Day 1994—11 February 2001)| Channel 5 (SBC/TCS) (New Year's Day 1994—11 February 2001)
Channel 8 (SBC/TCS) (New Year's Day 1994—11 February 2001)
Channel 12 (SBC/TV12) (New Year's Day 1994—31 August 1995)
Prime 12 (STV12) (1 September 1995—30 January 2000)
Suria (STV12) (30 January 2000—11 February 2001)
Channel NewsAsia International (TCS) (28 September 2000—11 February 2001)

Singapore International Television (SITV) (Malay: Televisyen Antarabangsa Singapura)[1] was a Singaporean international free-to-air terrestrial and satellite television channel operated by Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS). SITV was broadcast from Palapa B2P an Indonesian communications satellite owned by Indosat which covers Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. It was officially opening ceremony at grand opening or formally opening night in Singapore by Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong on New Year's Day 1994 at 10:00pm SGT based in Singapore and it operated from Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) head office and headquarters in Caldecott Broadcast Centre, Singapore.

The channel was based in Singapore and operated from Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS). The channel's programming consists on Singaporean news and entertainment programme showcase Mandarin entertainment show (now Mandarin first sketch comedy, situation comedy or comedy realty television show), Mandarin current affairs, English current affairs, Malay current affairs, Malay family magazine show, Malay variety show, English restaurant review–sitcom/comedy series and Singlish main flagship news bulletin live simulcast on TCS Channel 5 at 10:30pm Singapore Time provided by Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) for all Overseas Singaporean community to viewers across Southeast Asia/ASEAN. Singapore International Television (SITV) only broadcast one hour daily at the nightlife/late-night. Singapore International Television (SITV)'s nightlife/late-night television programmes in English, Malay, and Mandarin provided by Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) such as Variety Tonight (开心五重奏) is a Mandarin entertainment show on every Monday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 8 (later was rebranded to Comedy Night (搞笑行动) is a Mandarin first sketch comedy, situation comedy or comedy realty television show was host/presenter by Jack Neo on every Monday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 8), Tuesday Report (星期二特写) is a Mandarin current affairs on every Tuesday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 8, Money Mind is a English current affairs on every Wednesday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 5, Inside Asia is a English current affairs on every Thursday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 5, Tinjauan is a Malay current affairs on every Friday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Twelve (TV12) Channel 12, Portret Keluarga is a Malay family magazine show on every Saturday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Twelve (TV12) Channel 12, Hiburan Minggu Ini is a Malay variety show on every Saturday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Twelve (TV12) Channel 12 and Mum's Not Cooking is a English restaurant review–sitcom/comedy series on every Sunday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 5 was broadcast in the first half hour and the second half hour consisted of Singapore's Singlish news bulletin programmes live simulcast at 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 5.

## History

[edit]

### Pre Launch

[edit]

The SIF announced the start of SITV in November 1993 eyeing for a New Year's Day 1994 launch date. The channel was going to use the Indonesian Palapa B2P communications satellite owned by Indosat to provide programming for one hour a day from 10:00pm to 11:00pm SGT.[2]

### Test Broadcast (Trial Broadcast)

[edit]

SITV's launch was touted as rather unambitious, with a limited staff of only 20 personnel officially considered by the The Business Times and The Straits Times as "the smallest satellite TV launch in history", with deputy director Aileen Lim calling it an "experiment". The station rented a slot on a transponder owned by the Australia Television International to broadcast its programming. Test transmission started on Christmas Day 1993 ahead of the projected launch date.[3] Launch night consisted of two programmes: a special edition of Inside Asia and a live simulcast of News 5 Tonight both from Channel 5.[4]

### Launch (before privatisation)

[edit]

The channel launched on the same day as Televisyen Antarabangsa Brunei under the same arrangement on the same satellite. Televisyen Antarabangsa Brunei is a six-hour free-to-air terrestrial channel in Brunei owned by Radio Television Brunei (RTB), the country's state broadcaster. The channel officially pilot service on New Year's Day 1994. The channel shows Malay Archipelago delivering news, current affairs programmes and documentaries produced by RTB. Televisyen Antarabangsa Brunei beginning of a six-hour communications satellite slot using the Indonesian Palapa B2P communications satellite named Televisyen Antarabangsa Brunei was set to start on same day. The primary audience was Bruneians in the Malay Archipelago delivering news, current affairs programmes and documentaries produced by RTB.[5][6] On launch day, a full-page advertisement was given to SITV on the Straits Times.[7]

From New Year's Day 1994 to New Year's Eve 1995, RTB's Antarabangsa Televisyen Brunei for six-hour telecasts from 4:00pm to 10:00pm Brunei Time and Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Singapore International Television (SITV) for one-hour telecasts from 10:00pm to 11:00pm Singapore Time with telecast by the three live telecast simulcast free-to-air terrestrial Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 5, Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 8 and Television Twelve (TV12) Channel 12 nightlife telecast time.

