Channel i (Singapore)
Channel i was a Singaporean English language free-to-air terrestrial television channel that was launched in 20 May 2001 as TVWorks. The channel was owned by SPH MediaWorks, a subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings.
 | |
| Country | Singapore |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Singapore |
| Network | SPH MediaWorks |
| Slogan | Total Entertainment, The Way You Like It |
| Headquarters | 82 Genting Lane Singapore 349567 |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 4:3 576i SDTV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Singapore Press Holdings |
| Sister channels | Channel U |
| History | |
| Launched | 20 May 2001 (as TVWorks)[1] 3 March 2002 (as Channel i)[2] |
| Closed | 1 January 2005 |
| Former names | TVWorks (2001-2002) |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| UHF | Channel 30 |
| Cable | |
| StarHub TV | Channel 8 |
As a result of the media merger with Mediacorp, it shut down due to low ratings and lack of advertiser support. Its frequencies (terrestrial and cable) and channel space were taken over by okto (using Central's old format) nearly four years later. However, Okto itself later also closed down in 1 May 2019 due to similar reasons, after which the channel space created by TVWorks in 2001 folded and ceased to exist.
History
.png.webp){kind=logo}
On 26 April 2001, SPH MediaWorks received a nationwide free-to-air television service licence from the Singapore Broadcasting Authority, allowing them to start broadcasting two channels, Channel U, a Chinese language channel, and TVWorks, an English channel.[3] On 20 May 2001, TVWorks was launched.[4] On 9 November 2001, TVWorks was restructured following a loss of 65 employees and a decreasing audience share. Plans for its shutdown were dismissed.[5] On 25 February 2002, it was announced that the channel would rebrand as Channel i. This rebrand became effective on 3 March 2002. Under the new name, Channel i would put a strong emphasis on action entertainment and coverage of the S.League, as well as offering movies every evening. The new brand reflected "the habits, preferences and tastes of the viewers"[6][7]
i Sports like sport event programmes including tennis Australian Open, and soccer 2002 FIFA World Cup, i Movies like Hollywood films was Hollywood major big film studios (Universal Pictures, and Paramount Pictures) includes Casper, Notting Hill, The Score, and The Scorpion King, and i Drama like United States television series was Hollywood major big television productions (Universal Television, and Paramount Television).
Closure
On 7 December 2004, it was announced that Channel i would cease broadcasting in January, due to the "fragmented and small English language TV market".[8]
At 1:30am, 1 January 2005, the transmission ceased with the repeat of the last edition of the Channel i News (featuring footage from its local current affairs programming) and a message from the SPH MediaWorks team, the ident in use, and then a montage set to Shirley Bassey's "Thank You for the Years", showing footage of imported content, sporting events and local programming. This later changed to a countdown featuring Andrea Bocelli with British soprano Sarah Brightman's Time to Say Goodbye, with the film countdown interspersed with footage from films, before showing in accelerated format, showing shots of channel stings (i Sports, i Movies, i Drama and one featuring just the channel's "sphere" logo) and ending with the message "Farewell Singapore". The national anthem was played before a notice that the channel has ceased transmission being permanently displayed.[9]
Former newscasters
- Arnold Quay
- Michelle Quah
- Fauziah Ibrahim
- Paul Jansen
- Karen Ho
Former programmes
as TVWorks
- The Big Buffet – two weeks run
- Big Chilli Wednesday
- The Odd Squad
- Jalan Jalan
- The Big Break
- The Mensroom
- Here's A Million – Gameshow
- After Hours – Talk show
- It's All In The Body – Info-Ed
- Dollars & Sense – Current Affairs
as Channel i
- Ah Girl (3 seasons) – Sitcom
- Channel i News – News
- Cue – Current affairs
- Eyewitness – Current affairs
- Durian King – Drama
- Fat to Fit – Reality
- Heath Matters – Current affairs
- i Contact – Current affairs
- i On The News – Current affairs
- i2u – Variety
- Makansutra (4 seasons) – Infotainment
- Perceptions – Drama
- Singapore Shakes – Drama
- Six Weeks – Drama
- On Today – Current affairs
- The Money Tree – Current affairs
- World Life – Current affairs
References
- "The MediaWorks Big Tune-In; Two Free TV Channels Coming Your Way". SPH MediaWorks. Archived from the original on 4 December 2001. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- "i - Your choice for Movies and Action On Singapore's Terrestrial TV!". SPH MediaWorks. 25 February 2002. Archived from the original on 14 August 2002. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- "Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA) issues Broadcast Licence to SPH Mediaworks" (Press release). 26 April 2001. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- "The MediaWorks Big Tune-In; Two Free TV Channels Coming Your Way". SPH MediaWorks. Archived from the original on 4 December 2001. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- "MediaWorks downsizes and restructures TV Works". Singapore Press Holdings. 9 November 2001. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- "i - Your choice for Movies and Action On Singapore's Terrestrial TV!". SPH MediaWorks. 25 February 2002. Archived from the original on 14 August 2002. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- "Cost cutting prompts Channel i rebranding". Campaign Asia. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- "Channel i to close on 1 January 2005 Channel U and Channel 8 to have complementary programming". Singapore Press Holdings. 7 December 2004. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- SPH Mediaworks Channel i - Last Transmission (News programme). SPH MediaWorks. 14 July 2017.