News Tonight

Last updated

News Tonight
Genre Flagship News
Starring Genevieve Woo (Mainly weekdays)
Glenda Chong (Mainly weekdays, on maternity leave)
Angela Lim (Mainly weekends)
Keith Liu
Otelli Edwards
Paul Sng
Poh Kok Ing
Jill Neubronner
Steven Chia
Country of origin Singapore
Original language English
Production
Production locationMediacorp Campus 1 Stars Avenue Singapore 138507
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time30 minutes (9:00pm to 9:30pm Singapore Time).
Production company Mediacorp News
Original release
Network Channel 5
Release15 February 1963 (1963-02-15) –
present
Related
Singapore Tonight

News Tonight (formerly News 5 Tonight, News 5 and before 1994 as just News) is a Singapore English long-running main flagship daily main evening nightly television news bulletin programme on Mediacorp Channel 5 since its inception which runs daily from 9:00pm to 9:30pm Singapore Time on daily/public holidays, providing a round-up of all the day's events around Singapore, as well as coverage of breaking news and occasional global stories relevant to Singaporeans. The highly rated programme is currently presented mainly by Genevieve Woo on weekdays and Angela Lim on weekends. Currently it is broadcast at 9:00pm Singapore Time every evening and has been the only television news bulletin on Channel 5 since the start of Channel NewsAsia along with CNA's Singapore Tonight .

Contents

History

Channel 5 has been airing news bulletins since the period of pilot broadcasts conducted in February 1963. These consisted of a plain news bulletin read by a presenter and a series of Berita Singapura newsreels. The first newsreader on launch night was Steven Lee, while the first newsreel (Berita Singapura) was read by Harry Crabb, who later appeared in the regular bulletins. The news division was assisted by Australian entrepreneur David Prior, who trained locals in the field of television journalism. At the time, it was projected that Prior would stay with TV Singapura for two years. [1] The first bulletin in the pilot service was broadcast at 6:30pm on 15 February 1963 and was a five-minute English bulletin followed by a newsreel lasting a further five minutes, the latter having Chinese subtitles. [2] On 11 March 1963, [3] ahead of the formal launch on 2 April, the channel gained a four-hour schedule and the news moved to 9:15pm, lasting fifteen minutes, adding an equal-running Chinese bulletin at 8:15pm. The Berita Singapura newsreels were transmitted separately from the newsreel featured in the main bulletin. [4]

From 30 March 1973, the channel only carried news bulletins in English and Malay, with the English bulletin airing during primetime hours. [5] Selected newsreels were converted to colour on 11 November 1974, in the second phase of RTS's colour implementation plan for television. For black and white footage, said content aired appropriately. [6] At the end of 1978, "on-the-spot" outside broadcast links were added. [7]

After RTS became SBC, all four language bulletins initially received a homogenous news intro displaying the name of the four language bulletins. [8] The corporatisation also enabled SBC to hire permanent newsreaders. [9] New wardrobe rules were imposed on 1 May 1980. Uniforms were no longer allowed; certain coloured fabrics had to be withdrawn, with blue garments clashing with the blue screen, causing the clothes to disappear, and blueish-gray garments because they matched the colour of the set; bright red clothes would cause ghosting effects; striped patterns were seen as "distracting", flashy jewelry and low necklines were outlawed. [10] SBC was considering introducing an SG$200 dress allowance after the new dress code came into effect. [11]

SBC began adapting a new format for its television news broadcasts in August 1980. [12] The new format would feature two newscasters and more on-location reporting. [12] It was initially limited to the English and Mandarin bulletins starting 8 August. [13] The new format also ended with the "archaic" newsreels, starting with the English bulletins. [14] The outside broadcasts have also improved in 1980. [15]

On 1 February 1983, the day of the third anniversary of SBC, its television news broadcasts received a new studio set, described as "duck-egg blue" and "three-dimensional". A special semi-circular table was created for the set. The previous set was "pink" in colour. The new set was inspired from news and current affairs programmes in the United States. [16] Other changes include each newscaster reading different stories [16] and more graphics and illustrations. [16] SBC announced the creation of late night news bulletins with the announcement of Channel 12's creation, with the channel airing 15-minute bulletins at the end of each day's programming, at around 10:30pm. SBC also announced moving the news on Channel 5 to 8:45pm. [17] On 1 February 1984, following the launch of Channel 12, which enabled the releasing of more available time slots for the extant channels, the News bulletin expanded to the current length of thirty minutes. Moreover, SBC's news bulletins started carrying commercial breaks for the first time [18] - up until then, the only advertisements allowed were in the clock preceding the bulletin, from 1 June 1980. [19]

