Fund to help public broadcasting programmes push the envelope
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — Public service broadcasting must continue to produce quality local content and stay relevant in the digital age, said Minister of State (Communications and Information) Chee Hong Tat on Monday (March 6), as he announced a Content Development Fund to keep public broadcasting offerings “relevant and fresh”.
Jointly established by Mediacorp and the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), the fund will encourage experimentation with new content formats, such as the use of augmented and virtual reality technologies.
Responding to Members of Parliament’s (MP) calls to enhance the quality of local programmes during the debate on the Ministry of Communications and Information’s budget, Mr Chee said: “The media landscape is becoming increasingly challenging, changes are happening very quickly and we cannot stand still ... Locally produced PSB (public service broadcasting) programmes can best capture and convey our unique Singaporean flavour. We cannot match the budgets of Hollywood productions or Korean dramas, so we must compete differently by engaging our viewers through quality local content.” Public broadcasting is “important for our national development”, he added.
During the debate, MPs such as Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang GRC), Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC), and Nominated MP Ganesh Rajaram had wanted to know the outcomes of Mediacorp’s operational review.
Mr Rajaram, who runs media firm Fremantlemedia International, noted that locally-produced programmes still suffer from “a lack of consistency in the quality of programming”. He urged Mediacorp to work with regional broadcasters such as Fox, AXN and Discovery to produce programmes that can be aired on both platforms.
The Government first announced during last year’s debate on the ministry’s budget that Mediacorp and its shareholder Temasek Holdings will be reviewing the national broadcaster’s operations to “better position the company for the future”.
Mr Chee said on Monday the IMDA is partnering Mediacorp to build a pipeline of young creative talent for the media industry through new scholarship and apprenticeship programmes, as well as to collaborate with schools, such as programmes to develop young producers.
To enhance Mediacorp’s digital reach, especially among younger audiences, the broadcaster will further invest in its online platform Toggle, so that local programmes can be accessed instantaneously on any device, from mobile phones to large-screen HDTVs.
Its streaming reliability, navigation, content recommendation and personalisation features — such as the possibility of adding subtitles — will also be enhanced.
Toggle is also working with independent producers and tertiary institutions to roll out more original programmes. Okto, a television channel which currently caters to young people, will be repositioned as a Children and Sports channel. Last month, Okto aired “Junction Tree”, its first local bilingual TV series for pre-schoolers.
Mediacorp will explore more co-production opportunities and increase its portion of programmes outsourced to independent production houses, Mr Chee added.
Responding to Mr Chee’s comments, a Mediacorp spokesperson said: “Our review of Mediacorp, conducted with our shareholder Temasek Holdings, provides the direction in which we will innovate, invest and stay financially viable.
“We will continue to reinvigorate our content by listening to our audiences and responding with creative approaches.
“Mediacorp also wants to partner the best talent across the ecosystem and be a catalyst for ideas and collaboration. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead.”
