MediaCorp TV12 is a subsidiary of MediaCorp. It operates the Suria, Vasantham and okto channels, which cater to specific groups in Singapore. It once operated Central. TV12 owns three subsidiaries; MediaCorp EagleVision, MediaCorp Studios (also a content producer of MediaCorp TV) and MediaCorp VizPro Entertainment.
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Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (1984–1994)
MediaCorp TV12 was launched on 31 January 1984 as SBC 12 it was launched Singapore's third free-to-air terrestrial television channel, SBC after the government announced its life to nurture a gracious and elegant society. SBC 12 carried mostly art and cultural programmes marking the inception of niche programming.
On 1 January 1994 as Malay programmes were transferred to SBC 12, previously aired on SBC 5.
Singapore Television Twelve (1994–2001)
The Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) was privatised on 1 October 1994, and SBC's operations were split into 3 individual companies under the Singapore International Media (SIM Group of Companies) banner. Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS), Radio Corporation of Singapore (RCS) and Singapore Television Twelve (STV12) took over SBC's television-broadcasting operations and Radio Corporation of Singapore (RCS) took over SBC's radio-broadcasting operations.
On 27 September 1995 at midnight, TCS 5 and TCS 8 began 24-hour transmission in daily, while Malay and Tamil programmes (previously aired on TCS 5 and TCS 8, respectively) were moved to Channel 12 such as: Prime 12 (later Suria) and Premiere 12 (later Central) programming.
Singapore Television Twelve underwent an entire makeover was re-launched on 30 January 2000, MediaCorp TV12 Suria is a new Malay language channel with programming similar to MediaCorp TV Channel 5 channel replaced Prime 12 as a channel for the entertainment needs of the Malay community, while Premiere 12 became MediaCorp TV12 Central, a television channel separated into 3 sections according to the time slot given at different part of a day as
Previously, Tamil language programming was broadcast together with Malay languages programming in Prime 12 while Premiere 12 is an English language consists of culture & arts, documentary and children programming.
The STV12 channels did not commence 24-hours in daily of transmissions, despite rumours, while Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) such as : TCS 5 and TCS 8 continued their 24-hours in daily of transmission with significant reform to their programming for late evenings. SportCity, is a television channel dedicated to sport programmes, was introduced by Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) on 30 January 2000 and subsequently renamed CityTV on 20 May 2001 and introducing programmes catering to a larger range of audience, before being shut down on 11 January 2002 due to economic recession and a lack of viewership.
MediaCorp TV12 (2001–present)
The SIM Group of Companies was restructured Media Corporation of Singapore (MediaCorp Singapore) on 1 January 1999 and TCS subsequently became MediaCorp TV12 on 12 February 2001.
The idea of a new channel came on 1 January 2008 when the Parliament of Singapore decided to expand the Tamil language Vasantham Central into a standalone Tamil language channel. The result was a split of the Central channel where Kids Central, Arts Central and SPH MediaWorks Channel i became okto on the same frequency as the old SPH MediaWorks Channel i while Vasantham Central was also replaced by Vasantham still on the same frequency as the old Central channel. It also show Kids movies (OKTO@MOVIES) on primetime Fridays & Saturdays and it also showing the live television broadcasting delayed relay simulcast coverage multi national and international sports event such as Summer Olympic Games, Winter Olympic Games, Summer Paralympic Games, Winter Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, Asian Youth Games, Youth Olympic Games and more from 7:00 pm to 12:00 midnight.
On 20 October 2008, Kids Central and Arts Central was merged to form MediaCorp TV12 okto while Vasantham Central became a full-fledged channel as MediaCorp TV12 Vasantham occupying the original MediaCorp TV12 Central channel and effectively making the channel defunct.
Milestones
Before 12 February 2001, MediaCorp TV12 was formerly known as: