Central (TV channel)

For other uses, see Central Television.

Central

Country	Singapore
Broadcast area	Singapore Johor Bahru/Johor Bahru District (Malaysia) Batam/Batam Islands, Riau Islands (Indonesia)
Headquarters	Bestway Building, 12 Prince Edward Road, 079212 Singapore
Programming
Language(s)	English Tamil
Picture format	576i (4:3 SDTV)
Ownership
Owner	Mediacorp TV12
Sister channels	Suria
History
Launched	1 September 1995;28 years ago (1995-09-01)
Closed	19 October 2008;15 years ago (2008-10-19)
Replaced by	Vasantham (physical slots, frequency and channel space) Okto (format)
Former names	Channel 12 (1984 – 1995) Premiere 12 (1995 – 2000)
Availability (at time of closure)
Terrestrial
Analog terrestrial television	Channel 24

Central was a Singaporean English and Tamil language free-to-air television channel. Its programming schedule was composed of three timeshared channels on its frequency slot: Kids Central, Vasantham Central and Arts Central.

Previously, Indian-related programming was broadcast along with Malay-language programmes on Prime 12, while Premiere 12's schedule consisted of arts, documentaries and kids shows.

MediaCorp TV12 Central was closed down on 19 October 2008 when Vasantham Central relaunched as the standalone channel Vasantham. Arts Central and Kids Central were merged into a single channel named okto, with kids and arts programming.

History

Premiere 12

On 26 August 1994, ahead of the bill that suggested the planned privatisation of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, the Minister for Information and the Arts (Brigadier General) George Yeo announced the plan for the creation of a fourth free-to-air television channel in Singapore, offering a predominantly cultural lineup. Under this plan, Channel 8 would switch to an entirely-Chinese format, causing the Tamil shows there to move to Channel 12, using its new format to concentrate primarily on Malay and Indian content. In contrast, the cultural output that was on the former Channel 12 would move to a new UHF channel, due to the lack of VHF slots available. ^[1]

Television Twelve (later renamed Singapore Television Twelve), who following the privatisation was the owner of Channel 12, received the greenlight from the Singapore Broadcasting Authority to broadcast a UHF channel on 27 July 1995. ^[2] Test transmissions began on 1 August 1995, with trial programming running nightly from 7 to 9 pm and the test pattern filling the rest. ^[3]

In preparation for the launch of the two channels, it was announced that the logos and identities of services were to be revealed on officially formal full launch night (1 September) at 8:00pm SGT, as part of a special programme, 12 By 12: TV12's Launch Show, which was to be simulcast over both channels. The former Channel 12 output that had been virtually unchanged since its inception in 1984 (aside the inclusion of Malay content that would later appear on Prime 12) was to be carried over by the frequency 72 hours a week, with 15 1/2 hours devoted to sports, which The New Paper was its "crowd puller", football being its main driving force, emphasizing on Serie A, the S. League and Asian football. Sandra Buenaventura, CEO of Singapore Television Twelve, said that the channels were "like a tin of assorted biscuits", reflecting the individual nature of the specialist programming of the new services. ^[4]

Unlike Prime 12, much of Premiere 12's programmes were in English. The channel also planned to air a weekly slot for "baby boomers" featuring comedy series from the 1970s and old movies and Late Show With David Letterman. ^[3]

The channel officially formal full launched took place at 8:00pm SGT on 1 September 1995. Up until the start of the launch show 12 By 12: TV12's Launch Show, what would become Prime 12 was still carrying the "old" Channel 12. ^[5]

Data from Nielsen Survey Research Singapore show that Premiere 12's viewership share went from 10% in September 1995 to 22% in February 1996, attributed to the channel's better selection of programmes than Channel 5. ^[6]

Central

At the end of 1999, Singapore Television Twelve announced that Premiere 12 was going to be replaced by Central as part of a company-wide restructuring of MediaCorp's television output, with the launch set for 30 January 2000. ^[7]

Central's programming schedule was composed of three timeshared channels:

• Kids Central showcasing on children's programme after children's programmes officially moved from Channel 5.
• Vasantham Central showcasing on Tamil programme block after Tamil programmes was officially moved from Prime 12 to Vasantham Central.
• Arts Central showcasing on culture, arts, documentaries and classical music programme.

