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| 1 September 1995; 29 years ago (1995-09-01)
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 Tamil community.

It’s the dominant local channel targeted at the Indian community in Singapore.

## 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][3]

In September 1999, Singapore Television Twelve announced changes to its two channels taking effect in 2000, with Prime 12 becoming a full-time Malay channel known as Suria, and Premiere 12 (which took on arts and cultural programming after the Prime 12 relaunch) becoming Central—a channel divided into blocks for children's programming, Tamil programming, and arts programming.[4][5][6] "Vasantham Central" would be one of the three main program strands carried by Central.[7][8]

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.[9] The new channels—Vasantham and Okto—would launch in 19 October 2008.[10]

## Programming

[edit]

Main article: List of programs broadcast by Vasantham

Vasantham's programming consists primarily of Tamil-language dramas and variety shows. Seithi (செய்தி) serves as the station's evening newscast. In 2019, the channel launched Muthal Paarvai, a viewer-voted pilot contest for new Vasantham dramas.[11]

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 (except on national holidays where it broadcasts for 24 hours). 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. ^ "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. ^ "Page 45 Miscellaneous Column 1". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 30 January 2000. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
5. ^ "Suria selaras Melayu abad ke-21". Berita Harian. 18 February 2000. p. 20. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
6. ^ "Saiuran biar sejajar pegangan moral". Berita Harian. 11 February 2000. p. 18. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
7. ^ "Programme Ratings for STV12 Channels Soared on Debut!". MediaCorp Group. February 2000. Archived from the original on 27 June 2001. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
8. ^ "STV12 to Increase Programming Hours on Central". MediaCorp Group. February 2000. Archived from the original on 10 April 2001. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
9. ^ Wong, Alicia (1 March 2008). "Dedicated Indian and kids TV channels". Today (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 24 March 2020.
10. ^ "Two more to savour". Today (retrieved from NLB). 21 October 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
11. ^ "Indian diaspora gets say in TV Channel Vasantham Muthal Paarvai pilot". Connected to India News. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2025.

## 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

Other|

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

Defunct|

* Print
* LIME
* Manja
* Style:
* Radio
* XFM 96.3
* Lush 99.5FM
* Television
* Teletext
* Premiere 12
* 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?

Soap operas|

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

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
* 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
* News Tamil 24×7
* News7 Tamil
* News18 Tamil Nadu
* News J
* Tamil TV (DD5)
* Polimer TV
* Polimer News
* PuthiyaThalaimurai TV
* Puthuyugam TV
* Raj TV
* Raj Digital Plus
* Raj Musix
* Raj News 24X7
* 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
* 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
* IPD Tamil

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