A new intro was unveiled in April 1988, using a computer SBC had installed the previous year to improve its graphics. [20] In August 1988, SBC news broadcasts adopted a new "upbeat and viewer-friendly" look, the backdrop being that of the skyline of Singapore. It generated positive response from viewers. [21] In December 1988, SBC announced that it would cease carrying Late News on SBC 5 and 12, due to limited news developments since the main 9pm bulletin. [22] For the main news, presenters were now subject to a co-ordinated look sponsosred by various boutiques, as part of the corporation's move to maintain a polished look on air. [23]

On 31 August 1992, SBC 5 introduced a two-minute 7 p.m. news bulletin, From The Newsroom, airing on weekdays. This did not affect the main 9 p.m. bulletin. [24] Facing competition from Singapore Cable Vision's in-house NewsVision channel providing news from five foreign sources, SBC announced that the channel would add a second news bulletin in English from January 1994. As of October 1993, the 9pm bulletin attracted 140,000 adult viewers. [25]

On New Year's Day (1 January) 1994, After countdown new year, After SBC 5 officially introduced, and launched new name or new look as Channel 5 with officially introduced and launching new logo and slogan "Where It All Happens!" marked officially introduced and launched new name, logo and slogan for a new look for Channel 5 opening at stroke of midnight Singapore Time after countdown new year and happy new year and became the very first channel in Singapore to become a all full-fledged Singaporean Standard English (or Singapore English), and Singaporean Colloquial English (or Singlish) free-to-air terrestrial channel on the television programme Panasonic Countdown New Year (Countdown 94): Hi! 5 is an annual multi-tiered event held every New Year's Eve celebrations in Singapore are centered in Raffles Hotel and Changi Airport its main events are pyrotechnic displays was officially launched by Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong including after countdown new year marked farewell from SBC 5 marked very final and last time farewell the end to midnight firework new year marked officially introduced and launched new name or new look as Channel 5 with officially introduced and launching new logo and slogan "Where It All Happens!" marked officially introduced and launched new name, logo and slogan for a new look for Channel 5 officially formal full grand opening at stroke of midnight Singapore Time after countdown new year and happy new year and became the very first channel in Singapore to become a all full-fledged Singaporean Standard English (or Singapore English), and Singaporean Colloquial English (or Singlish) free-to-air terrestrial channel both of which are terrestrial telecast nationally free-to-air on Channel 5 on New Year's Eve 1993 11:15pm to New Year's Day 1994 at 12:30am Singapore Time lasting 75-minutes and sponsored by Panasonic, Grand Seiko (Seiko) and Lexus (Toyota), Tellymatch: Hip Hop! Fashion Stop! on New Year's Day 1994 at 12:30am Singapore Time (live from Junction 8), Eye on 5 at 12:45am Singapore Time, Tellymatch: Hubhub at the Pub at 2:20am Singapore Time, Tellymatch: Running On 5 at 7:30am Singapore Time, Tellymatch: Style Alive On 5 at 2:00pm Singapore Time and Tellymatch: Finale On 5 at 1:30am Singapore Time. News in English was officially launched new split into two new English television news bulletin programmes includes: [26] [27]

On same time, Channel 5's new newsroom was built at a cost of S$8 million. [29] On that time, Singapore International Television (SITV) (Malay: Televisyen Antarabangsa Singapura) was a Singaporean international free-to-air terrestrial and satellite television channel operated by Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS). SITV was broadcast from Palapa B2P an Indonesian communications satellite owned by Indosat which covers Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. It was officially opening ceremony at grand opening or formally opening night in Singapore by Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong on New Year's Day 1994 at 10:00pm Singapore Time based in Singapore and it operated from Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) head office and headquarters in Caldecott Broadcast Centre, Singapore along with Channel NewsAsia. Singapore International Television (SITV) was officially opening ceremony at grand opening or formally opening night in Singapore on New Year's Day 1994 at 10:00pm Singapore Time after officially opening ceremony by Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong based in Singapore owned and company by Television Corporation of Singapore daily with the first programme at launching ceremony: a special edition of Inside Asia and a live simulcast of News 5 Tonight (now News Tonight) was aired on Channel 5. It was originally based in Singapore. [30]

