MediaCorp Teletext

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MediaCorp Teletext
CountrySingapore
NetworkMediaCorp TV
Programming
Language(s)English
Ownership
OwnerMediaCorp
History
Launched1 August 1983; 40 years ago (1983-08-01)
Closed30 September 2013; 10 years ago (2013-09-30)
Former namesSBCText (1983-1993)
INtv (1993-2001)
Links
Websiteteletext.sg
Availability
Terrestrial
MediaCorp -
Analogue (PAL-B)
  • Channel 5
  • Channel 8
  • Channel NewsAsia

MediaCorp Teletext was a Singaporean teletext information service provided by MediaCorp. It was carried on MediaCorp's Channel 5, Channel 8 and Channel NewsAsia. On top of the standard information carried by most teletext providers, it also carried information unique to Singapore, such as COE and ERP rates, announcements from selected ministries in Singapore and lottery results.

The service was also accessible over the Internet since 1999 until its shutdown in 2013.

History

The Singapore Broadcasting Corporation was studying the feasilbility of a teletext service as early as November 1982. Tenders were given to thirty television sets capable to receive such signals[1] By January, SBC was aiming at a possible 1 May launch date. Studies were conducted in the United Kingdom by SBC's news director Lim Kim Tian and since the inception of teletext services in the UK, the corporation (at the time RTS) was monitoring the growth of such services there. With Singapore using equipment similar to Europe, the teletext service was going to be similar to the ones deployed there, but with minor technical adjustments, the most notable being faster access (two to four times).[2] By February, it was now scheduled for "June or July" and was set to be the first of its kind in Asia. British company Logica provided the equipment,[3][4][5] while the SBC Text staff were trained by Ceefax executive Graham Clayton for two weeks in May 1983. [6] The first television sets equipped with teletext were to be put on sale in April.[7]

By mid-March, SBC Text was conducting test transmissions.[8] It was used on both channels 5 and 8 from 7am to 11pm, with 100 sets of pages each, in the 100-199 range.[9]

The definitive launch date for the service, 1 August 1983, was announced on 5 June.[10] Technical concerns were raised, especially in the CBD area, of ghosting issues.[11] On 17 June, SBCText began its trial run, from 3pm to 9pm.[12]

On 1 August 1983, the service launched.[13] The new service saw mixed reactions, with Oskar von Kretschmann having a favourable viewpoint, following the introduction of the service at the Hilton International Hotel, but bankers and stock brokers saw a negative review, as the service was catering more to "the home market" and that the information was a few hours out-of-date.[14] By September, further complaints had included lack of instant information in general (compared to similar services in Hong Kong) and limited financial information, but other services were praised.[15] Some hotels didn't adopt the system upon its launch due to financial constraints.[16]

Due to "popular demand from businessmen", SBC announced that the service would start an hour earlier (at 6am) effective 1 February 1984.[17]

By October 1984, SBC announced plans to expand the service, whose user base has risen from 3,000 at the time of launch the previous year to 25,000. Still, this represented 5% of television sets in Singapore. The number of pages has increased from 100 to 300, enhancing information in certain sections.[18]

The bus guide was removed in 1986 due to limited usage.[19]

The service was renamed INtv on 18 January 1993.[20][21]

It was later expanded to Channel News Asia when the channel was launched on 1 March 1999.

Teletext Classifieds was shut down on 1 September 2012.

On 3 September 2013, MediaCorp announced that the service will be discontinued from 30th of that month due to “declining usage”.[22]

Content

Teletext was provided on three MediaCorp channels, with each channel specialising in specific types of information. Teletext on Channel 5 specialised in entertainment and lifestyle information, Classifieds on Channel 8 and business information on Channel News Asia.

Channel Content (page series)
MediaCorp Channel 5
  • News (100s)
  • Financial News & Stocks (200s)
  • SGX (300s)
  • Information (500s)
  • Leisure (850s)
MediaCorp Channel 8
  • Classifieds (closed on 1 September 2012) (160s, 200s, 300s and 500s)
  • Vehicles (500s)
  • Leisure (850s)
Channel NewsAsia
  • News (100s)
  • Financial News & Stocks (200s)
  • SGX (300s)
  • Financial Information (450, 480 & 490)
  • Information (500s)
  • Leisure (850s)

Teletext Online

When the service was still online, the Teletext versions of all three channels were available for browsing via the Internet and features a nearly up-to-date version of the Teletext shown on television (delays might be up to 10 minutes). As with the Teletext on television, this service is now discontinued.

References

  1. ^ "Plan to provide instant information on TV". The Business Times (retrieved from NLB). 5 November 1982. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Teletext service may be launched in May". The Business Times (retrieved from NLB). 6 January 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Teletext switch-on by June or July". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 19 February 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  4. ^ "SBC teletext more advanced than UK's". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 19 February 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Here's the news — at the press of a button". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 19 February 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Putting the final touches to SBCTEXT". The Straits Times. 23 May 1983. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Teletext comes to local stores in April". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 27 February 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Singapore Monitor, page 2". Singapore Monitor (retrieved from NLB). 19 March 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  9. ^ "SBCTEXT". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 19 March 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Teletext in 2 months". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 5 June 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  11. ^ "SBCTEXT could cause ghosting". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 5 June 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  12. ^ "SBCTEXT could cause ghosting". Singapore Monitor (retrieved from NLB). 16 June 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Teletext Times". The Straits Times. 1983-07-23. Archived from the original on 2013-09-03.
  14. ^ "Bankers, stock brokers not excited about SBCText". Singapore Monitor (retrieved from NLB). 2 August 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  15. ^ "As the text turns on TV..." Singapore Monitor (retrieved from NLB). 18 September 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Cool reception to SBCText from hotels". Singapore Monitor (retrieved from NLB). 18 October 1983. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  17. ^ "One more hour of SBC Text". The Business Times (retrieved from NLB). 30 January 1984. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Expansion for SBCText with rising popularity". Singapore Monitor (retrieved from NLB). 1 October 1984. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Very few used 40-page SBCText bus guide". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 12 July 1986. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  20. ^ "New SBC teletext service". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 17 January 1993. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Page 25 Advertisements Column 1". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 18 January 1993. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Teletext to end service". Channel News Asia. 2013-09-03. Archived from the original on 7 October 2013.

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