Singapore Announces New Media Initiatives

June 16, 2009 World Screen
SINGAPORE: The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) announced several new initiatives to boost the local media sector at BroadcastAsia, including the FutureTV partner network.
 
As part of the FutureTV effort, local companies such as MediaCorp, StarHub and SingTel, among others, are working with international outfits such as Motorola and Microsoft to innovate media consumption technologies in Singapore. Together with MDA, the partner network is calling for proposals from local companies to submit ideas, technologies and approaches towards feeding demand for interactive content and personalized delivery systems.
 
The launch of the FutureTV initiative came amid the unveiling of the Singapore Media Fusion Plan (SMFP) at this year’s BroadcastAsia. “The FutureTV initiative is one of the key efforts under the SMFP aimed at galvanizing the industry to secure a foothold in niche sub-sectors of the emerging new-media arena," said Dr Christopher Chia, the CEO of the MDA. "It will be one of the supporting pillars to attain Singapore’s vision of being a trusted global capital for new Asia media, be it content, services or applications, that resonate with the world, whilst leveraging on Singapore’s strengths and strategic location as an East-West gateway.”
 
MDA and SingTel have teamed up to bolster the distribution capabilities of Singapore. Under the partnership, SingTel’s Broadcast Innovation Centre (BIC) will be linked to Mediapolis@one-north, the self-contained media park incorporating a soundstage complex, digital post-production studios, work lofts as well as retail, recreation and accommodation facilities, via high-speed connectivity. With this distribution capability in place, media players will be able to cost-effectively and efficiently send locally-produced content directly to their counterparts or broadcast stations overseas. By eliminating the need for third-party intervention, the initiative extends the reach of local media companies and gives greater access to Asian content.
 
Another key plan of the SMFP is talent development. MDA has set out on a program called Media Training & Attachment (META), which will give work exposure and training opportunities in Singapore and overseas to local talents and media professionals. SingTel will take on the role of training partner to provide on-the-job training in broadcast engineering and technology. Also supported by META isafive-year partnership between MDA and the NUS-Digital Hollywood Lab that will see up to 40 media talents matched each year with major television and motion-picture companies such as The Walt Disney Company, ABC, ESPN and The Jim Henson Company in the U.S. for up to six-month training stints.