The bulletins were revamped on 1 September 1997. News 5 at Seven got a new presenter (Jill Neubronner) while News 5 Tonight was followed at 11pm by a 15-minute segment (Business Day). Some viewers thought the 45-minute late bulletin (including the separate business segment) was hard to follow. The rationale followed by TCS was to bring "more comprehensive and extensive news coverage". [31] TCS determined in October 1998 that, with the launch of Channel NewsAsia in the following year, [32] it was decided that all of Channel 5's current affairs programmes were to move to CNA, leaving only the main news (News 5 Tonight) with only one edition was officially launched new schedule, new clock and new time became daily from 9:30pm to 10:00pm Singapore Time. [33] Since 1 March 1999, All English news and current affairs programmes officially moved from TCS Channel 5 (or Channel 5) to new free-to-air terrestrial channel as Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) officially, and formally very first formal full grand opening, inauguration, and launching ceremony took place as Singaporean's very first local domestic free-to-air terrestrial television news channel, TCS Channel NewsAsia (or Channel NewsAsia) due to TCS Channel NewsAsia (or Channel NewsAsia)' officially, and formally very first formal full grand opening, inauguration, and launching ceremony took place with a speech by Minister of Information and the Arts George Yeo in held at Raffles Place, Singapore [34] [35] . Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) TCS Channel 5 (or Channel 5) continue officially became all full 100% Singaporean Standard English (or Singapore English), and Singaporean Colloquial English (or Singlish) very first national locally variety entertainment, music, light entertainment, and entertainment free-to-air terestrial television channel programming line-up all of music entertainment television programmes from the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand to appeal to Standard Singaporean English-speaking locals showcasing sitcom, comedy, reality show, game show, talent show, variety show, entertainment, light entertainment, music video, Hollywood movie bioscope, nightlife, nightclub, red carpet, school and after school children (or children programme), and one main flagship nightly evening television news programme edition only (as News 5 Tonight) was officially launched new schedule, new clock and new time became daily from 9:30pm to 10:00pm Singapore Time.

On 30 April 2001, News 5 Tonight was retooled with a new format, geared towards "young people and people on the streets" with stories relatable to the local audience and irrelevant news removed. This also included a live studio interview session each night. Toh Seh Ling, who was a presenter for "teen" news programme Newswatch in 1990, became its new host. [36]

With the announcement of Channel 5's Local Upsize on 1 November 2014, On New Year's Day (1 January) 2015, News 5 Tonight was officially launched new schedule, new clock and new time became daily from 9:00pm to 9:30pm Singapore Time and officially launched new simply lucky name, single lucky name, and referred to as News 5 after "Tonight" delete, and removing word news programme logo title card. [37] It was mainly helmed by Otelli Edwards on weekdays and Angela Lim on weekends. On 19 October 2020, News 5 was officially reintroducing, returning, back, restore, revived, and relaunching old added the word "Tonight" to become News Tonight after "5" delete, and removing word news programme logo title card, with Glenda Chong serving as a designated main presenter on weekdays, and Angela Lim continuing to be the designated main presenter for weekends. Since the start of 2025, with Glenda Chong stepping aside from presenting duties due to maternity leave, [38] her place has since been temporarily taken over by Genevieve Woo on weekdays.

News Tonight is one of only two main English national newscasts available in Singapore; the other being CNA's Singapore Tonight . As of the 2019 Reuters Institute Digital News Report, the bulletin had a reliability score of 6.81, behind The Straits Times (6.88), BBC News (6.90) and CNA (7.01). [39]

Title history

Segments

Traffic

Before the launch of CNA, News 5 at Seven included traffic updates from cameras across Singapore. In February 1997, TCS added arrows in order to deliver accurate information on traffic flow. [40] Traffic updates moved to CNA from 1999.

