Singapore to launch TV channels for Indian community

Singapore, Mar 1 (UNI) Singapore's MediaCorp will launch dedicated television channels for the Indian community and children in the fourth quarter of 2008.

''Vasantham,'' which means 'Spring' in Tamil, would serve the growing Indian community in Singapore and viewers can look forward to an increase in Indian-language programming from the current 29 to 65 hours each week, announced senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and Arts, Balaji Sadasivan in Parliament yesterday.

The Indian channel, which could include some non-Tamil language shows from time to time, would offer family-based entertainment programmes, locally produced long-form serials as well as Tamil news, current affairs and reality-based shows, according to Channel News Asia report today.

The programme line-up would cater to pre-schoolers and their caregivers in the morning, primary school students in the afternoon, and teenagers and young adults in the evening.

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