On launch week, Kids Central reportedly had 70,000 to 173,000 viewers, Vasantham Central exceeded 30% share and the showing of the Cirque du Soleil performance Quidam on Arts Central attracted 140,000 viewers. ^[8] On 28 February 2000, Singapore Television Twelve increased Central's on-air hours from 91½ to 110½ hours per week. ^[9]

Arts Central had a new look with tidier programme schedule and a revamped line-up in April 2007, which turned out to be the last. ^[10]

On 19 October 2008, Central was stop transmission and broadcast. Central's Vasantham Central was officially launching new name becomes Vasantham after officially turned, shifted and switched language channel to standalone Tamil channel for Indian community of Singapore on a frequency and channel space formerly occupied by Premiere 12/Central (Central's Vasantham Central current) ^{[11] [12]} and Central's Kids Central and Arts Central was officially launching new name and new merges into single channel becomes Okto was officially divided into two schedule channel programme block on a frequency and channel space formerly occupied by Channel i:

• OktoDAY showcasing on children's programme from morning to afternoon time formerly programme schedule channel known as Central's Kids Central.
• OktoNITE showcasing on culture, arts, documentaries and classical music programme from evening to late-night time formerly programme schedule channel known as Central's Arts Central.

Timeshared channels

Kids Central

Kids Central was Singapore's most-watched children's channel. Its programmes aim to bring fun television entertainment to children aged 4 to 12 years as well as appeal to people's inner children. The channel was set up to be a strong terrestrial alternative to cable channels and programming blocks aimed at children. ^[13]

Vasantham Central

Logo of Vasantham Central

Vasantham Central was focused to the Tamil community of Singapore broadcasting Indian-produced dramas, variety, news, information and entertainment shows in Tamil language. The station offered hours of programming on weekdays and on weekends, with approximately a quarter of local content.

The Children's Day Telemovie Special Matchstick was awarded the Certificate of Distinction at the New York Festivals in 2004. The channel conducted acting workshops, training and events such as Mother's Day celebrations in Tekka Mall.

Arts Central

Logo of Arts Central

Arts Central consisted on culture programming with culture, arts, documentaries and classical music. Arts Central offered 20 hours of programming per week.

In 2001, both Hanging by the Thread and AlterAsian received a Finalist status at the New York Festival, and in 2007, the I-Collector series placed as runners-up in the Asian TV Awards.

See also

• Channel U
• Suria
• Okto
• Vasantham
• Channel i
• MediaCorp TV12
• TVMobile

References

1. "Fourth TV channel will feature cultural shows". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 27 August 1994. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
2. "TV 12 to start new channel". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 29 July 1995. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
3. "More Malay, Indian programmes plus arts, sports". The Straits Times. 2 August 1995. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
4. "More as TV 12 splits into 2". The New Paper (retrieved from NLB). 31 August 1995. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
5. "Page 37 Miscellaneous Column 2". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 1 September 1995. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
6. "Ch 5: More foreign shows on prime-time". The Straits Times. 28 March 1996. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
7. Haman, Andrea (1 December 1999). "STV 12 unveils Kids Central". Kidscreen. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
8. "Programme Ratings for STV12 Channels Soared on Debut!". MediaCorp Group. February 2000. Archived from the original on 27 June 2001. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
9. "STV12 to Increase Programming Hours on Central". MediaCorp Group. February 2000. Archived from the original on 10 April 2001. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
10. "Killer new look". The Straits Times. 6 April 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
11. "Two more to savour". Today (retrieved from NLB). 21 October 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
12. Wong, Alicia (1 March 2008). "Dedicated Indian and kids TV channels". Today (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 24 March 2020.
13. Haman, Andrea (1 December 1999). "STV 12 unveils Kids Central". Kidscreen. Retrieved 16 August 2021.