Vasantham (TV channel)

For a Tamil language channel in Sri Lanka, see Vasantham TV.

Television channel

Vasantham

Country| Singapore
Broadcast area| Singapore
Malaysia (Johor)
Indonesia (Riau Islands)
Network| Mediacorp TV12
Headquarters| Mediacorp Campus, 1 Stars Avenue, Singapore 138507
Programming
Language(s)| Tamil
Picture format| 1080i 16:9 HDTV
Ownership
Owner| Mediacorp
Sister channels| Channel 5
Channel 8
Channel U
Suria
CNA
History
Launched| 19 October 2008; 15 years ago (2008-10-19)
Links
Website| Vasantham
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital terrestrial television| UHF CH 31 554MHz DVB-T2 Channel 5 (HD)
Streaming media
meWATCH| Available on meWATCH website or mobile app (Singapore only)

Vasantham (Tamil: வசந்தம், lit. 'Spring') is a Tamil-language free-to-air terrestrial television channel in Singapore, owned by state media conglomerate Mediacorp. The channel broadcasts entertainment and news programming targeting the Singaporean Indian community.

## History[edit]

Since the inception of television broadcasting in Singapore, Tamil-language programming had been broadcast by Mediacorp and its predecessors via its existing channels; after having carried programming in all four of Singapore's official languages on Channel 5 and 8, the channels were split on 30 March 1973. Channel 5 would focus on English and Malay, and Channel 8 would focus on Chinese and Tamil.[1]

On 1 September 1995, Channel 12—which took on Malay programming after Channel 5 relaunched as an English-language channel a year prior—relaunched as Prime 12, and Tamil programming moved to the channel. With the move, Tamil output increased from an average of 10 hours per-week to 16 hours.[2]

In September 1999, Singapore Television Twelve announced changes to its two channels, with Tamil programming moving from Prime 12 to Central, which was rebranded from Premiere 12, in January next year.[3] The Vasantham brand was introduced for Tamil programming on 30 January 2000, when Prime 12 was relaunched as the Malay-specific Suria, and Premiere 12 (a channel that took on Channel 12's arts and culture programming after the launch of Prime 12)[1] relaunched as Central; "Vasantham Central" would be one of the three main program strands carried by Central.[4][5]

In February 2008, it was announced that Central would be discontinued, and that its Kids Central and Vasantham Central strands would be spun-off as full-time channels.[6] The new channels—Vasantham and Okto—would launch in 19 October 2008.[7]

## Programming[edit]

Main article: List of programs broadcast by Vasantham

## Broadcast hours[edit]

Vasantham broadcasts from 9:00 a.m. SGT daily, signing off at 12:00 a.m. SGT on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, 12:30 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and 1:30 a.m. on Saturdays. A simulcast of Mediacorp's Tamil-language radio station Oli 968 is carried during the overnight and morning hours until sign-on.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "NEW TIMES FOR TV SCREENING FROM FRIDAY". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 27 March 1973. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
2. ^ "More Malay, Indian programmes plus arts, sports". The Straits Times. 2 August 1995. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
3. ^ "Ch 5: More foreign shows on prime-time". The Straits Times. 28 March 1996. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
4. ^ "Programme Ratings for STV12 Channels Soared on Debut!". MediaCorp Group. February 2000. Archived from the original on 27 June 2001. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
5. ^ "STV12 to Increase Programming Hours on Central". MediaCorp Group. February 2000. Archived from the original on 10 April 2001. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
6. ^ Wong, Alicia (1 March 2008). "Dedicated Indian and kids TV channels". Today (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 24 March 2020.
7. ^ "Two more to savour". Today (retrieved from NLB). 21 October 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2019.

## External links[edit]

* Vasantham Official Website

* v
* t
* e

Mediacorp

Television|

* Suria
* Channel 5
* Channel U
* Channel 8
* Vasantham
* CNA

Radio|

* BBC World Service
* RIA 897
* GOLD 905
* SYMPHONY 924
* YES 933
* CNA938
* WARNA 942
* CLASS 95
* CAPITAL 958
* OLI 968
* LOVE 972
* 987

Artiste group|

* Mediacorp's Ah Jie
* 8 Dukes of Caldecott Hill
* Seven Princesses of Mediacorp
* HST
* 4567