Weather

From 1 May 1980, "weather girls" were added to the English bulletins, and were shown after the main news. In addition to data for Singapore, which had been carried since the start, an international section with data for foreign cities (Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila, Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo and Seoul) was added, as well as wind conditions in the South China Sea. This was already done on SBC's radio stations. [41] [42] These bulletins were pre-recorded at 8pm. [41]

A new batch of part-time presenters was announced in 1981, being paid S$25 per report. [43] The practice of having a separate weather report ended in March 1982 because the "weather report within the news bulletin was adequate". [44] On 26 March 1984, the weather at the end of the news was limited exclusively to data for Singapore, with foreign data still being available on SBCText and radio stations. [45]

Usage of meteorologists returned in October 1996, with the Charlene Pang on weekdays and Claudine Quek on weekends. The length of the weather bulletin increased to two minutes. The new format consisted of three-day forecasts for Singapore, pinpoint rain forecasts, tide times, sunrise times, and an upgraded regional weather forecast with a flyby from Indonesia to Japan. [46] One viewer at the time of the September revamp thought the weather presenters to act "very fake" (referring to the hand movements while pointing at the wind currents). [31]

Currently, the bulletin has weather updates before commercial breaks.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mediacorp</span> Singaporean commercial media company

Mediacorp Pte. Ltd. is the state-owned media conglomerate of Singapore. Owned by Temasek Holdings—the investment arm of the Government of Singapore—it owns and operates television channels, radio, and digital media properties. It is headquartered at the Mediapolis development in Queenstown's One-north precinct, which succeeded Caldecott Hill—the long-time home of its predecessors—in 2015; as of 2022, Mediacorp employs over 3,000 employees; a large number of them are in both public and private sector broadcasting.

Television in Singapore began on 15 February 1963. The public broadcaster, MediaCorp TV, has a monopoly on terrestrial television channels and is fully owned by government holding company Temasek Holdings. Local pay TV operators are StarHub TV and Singtel TV. The private ownership of satellite dishes was previously forbidden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Channel 5 (Singaporean TV channel)</span> English television channel in Singapore

Channel 5 is an English-language free-to-air terrestrial television channel in Singapore, owned by state media conglomerate Mediacorp. The channel primarily airs English language programming made in Singapore, and imported programmes from other nations such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Philippines, broadcasting news and entertainment from a variety of genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Channel 8 (Singaporean TV channel)</span> Television channel

Channel 8 is a Singaporean Mandarin-language free-to-air terrestrial television channel in Singapore, owned by state media conglomerate Mediacorp. The channel broadcasts general entertainment and news programming in the Mandarin language, including original and imported programming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CNA (TV network)</span> Singapore English language news channel

CNA is a Singapore-based multinational news channel owned by Mediacorp, the country's state-owned media conglomerate. The network is broadcast in Singapore on free-to-air terrestrial television and Mediacorp's streaming service meWatch, and is distributed internationally via television providers in the Asia–Pacific, as well as streaming and free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) platforms

The following lists events that happened during 2000 in Singapore.

The following lists events that happened during 1999 in the Republic of Singapore.

The following lists events that happened during 1998 in Singapore.

The following lists events that happened during 1995 in Singapore.

The following lists events that happened during 1994 in Singapore.

The following lists events that happened during 1993 in Singapore.

Events from the year 1992 in Singapore.

The following lists events that happened during 1988 in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 in Singapore</span>

The following lists events that happened during 1984 in Singapore.

The following lists events that happened during 1980 in Singapore.

Suria is a Malay-language free-to-air terrestrial television channel in Singapore, owned by state media conglomerate Mediacorp. The channel broadcasts general entertainment and news programming in the Malay language, including original programming, and imported programmes from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Warna 942 is a Malay language radio station in Singapore. Owned by the state-owned broadcaster Mediacorp, it broadcasts a full-service format serving Malay Singaporeans, including music, news, and religious programming.

Oli 968 is a Tamil-language radio station in Singapore. Owned by the state-owned broadcaster Mediacorp, it broadcasts programming serving Indian Singaporeans, including music of Tamil Nadu.

Singapore International Television (SITV) was a Singaporean international free-to-air terrestrial and satellite television channel operated by Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) for all Overseas Singaporean community to viewers across Southeast Asia/ASEAN. SITV was broadcast from Palapa B2P an Indonesian communications satellite owned by Indosat which covers Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. It was officially opening ceremony at grand opening or formally opening night in Singapore by Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong on New Year's Day 1994 at 10:00pm Singapore Time based in Singapore and it operated from Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) head office and headquarters in Caldecott Broadcast Centre, Singapore.

