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overview
holdings
chronology
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overview
This profile considers Singapore's
MCS group.
The group, centred around the state broadcaster, embraces
magazines, newspapers, radio, television, telecommunications
infrastructure and audiovisualproduction/distribution.
It competes with SPH group centred
on the Straits Times.
the group
The state-owned Singapore Broadcasting Corporation was
corporatised as the Singapore International Media (SIM)
group of companies in 1994 before being restructured as
the Media Corporation of Singapore (MediaCorp)
in 1999.
An indication of its history is here.
The group now has subsidiaries in TV and radio broadcasting,
TV and film production, press, publishing and interactive
services. MediaCorp TV operates five free-to-air channels.
Its two 24-hour channels. MediaCorp News offers local
and satellite 20-hour news channels. MediaCorp has also
launched digitaltelevision services: it has substantial
broadband interests within Singapore and its TVMobile
channel is currently available on 1,500 Singapore Bus
Service vehicles.
MediaCorp Radio operates Singapore’s largest radio network
(12 out of the 18 FM radio stations). Its MediaCorp Studies
offers a range of artist management,post-production, video
and feature film production and distribution services.
The group's Today newspaper is challenging SPH's
tabloids.
Prior to 2000 SPH was the monopoly newspaper publisher,
with MediaCorp controlling most radio and television broadcasts.
In that year, with government's blessing, both groups
moved into each other's territory. SPH established two
free-to-air television channels (U and I) to compete with
MediaCorp's Channels 5, 8 and Channel NewsAsia. MediaCorp
also launched the Today free tabloid. Pseudo-diversity
was expensive and short-lived, with MediaCorp reportedly
losing S$50 million on Today and S$15 million
on television each year, with SPH losses at around S$50
million per year for television and S$5 million on the
Streats free tabloid.
In August 2004 SPH and MediaCorp announced the merger
of their television and free newspaper operations. A new
holding company, MediaCorp TV Holdings - comprising MediaCorp
TV Singapore Pte Ltd (MCTV) and MediaCorp Studios Pte
Ltd - was established to operate television channels 5,
8, U and TVMobile (with Channel i ceasing in January 2005).
MediaCorp TV Holdings is 80% owned by MediaCorp and 20%
by SPH, with MediaCorp responsible for management and
operation of the merged entities.
SPH also ceased publication of Streats, its free
newspaper, absorbed by TODAY (published by MediaCorp
Press Pte Ltd, in which MediaCorp has a 60% stake and
SPH has 40%), operating independently of the SPH newspapers.
An indication of holdings is here.
other state networks
There are separate profiles on
ABC and SBS - Australia
BBC - United Kingdom
TVNZ & RNZ - New Zealand
CBC - Canada
PBS - USA
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