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First subscription television channel

On 2 April 1992, Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) launched the nation's first subscription television channel, NewsVision, through its new subsidiary Singapore CableVision (SCV). NewsVision, a 24-hour news service, showed mainly news from the U.S. based Cable News Network (CNN), but also included additional feeds from Independent Television News and delayed telecasts of SBC's 9pm news.

Background
On 21 March 1991, Brigadier-General George Yeo, then Acting Minister for Information and the Arts, announced plans to have more television channels, mainly pay channels charged on a subscription basis. Following this, on 22 May 1991, SBC announced its plan to provide three new subscription channels by middle of 1992. These were NewsVision, an all-news channel, MovieVision, a movie channel, and VarietyVision, a sports and general entertainment channel. All three channels would be transmitted on ultra-high frequency (UHF). SBC marked the occasion by signing two contracts worth $6.1 million with Sumitomo Corporation and Infotel Technologies to supply transmitting, microwave and programme input equipment for the new subscription television.

On 10 September 1991, SBC announced that it had formed a subsidiary, Singapore CableVision, to manage the subscription service. The new company was 65 percent owned by Temasek Holdings subsidiary Singapore International Media and 35 percent owned by SBC. SBC committed an initial investment of up to $20 million to buy hardware such as transmission equipment and satellite dishes to receive overseas signals. It also signed an agreement with CNN to broadcast items for its subscription news channel.

Description
On 2 April 1992, SBC's first subscription television channel went on the air. The 24-hour news channel called NewsVision broadcasted news mainly from CNN, but also featured news from Independent Television News and delayed telecasts of SBC's 9pm news. It marked the first time that the Singapore government permitted public access to a foreign news network on television and thus broke SBC's monopoly on relaying news on television.

The two other subscription channels, MovieVision and VarietyVision, were made available subsequently from 1 June 1992. MovieVision broadcasted 12 hours daily and featured 30 movies each month from Time Warner subsidiary Home Box Office Asia. VarietyVision featured Mandarin drama, cartoons, and sports programme.

The subscription fees were $29.95 per month each for NewsVision and VarietyVision and $34.95 for MovieVision. Discounted rates were given for subscription of two or more channels .In addition, to receive the signals, subscribers were required to install a UHF antenna which cost between $250- $500. Subscribers also had to install decoders in their TV sets to receive and translate the signal into pictures and sound. This was provided free with a three-channel subscription, but installation of the equipment cost $50. The service was also provided to hotels, which were required to pay 50 cents a day for each room where the service is relayed. 30, 000 subscribers were expected to sign up for the service initially.



Author
Nureza Ahmad



References 
Foo, J. (1992, April 26). Will pay TV push out the tape? The Straits Times, Sunday Plus, p. 20.

George, C. (1999, December 22). News time is now show time. The Straits Times, p. 11.

George, C. (1991, March 22). Coming soon: More TV channels. The Straits Times, p. 1.

Phang, M. (1991, September 10). SBC to launch subscription TV by April 1992. The Business Times, p. 2.

Selva, T. (1993, October 18). SCV plans to extend its service to Johor. The Star, Business, p. 6.

Singapores first subscription TV channel goes on the air tomorrow. (1992, April 1). The Business Times, p. 3.

Singapore viewers to get cable TV in April. (1991, September 11). The Star, p. 18.

Three new subscription TV channels by next year. (1991, May 23). The Straits Times, p. 2. 

The information in this article is valid as at 2004 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history on the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Events>>Historical Periods>>Independence and Nation-Building (1965-)
Cable television--Singapore
Arts>>Television and video production
Business, finance and industry>>Industry>>Leisure and entertainment



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