Ways Done in the Past - Radio Broadcasting

As I was passing by the bus-stop near home yesterday, I noticed the MediaCorp advertisement poster captioned "Someone to bring us together" (Photos above).

Catchy, creative slogan to attract the attention of passers-by.

It brings back nostalgic memories of  radio and TV broadcasting in Singapore. A long way over 50 years to many listeners and  viewers in Singapore.

This personal nostalgia blog to share the ways done in the past through a photo journal with old photos curated from the courtesy of  the National Archives of Singapore with acknowledgement and thanks to share with everyone.  Two blog topics to be posted separately, one for radio and another for TV broadcasting .

In the early days in the kampong,  Rediffusion was more popular than radio in most homes.

"A brief  look at 75 years of radio (History of Singapore Radio)".  Source:  Today Online.
Friday, July 29, 2011
By  Christopher Toh

What began as a single radio station in 1936 has now become the nation's largest radio network, with programmes in various languages - English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil, French, German, Japanese, Hindi and Korean - to cater to the culturally diverse and increasingly cosmopolitan population here.

1936
Radio transmission begins in Singapore, operating from a government building at Empress Place - the first "city studio".

1942
During the Japanese Occupation, radio is operated by the Japanese as Syonan Hoso Kyoku.

1946
With the end of World War II, the British once again take over and establish Radio Malaya Singapore And The Federation Of Malaya (RMSFOM).

1951
Radio moves to Caldecott Hill, with its programmes channelled to Jurong's transmitting station.

1959
The independence of the federation of Malaya in 1957 results in the establishment of Radio Singapore - an independent offshoot of RMSFOM. Operating on the medium and short-wave bands, it offers four channels with programmes in English, Malay, Tamil and seven Chinese dialects.

1963
RMSFOM is renamed Radio Malaysia.

1965
After Singapore declares its independence, Radio Singapore is renamed Radio Television Singapore (RTS) - along with the arrival of television.

1967
FM radio transmissions on bandwidths FM90.5, FM94.2, FM95.8 and FM96.8 begin.

1980
RTS is renamed the Singapore Broadcasting Coorperation (SBC).

1981
A fifth radio station FM92.4FM, playing classical music, is launched.

1982
The five stations are renamed Radio 1 (English), Radio 2 (Malay), Radio 3 (Mandarin), Radio 4 (Tamil) and Radio 5 (classical music).

1987
SBC starts "format programming" to adapt its radio broadcast to the needs of segmented groups of listeners.

1989
Singapore's first 24-hour music channel, Perfect 10 98.7FM is launched.

1990
Three more stations are launched: Class 95FM, Y.E.S. 93.3FM, Ria 89.7FM

1991
Radio 2 is re-named Warna 94.2FM, Radio 3 becomes City Sounds 95.8FM, Radio 4 is now called Olikkalanjiam 96.8FM.

1994
Radio Singapore International (RSI) is launched, as is FM97.2, a 24-hour Mandarin music station. On October 1, SBC is dissolved for corporatisation; and the Radio Corporation of Singapore (RCS) is established.

1995
Radio 1 becomes ONE FM90.5 in 1995.

1997
FM97.2 is re-named Love 97.2FM, and Olikkalanjiam becomes Oli 96.8FM, even as two more stations - NewsRadio 93.8FM and FM 96.3 The International Channel - are launched. TrafficWatch is launched across all stations.

1998
City Sounds 95.8FM is retooled as Capital 95.8FM, while ONE FM90.5 becomes Gold 90.5FM.

1999
The digital radio stations are launched.

2001
RCS is dissolved and MediaCorp Radio (MCR) is established as a private corporation, with MediaCorp as the holding company.

2004
Lush 99.5FM, a trendsetting radio station for those aged 25 to 40, is launched on New Year's Eve.

2005
NewsRadio 93.8FM becomes 938LIVE.

2008
On Jan 1, all 13 stations broadcast 24/7. The businesses and operations of MCR are transferred to MediaCorp Pte Ltd (MPL). RSI stops transmission. Korean and Hindi are added on for Expat Radio 96.3XFM's offerings.

2009
Lush 99.5FM moves its studio to Orchard Central.

2010
987FM moves its studio to *SCAPE. MeRadio, a smartphone application, which carries all 13 stations is launched.

Caldecott Hill "Broadcasting House" in the past.

In the 1930s, the first broadcasting station by the British Malayan Broadcasting Corp was set up on Caldecott hill. Singapore's main broadcaster, MediaCorp is currently located in this area.

In March, 1951, the Radio Malaya at Caldecott Hill, Singapore was under construction.

 

Chung Cheng High School students excusion to Radio Singapore  c  1950

A section of the representatives of the the inter-denominational religious organisation offered prayers at Radio Malaya's new headquarters in Thomson Road in November, 1951.

Mechanical turntables used at Radio Malaya in the 1950s

Broadcasting Sections in 1950s

Outdoor news reporting for Radio Singapore c  1950s

British novelist Graham Greene interview on 27 November, 1950

Puan Noor Aisha visit Radio Singapore on 1 April, 1964

Opening of new Radio Singapore centre at Caldecott Hill on 12 December, 1975

Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Mrs Lee to officiate opening of the new Radio Singapore centre

The guests at the opening of the new Radio Singapore centre

MediaCorp Radio leads the local broadcasting industry by providing the best sound entertainment and offering up-to-the-minute news and information. MediaCorp Radio embraces the philosophy that Radio is a people-oriented business. We are committed to meeting the listening needs of the entire population of Singapore with her diverse cultural heritages. With cosmopolitan Singapore at the crossroads of Asia, MediaCorp Radio aims to be a broadcaster of international repute.

It operates 13 local FM stations, which broadcast in 4 different languages over the airwaves. Its stations offer information, news, and entertainment for audiences of varied racial and cultural backgrounds.