From New Year's Day 1996 to 11 February 2001, RTB's Antarabangsa Televisyen Brunei for six-hour and forty-minute telecasts from 4:00pm to 10:40pm Brunei Time and Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Singapore International Television (SITV) officially commenced its full 24-hour 7-days a week broadcasts becoming the very first international channel in Singapore to do so with telecast by the three live telecast simulcast free-to-air terrestrial Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 5, Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 8 and Television Twelve (TV12) Channel 12 all full completed enjoy telecast time marked Singapore International Television celebration its second year of anniversary.

The channel started off with a limited offering with initial plans for the channel to increase its programming if time was available maintaining the connections Singaporeans in the diaspora had with their birth country and providing a window for Singapore to outsiders.[8]

Singapore International Television (SITV) was officially opening ceremony at grand opening or formally opening night in Singapore on New Year's Day 1994 at 10:00pm Singapore Time after officially opening ceremony by Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong based in Singapore owned and company by Television Corporation of Singapore daily with the first programme at launching ceremony: a special edition of Inside Asia and a live simulcast of News 5 Tonight was aired on Channel 5. It was originally based in Singapore.

During test broadcasts, Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia have asked SITV for information. There was also the possibility of having its own presenter and selling advertising time.[6]

The service was officially made available at the embassy/consulate-general of the Republic of Singapore in Jakarta, Medan, Batam and Johor Bahru.

### Post Launch (After Privisation)

[edit]

On 1 October 1994, Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) was formally privatised/privatisation, reorganized, and restructuring into Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS).[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

On 25 August 1995, after an agreement between Singapore and Brunei, it was announced that SITV would move to a new lease on Palapa C-1.[24]

### Becomes Channel NewsAsia International

[edit]

On 28 September 2000, Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) officially very first formal launched took place as international free-to-air terrestrial news channel, Channel NewsAsia International's service in Southeast Asia/ASEAN and Asia–Pacific was officially grand opening took place by Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong.[25]

Ninety-five days later, on New Year's Day 2001 at stroke of midnight Singapore Time, The channel merged with Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel NewsAsia International. Initially, most of SITV's programmes and presenters migrated to the new channel and it operated from Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) headquarters in Caldecott Broadcast Centre, Singapore. Channel NewsAsia International and Singapore International Television officially merged channel launched and was officially merged into Channel NewsAsia Singapore International Television.

Forty-two days later, on 12 February 2001 at stroke of midnight Singapore Time, Channel NewsAsia Singapore International Television was officially merged into Channel NewsAsia International.

## Programmes

[edit]

Singapore International Television (SITV) had one fixed daily programme such as News 5 Tonight at 10:30pm Singapore Time. The other half-hour was filled by content from other Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) channels in three languages: English/Singlish, Mandarin/Singdarin and Malay. Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) selected the shows it had for the non-news segments. Certain programmes such as Talking Point were left out from the schedule with the channel aiming to attract non-Singaporeans. Inside Asia was picked because of its content "from the region on the region". The line-up reflected the diversity of Singapore.[6]

### English/Singlish

[edit]

* News 5 Tonight is a Singapore English long-running main flagship late-night television news bulletin on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 5 and Singapore International Television since its inception which runs daily from 10:30pm to 11:00pm Singapore Time on daily/public holidays, providing a round-up of all the day's events around Singapore, as well as coverage of breaking news and occasional global stories relevant to Singaporeans and Singlish news bulletin programmes live simulcast at 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 5.[6]
* Money Mind is a English current affairs on every Wednesday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 5.[6]
* Inside Asia is a English current affairs on every Thursday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 5.[6]
* Mum's Not Cooking is a English restaurant review–sitcom/comedy series on every Sunday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 5.[6][26]

### Mandarin/Singdarin

[edit]

