THE ECONOMICS OF BROADCASTING IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

From Many Cultures - One Voice’ is a maxim that characterizes the nature of broadcasting in Singapore. It embraces a feature which few broadcasting stations in the world possess which is the incorporation of programmes in the four official languages of Singapore into its transmission schedule. As a mass media, broadcasting in Singapore has to cater for the varied interests of Singapore's plural society. It aims to strengthen the spirit of common loyalty among the people of Singapore and serves to integrate the different races to become ‘one united people'. The programmes that are transmitted also reflects the multiple roles it has to play in the fields of education, entertainment and cultural development. This Academic Exercise aims to analyze the various aspects of broadcasting in Singapore, such as the market structure of the broadcasting industry. It is a cliche that the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) is a monopoly, ipso facto, that it is the only broadcasting station in Singapore. Although it does possess certain monopolistic elements. it is not a monopoly in its ultimatum. This paper provides an insight into the paradoxical situation of a 'monopoly' versus competition. The financial position and performance of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) through the years are analyzed and the exposition of its financial viability is done through the use of various financial ratios. The composition of its programmes is also presented which highlights the unique feature as aforementioned and it serves as a basis to evaluate the performance of SBC with respect to the fulfilment of its objectives. This study would not be complete without addressing the challenges that SBC might face in the near future, with the advent of technological advancement in the field of electronic mass communication and the possibility of it being privatised.