HISTORY OF RADIO BROADCASTING IN SINGAPORE : ITS FORMATIVE YEARS

Abstract

Radio celebrates its sixtieth anniversary in 1996. While listening to the radio has become a popular pastime in today's society, not many listeners are aware of the history of radio broadcasting in Singapore. This thesis seeks to trace the formative years of radio broadcasting in Singapore from 1930, when it was first brought to Malaya, to 1963, when television broadcast its inaugural programme. With the advent of television, the central place radio occupied as a medium for the masses was marginalised and thus began to search for a new niche in the society. Notwithstanding, radio did have a glorious past that deserved to be told. Also highlighted will be the changing perception of the medium by the authority. This perception directly influenced the ways radio was utilised. The initial inertia of the colonial government towards the plea for its authorisation of the establishment of a broadcasting service was only disappeared when the Second World War broke out. The importance of radio was brought to bear on the government and a chain of events brought about the establishment of Malayan Broadcasting Corporation. As exemplified by the outbreak of World War Two and the declaration of a state of emergency, radio's potential as a medium for the masses would only be exploited to its fullest in times of crisis. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries While the thesis is not based entirely on the institutional history of radio, many parallel developments between its history and the political history of Singapore will be highlighted. Radio is a source of news and information as well as a channel of entertainment. In view of the fact that radio did not have a monopoly over the entertainment scene, the competition provided for radio by Rediffusion (S) Pte. Ltd. would also be discussed within the context of the provision of popular music.