Singapore Broadcasting Corporation


Singapore Broadcasting Corporation was a mass media conglomeration which dominated the television and radio broadcasting industry in Singapore from 1980 to 1994, holding a virtual monopoly. SBC was created on 1 February 1980 from the former government-owned Radio and Television of Singapore, which itself was founded on 9 August 1965.
On 1 October 1994 SBC was privatised, becoming the Television Corporation of Singapore, Radio Corporation of Singapore and Singapore Television Twelve. Upon being bought by Mediacorp, on 12 February 2001, it became Mediacorp.

History

Timeline

Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (1980–1994)

Radio and Television Singapore was converted from a department within the then-Ministry of Culture into a statutory board known as the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation on 1 February 1980. The basis for corporatisation was to free RTS from the administrative and budgetary constraints that had hampered its ability to upgrade broadcasting services to meet the growing expectations of local audiences.
On 25 July 1982, Singapore Broadcasting Corporation produced its first local drama for SBC 8. SBC also produced various awarding-winning documentaries and current affairs talk shows but were criticised for their marginalised broadcast of news and current affairs, carrying news that are supporting the common misconceptions that are much silenced.
On 31 January 1984, SBC launched Singapore's third free-to-air terrestrial television channel, SBC 12 after the government announced its life to nurture a gracious and elegant society. Channel 12 carried mostly art and cultural programmes marking the inception of niche programming.
Due to the lack of proper theatre school at that time, a drama training course was initiated to scout for local Mandarin-speaking talent and ten batches of young artistes were trained Notable graduates of the course include Zeng Huifen, Xiang Yun, Edmund Chen, Terence Cao, Bryan Chan, Jimmy Nah, Pan Lingling, Huang Biren and Cynthia Koh. A training programme for young children and teenagers starring in children's programmes was also started and early trainees included Fann Wong, Bryan Wong and Dennis Chew. With the initiation of Star Search Singapore in 1988 and more tertiary institutions and schools offering drama courses, these training courses were eventually discontinued.

Television Corporation of Singapore (1994–2001)

On 1 January 1994, Malay programmes were moved to SBC 12 so that they could increase viewership.
The Singapore Broadcasting Corporation was privatised on 1 October 1994, and SBC's operations were split into 3 individual companies under the Singapore International Media banner. Television Corporation of Singapore and Singapore Television Twelve took over SBC's television-broadcasting operations and Radio Corporation of Singapore took over SBC's radio-broadcasting operations.
On 1 September 1995, Channel 8 began 24-hour transmission permanently, Tamil programmes were moved to Singapore Television Twelve's Prime 12 and later Premiere 12 on 30 January 2000.
On 29 September 1995, Channel 5 later commenced 24-hour transmissions permanently.