Channel 5 (Singaporean TV channel) facts for kids
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| Country | Singapore |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Mediacorp Campus, 1 Stars Avenue, Singapore 138507 |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Mediacorp |
| Sister channels | Channel 8 Channel U Suria Vasantham CNA |
| History | |
| Launched | 2 April 1963 |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Digital terrestrial television | Channel 29 (HD) |
| myFreeview | Channel 2 (HD) (Johor only) |
Channel 5 is a popular TV channel in Singapore. It broadcasts shows mainly in English. You can watch it for free! It's owned by a big media company called Mediacorp. This channel shows lots of different programs, like entertainment shows and news.
The channel first started broadcasting on 15 February 1963. Back then, it was called TV Singapura. It was the very first TV service in the region! It officially launched on 2 April 1963. When it first began, it showed programs in all of Singapore's official languages: English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil.
Later, the Chinese and Tamil shows moved to a new channel called Channel 8 in August 1963. The Malay shows moved to Channel 12 (now called Suria) in 1994. After these changes, Channel 5 became a channel just for English-language programs.
Contents
History of Channel 5
Starting TV in Singapore
Channel 5 first began as a test service on 15 February 1963. It was known as TV Singapura then. Singapore's Minister for Culture, S. Rajaratnam, introduced the first night of programs. These included a documentary about Singapore, cartoons, comedy shows, and a Malay variety show. There was also a news broadcast.
Rajaratnam said that this night could "mark the start of a social and cultural revolution." The test service showed about 100 minutes of programs each night. At that time, not many people had a TV set. Only about 1 in 58 people in Singapore owned one.
Official Launch and New Channels
On 2 April 1963, the channel was officially launched by Singapore's President, Yusof Ishak. It was named TV Singapura Channel 5. The broadcast day became longer, showing programs for four hours each night. It broadcast from 7:15 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. in all four official languages.
Later that year, on 31 August 1963, a second channel started test broadcasts. This was Channel 8. It began showing Chinese and Tamil programs. This meant Channel 5 could focus more on English and Malay programs.
Changes and Growth
In January 1964, Channel 5 and Channel 8 became connected to TV Malaysia. After Singapore separated from Malaysia, Channel 5 and Channel 8 became part of a new state broadcaster. This new company was called Radio Television Singapore, and Channel 5 was renamed RTS Channel 5. Both channels moved to a new building called Television Centre on Caldecott Hill on 26 August 1966.
In 1974, Channel 5 started trying out color broadcasts. They even showed the 1974 FIFA World Cup final live in color! On 9 August, Channel 5 broadcast its first local program in color. This was the National Day Parade.
On 1 February 1980, the broadcasting company changed again. It became the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. This was a new public company, separate from the Ministry of Culture.
Stereo sound broadcasts began on Channel 5 and its sister channels on 1 August 1990. This made the sound quality much better!
Becoming an English Channel
On 1 January 1994, a big change happened. All Malay-language programs moved to Channel 12. This meant Channel 5 became a full-time English-language service. On 29 August 1994, the channel launched AM Singapore. This was Singapore's first English-language morning show.
On 1 November 2014, Channel 5 announced plans to make more local shows. This included more news programs about Singapore. They also planned a local TV drama series and a new talent search competition.
On 1 May 2019, Channel 5 stopped showing Channel NewsAsia during the day. Instead, they started a children's programming block called Okto on 5. This new block replaced the Okto channel, which was no longer broadcasting on its own.
What's on Channel 5?
Channel 5 shows a variety of programs for everyone. You can find news, dramas, comedies, and entertainment shows. It also has special programs for kids during certain times.
See also
In Spanish: MediaCorp Channel 5 para niños
