Singapore has a lively media scene peppered with film, broadcast, publishing, interactive, games and animation activity all year round.
This is supported by a calendar of workshops, forums, and exhibitions, not to mention a growing demand for media jobs, met by the introduction of more media courses in Singapore schools and universities.
As a media hub for state-of-the-art technology, production and exchange, Singapore is poised to attract world-class media companies and talent in television, film, video, radio, publishing and new media.
To this end, the Media Development Authority (MDA) was established in 2003 to grow Singapore into a vibrant global media city that is enterprising, creative and connected.
It has been helping different forms of media to develop and forge sustainable businesses in Singapore through various funding programmes. Conversely, initiatives such as Call-for-Proposals (New Media) are in place to propel promising Singapore companies onto a global platform.
The MDA also plays a regulatory function in managing content and protecting national interests. All forms of media in Singapore come under its purview.
Media in Singapore:
Local newspapers
The 10 dailies in Singapore share an average combined circulation of 1.6 million. Singapore Press Holdings publishes 17 newspapers in four languages, while MediaCorp Press puts out one English-language daily freesheet.
Foreign publications and audio-visual materials
More than a million publications and 300,000 audio materials are imported each year. Leading foreign publications available here include the Asian Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, USA Today, The Economist, and Time magazine.
Free-to-Air television
The seven public TV channels are Channel 5, Channel 8, Channel U, Okto, Channel NewsAsia, Suria and Vasantham. Singapore’s TV broadcasters are MediaCorp TV (Channels 5,8 & U), MediaCorp News (Channel NewsAsia), and MediaCorp TV12 (Suria, Okto and Vasantham).
Radio
There are 18 free-to-air analogue radio channels in Singapore. The radio broadcasters are MediaCorp Radio, UnionWorks, SAFRA Radio, Rediffusion and BBC World Service.
Cable television
Singapore’s cable TV operator is StarHub Cable Vision. It offers over 100 channels and has a total of 487,000 cable TV subscribers.
Online media
RazorTV and The Straits Times Interactive produced by Singapore Press Holdings.
Public Service Broadcast (PSB) programmes
The MDA funds programmes on TV that may not be commercially viable but serve the public’s interest. These programmes cover current affairs, education, culture, children and minority interests. The MDA also funds minority programmes on radio stations Oli 96.8FM, Warna 94.2FM and Ria 89.7FM. The news read in dialects is supported on Capital 95.8FM and 938LIVE.
Design in Singapore:
The DesignSingapore Council, set up since August 2003 by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, is the national agency for promotion and development of Singapore design. As a national initiative, DesignSingapore aims to place Singapore on the world map for design creativity. It looks to developing a thriving, multi-disciplinary design cluster of industries and activities in Singapore that has relevance and impact globally. The Council works closely with other government agencies, the design community, industry and education institutions to promote design in business and education, and to develop Singapore as one of the leading international centres for design creativity.
Source: Media Development Authority, Singapore Department of Statistics, DesignSingapore
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