Other|

* Digital
* 8 Days
* meWATCH
* Today
* Reebonz
* Singapore Media Academy

Defunct|

* Print
* LIME
* Manja
* Style:
* Radio
* XFM 96.3
* Lush 99.5FM
* Television
* Teletext
* Central
* Channel i
* Sportscity
* City TV
* TVMobile
* HD5
* MOBTV
* Okto
* Channel 8i
* Raintree Pictures
* xinmsn

See also: Mass media in Singapore

* v
* t
* e

Mediacorp Vasantham TV dramas

Dramas|

* Athiyaayam
* Irul
* Ithu Namma Veedu
* Nijangal
* Thalli Pogathey
* Vettai
* Pledged to Hunt
* The Force
* Yaar?
* S2

Soap operas|

* Aaram Arivu
* Alaipayuthey
* Annamalai
* S3
* Azhagiya Thamizh Magal
* Ennuyire
* Iruvar
* Janani D/O Madhavan
* S2
* Kalyanam
* S2
* Kannadi Pookal
* Masala
* Neeya
* Ragasiyam 2
* Vallamai Tharayo
* Vetri
* S2
* S3

Reality shows|

* Achamillai Achamillai
* Rayil Sneham

See also: List of programs broadcast by Mediacorp Vasantham

* v
* t
* e

Tamil-language media

Newspapers, magazines and other periodicals

| Newspapers|

| India|

* Dina Thanthi
* Dinaboomi
* Dinakaran
* Dinamalar
* Dinamani
* Dinasudar
* Hindu Tamil Thisai
* Maalai Malar
* Makkal Kural
* Malai Murasu
* Namadhu Amma
* Nellai Maalai Murasu
* Tamil Murasu
* Theekkathir
* Viduthalai

Defunct newspapers
Dinavartamani
Kannagi
Swadesamitran

|

Malaysia|

* Makkal Osai
* Malaysia Nanban
* Tamil Nesan

Singapore|

* Tamil Murasu
* Vannathirai

Sri Lanka|

* Sudar Oli
* Thinakaran
* Thinakkural
* Uthayan
* Virakesari

Magazines|

| India|

* Ananda Vikatan
* Kalki
* Kumudam
* Kungumam
* Nakkheeran
* Netaji
* Puthiya Thalaimurai
* Tharasu

|

Radio

| Stations|

| India|

* All India Radio
* Rainbow FM
* Gold FM
* BIG FM 92.7
* Gyan Vani
* Hello FM
* Radio City
* Radio Mirchi
* Radio One
* Suryan FM

|

Malaysia|

* Minnal FM
* Raaga

Singapore|

* Oli 96.8FM

Sri Lanka|

* FM99
* Shakthi FM
* SLBC Tamil Commercial Service
* SLBC Tamil National Service
* Sooriyan FM
* Tamil FM
* Theydal FM
* Vasantham FM
* Vettri FM

Television

| Stations|

| India|

* Adithya TV
* Captain TV
* Chutti TV
* Colors Tamil
* DD Chennai (DD1)
* DD Coimbatore
* DD Madurai
* DD Pudhucherry
* Jaya TV
* K TV
* Kalaignar Seithigal
* Kalaignar TV
* Makkal TV
* Mega TV
* News7 Tamil
* News18 Tamil Nadu
* News J
* Podhigai TV (DD5)
* Polimer TV
* Polimer News
* PuthiyaThalaimurai TV
* Puthuyugam TV
* Raj TV
* Raj Digital Plus
* Raj Musix
* Raj News 24X7
* SS Music
* Star Vijay
* Vijay Super
* Sun Life
* Sun Music
* Sun News
* Sun TV
* Thanthi TV
* Vasanth TV
* Vendhar TV
* Zee Tamil
* Zee Thirai

|

Malaysia|

* Astro Vaanavil
* Astro Vellithirai
* Astro Vinmeen HD
* Astro Box Office Movies Thangathirai

Singapore|

* MediaCorp Vasantham

Sri Lanka|

* Athavan TV
* Nanban TV
* Dan Tamil Oli TV
* Nethra TV
* Shakthi TV
* Varnam TV
* Vasantham TV

Australia, Europe and Middle East|

* Deepam TV
* IBC Tamil
* Global Tamil Vision (GTV)

Canada and United States|

* ATN Jaya TV
* Tamil One
* Tamil Entertainment Television (TET)
* Tamil Vision International (TVI)

Defunct stations|

Tamil Television Network (TTN)
Tharisanam TV

Websites

* Dinakaran-India
* Dina Thanthi-India
* Tamil Mirror-Sri Lanka

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