As mentioned in the timeline, Mediacorp had taken steps to improve on the use of technology in its productions. In 1990, stereo broadcasts was introduced on all television channels.

 

The 21st century saw Mediacorp going into an overdrive with regards to the technological changes that it was embracing. MOBTV, an online television service, was launched in 2006, allowing for the immediate streaming and download of videos on demand. The launch of Xinmsn in 2010 saw MOBTV being merged into the platform.

 

Mediacorp's relentless pursuit for the betterment of its use of technology in its production culminated in the conversion of all its free-to-air channels to the digital (DVB-T2) format in 2013. Concurrently, Channels 5, 8, Suria and Vasantham are also made available in High Definition (HD). It was also announced that all monologue tv transmissions will be ceased by 2018, replaced by digital transmissions. 

 

The question here is, why is there a need for the shift towards Digital TV?

 

Nowadays, content is increasingly being produced in the digital format.

Going digital will also allow the government to free up frequency spectrum

which can then be used for new services like mobile, wireless broadband and

potentiallymore TV services and channels. Digitalisation also offers higher efficiency, robustness and flexibility and thus, enabling the efficient use of valuable terrestrial spectrum for the delivery of audio, video and data services to fixed, portable and mobile devices.

 

Benefits of digitalisation includes:

• Better quality pictures & superior sound

• Electronic programme guides

• Multi-language subtitles

 

Technological improvements were also sought on ways to improve the broadcasting of live events. Since the late 1980s, Mediacorp has been using analog microwave link systems for its live event and news coverage. However, with the shift to digitalisation in the broadcasting industry, the opportunity for Mediacorp to upgrade its infrastructure came.

 

Digitalisation helps to facilitate the optimal deployment and productivity for the coverage of temporary outdoor broadcasting venues.

 

A comparison between the analogue microwave link and its digital counterpart shows the benefits provided by the latter.

 

Analogue Microwave Link                                   Digital

Requires Line-of-Sight                                       Multi-pass tolerance

Uses large amounts of bandwidth                      Increased transmission capacity

Susceptible to fading and reflection losses            Improved signal integrity & transmission robutsness

 

Technology has also been used to serve as an interaction tool between the audience and Mediacorp's programmes. For example, Channel 5's Mata Mata utilises interactive platforms such as the Toggle - My Story to encourage viewers to share their personal stories or any insightful reflections online. This was all to follow the tagline of the Singapore Memory project that “memory should live forever”. Such a practice proves to be largely effective in engaging the audience as evident from the overwhelming response on the web page. As of 23 October 2014, a random search for Mata Mata related posts on the My Story website has produced more than 800 interesting stories from the netizens.