City TV was a free-to-air terrestrial television channel in Singapore, owned by state media conglomerate MediaCorp.

References

  1. ↑ "Backroom boys of television". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 14 February 1963. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "PROGRAMME FOR TV PILOT PROJECT". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 1 March 1963. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  3. ↑ "Today's Radio, TV programmes". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 11 March 1963. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  4. ↑ "Television Singapura". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 20 March 1963. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "NEW TIMES FOR TV SCREENING FROM FRIDAY". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 27 March 1973. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "TV newsreels in colour from Nov 11". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 27 October 1974. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "RTS moves into on-the-spot reporting". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 30 December 1978. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "New SBC plays it low key". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 3 February 1980. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "SBC to recruit full-time newsreaders". New Nation (retrieved from NLB). 11 March 1980. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "What they can't wear in mufti". New Nation (retrieved from NLB). 30 April 1980. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  11. ↑ "Designer touch". New Nation (retrieved from NLB). 4 May 1980. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Here's to good news". The Straits Times. 24 July 1980. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Promising start for new TV news format". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 9 August 1980. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  14. ↑ "TV newsreel at 9.30 p.m. to go". New Nation (retrieved from NLB). 22 July 1980. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  15. ↑ "How to put News higher up the charts". New Nation (retrieved from NLB). 28 December 1980. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  16. 1 2 3 "New look for TV news". The Straits Times. 2 February 1983. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "More News is Good News". Singapore Monitor. 23 December 1983. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  18. ↑ "TV news to include commercial breaks". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 13 January 1984. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  19. ↑ "SBC time clock may earn $1m". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 21 February 1980. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  20. ↑ "SBC turns on the graphics". The Straits Times. 13 October 1988. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  21. ↑ "SBC news takes on a more glamorous look". The Straits Times. 19 November 1988. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  22. ↑ "SBC to stop Late News service from Jan 2". The Straits Times. 9 December 1988. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "The news in style". The Straits Times. 1 December 1988. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  24. ↑ "7 pm news bulletin on SBC 5 from Aug 31". The Straits Times. 25 August 1992. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  25. ↑ "SBC races against time". The Straits Times. 9 October 1993. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  26. ↑ "CHANNEL 5 OFFICIALLY NEW LOOK". The Straits Times. 1 January 1994. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  27. ↑ "35 hours of TV to ring in 1994". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 19 December 1993. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  28. ↑ "Pass the chips, it's TV time tonight". The Straits Times. 19 December 1993. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "Lots of strange things on SBC". The Straits Times. 17 March 1994. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  30. ↑ "Jan 1 launch for SIF's satellite TV broadcasts". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 23 December 1993. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  31. 1 2 "New hosts for AM show 'too stiff'". The New Paper (retrieved from NLB). 2 September 1997. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  32. ↑ "No one waits till 10.30 for news". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 29 October 1998. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  33. ↑ "Channel 5 will have 9.30 main news". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 29 October 1998. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  34. ↑ "TCS Channel NewsAsia starts telecast". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 2 March 1999. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  35. ↑ "Channel NewsAsia a bold move: BG Yeo". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 2 March 1999. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  36. ↑ "New host, new look for News 5". Today. 30 April 2001. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  37. ↑ "Local Upsize on MediaCorp's new Channel 5". Television Asia Plus. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  38. ↑ Almenoar, Maria (5 October 2024). "Newscaster Glenda Chong is pregnant at 51 after her 10th IVF try". CNA Today . Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  39. ↑ "Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2019" (PDF). Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. p. 141.
  40. ↑ "Traffic flow apparent in TV updates". The Straits Times. 3 February 1997. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  41. 1 2 "Brunei will be new target of STPB'S tourism drive". New Nation. 21 April 1980. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  42. ↑ "Weather girls on TV". The Straits Times. 29 April 1980. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  43. ↑ "Fresh faces for SBC". The Straits Times. 20 May 1981. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  44. ↑ "BEHIND THE CAMERA with Kannan Chandran". The Straits Times. 6 March 1982. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  45. ↑ "Local weather only on news". The Straits Times. 25 March 1982. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  46. ↑ "Fair weathergirls — but they're far from clueless". The Straits Times. 19 October 1996. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
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