* Variety Tonight (开心五重奏) is a Mandarin entertainment show on every Monday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time (later was rebranded to Comedy Night (搞笑行动) is a Mandarin first sketch comedy, situation comedy or comedy realty television show was host/presenter by Jack Neo on every Monday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time) on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 8.[6]
* Comedy Night (搞笑行动) is a Mandarin first sketch comedy, situation comedy or comedy realty television show was host/presenter by Jack Neo on every Monday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 8.[6]
* Tuesday Report (星期二特写) is a Mandarin current affairs on every Tuesday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) Channel 8.[6]

### Malay

[edit]

* Tinjauan is a Malay current affairs on every Friday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Twelve (TV12) Channel 12.[6]
* Portret Keluarga is a Malay family magazine show on every Saturday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Twelve (TV12) Channel 12.[6]
* Hiburan Minggu Ini is a Malay variety show on every Saturday at 10:00pm to 10:30pm Singapore Time on Television Twelve (TV12) Channel 12.[6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Mengembang sayap maklumat kedua". Berita Harian. 10 January 1994. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
2. ^ "S'pore to beam TV shows to Asia". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 11 November 1993. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
3. ^ "Low-key launch for pint-size export TV". South China Morning Post. 31 December 1993. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
4. ^ "Jan 1 launch for SIF's satellite TV broadcasts". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 23 December 1993. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
5. ^ "Brunei TV to introduce satellite broadcasts". The Straits Times. 25 December 1993. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "S'pore to beam TV shows to Asia". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 2 January 1994. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
7. ^ "PM to launch new satellite TV service". The Straits Times. 1 January 1994. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
8. ^ "PRIME MINISTER OF SINGAPORE, MR GOH CHOK TONG'S SPEECH FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION (SITV) ON SAT. 1 JANUARY 1994" (PDF). NAS. 1 January 1994. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
9. ^ "A NEW ERA DAWNS IN SINGAPORE BROADCASTING". The Straits Times. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
10. ^ "A NEW ERA DAWNS IN SINGAPORE BROADCASTING". The Straits Times. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
11. ^ "TCS, RCS AND TV12 OFFICIALLY VERY FIRST RADIO AND TELEVISION SCHEDULE". The Straits Times. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
12. ^ "A NEW ERA DAWNS IN SINGAPORE BROADCASTING". The Business Times. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
13. ^ "A NEW ERA DAWNS IN SINGAPORE BROADCASTING". The Business Times. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
14. ^ "TCS, RCS AND TV12 OFFICIALLY VERY FIRST RADIO AND TELEVISION SCHEDULE". The Business Times. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
15. ^ "BERMULA ERA BARU DALAM PENYIARAN DI SINGAPURA". Berita Harian. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
16. ^ "BERMULA ERA BARU DALAM PENYIARAN DI SINGAPURA". Berita Harian. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
17. ^ "TCS, RCS DAN TV12 SECARA RASMI INTISARI RANCANGAN RADIO DAN TELEVISYEN PERDANA". Berita Harian. 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
18. ^ "新加坡广播业今天开始迈人新纪元". Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报). 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
19. ^ "新加坡广播业今天开始迈人新纪元". Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报). 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
20. ^ "新视、新广电及新视12举行正式开始广播电视节目表仪式". Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报). 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
21. ^ "சிங்கப்பூரின் ஒலிபரப்புத் துறை இன்று ஒரு புதிய சகாப்தத்தைத் தொடங்குகிறது". Tamil Murasu (தமிழ் முரசு). 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
22. ^ "சிங்கப்பூரின் ஒலிபரப்புத் துறை இன்று ஒரு புதிய சகாப்தத்தைத் தொடங்குகிறது". Tamil Murasu (தமிழ் முரசு). 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
23. ^ "சிங்கப்பூர் தொலைக்காட்சி நிறுவனம், சிங்கப்பூர் வானொலி கழகம் மற்றும் தொலைக்காட்சி பன்னிரண்டு அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக முதல் வானொலி மற்றும் தொலைக்காட்சி அட்டவணை". Tamil Murasu (தமிழ் முரசு). 1 October 1994. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
24. ^ "S'pore accepts Brunei's offer of satellite space". The Straits Times. 26 August 1995. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
25. ^ "Asian launch of Channel NewsAsia". NAS. 28 September 2000. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
26. ^ "Singaporeans who have made Suzhou home". The Straits Times. 19 April 1996. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website in 2000