MediaCorp Preps New Channels

SINGAPORE, February 29:
MediaCorp is expanding its portfolio of free-to-air offerings in Singapore with
plans for two new networks, one targeting kids and the other focused on the
island nation’s Indian community.

Vasantham, slated for a Q4
rollout, aims to provide family entertainment, locally produced long-form
serials, reality series and talk shows, plus Tamil-language news and current
affairs. Predominantly broadcasting in Tamil, Vasantham will also feature
content in other Indian dialects. The channel grows out of MediaCorp’s
Vasantham Central block, and will see the broadcaster increasing its
Indian-language content options from the current 29 hours to 65 hours each
week. Once the Indian content migrates off the Central channel, Central itself
will be positioned as an English-language service for kids. It will feature
content for preschoolers and their caregivers in the morning, primary-school
students in the afternoon and teenagers and young adults in the evening.
Thereafter, Central will switch to lifestyle programs, local productions,
acquired documentaries, arts performances and anime for more mature audiences.

—By Mansha Daswani