Central was a Singaporean English and Tamil language free-to-air television channel. Its programming schedule was composed of three timeshared channels on its frequency slot: Kids Central, Vasantham Central and Arts Central.
Previously, Indian-related programming was broadcast along with Malay-language programmes on Prime 12, while Premiere 12's schedule consisted of arts, documentaries and kids shows.
Tamil programming was carried from the outset of television in Singapore on Channel 5 from its launch on 15 February 1963, and later that year also on Channel 8. In 1973 the language structure of the two channels was changed, with Channel 5 broadcasting in English and Malay and Channel 8 in Chinese and Tamil.
MediaCorp TV12 Central was closed down on 19 October 2008 when Vasantham Central relaunched as the standalone channel Vasantham. Arts Central and Kids Central were merged into a single channel named okto, with kids and arts programming.
History
Tamil programming was carried from the outset of television in Singapore on Channel 5 from its launch on 15 February 1963, and later that year also on Channel 8. In 1973 the language structure of the two channels was changed, with Channel 5 broadcasting in English and Malay and Channel 8 in Chinese and Tamil.
On 26 August 1994, ahead of the bill that suggested the planned privatisation of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, the Minister for Information and the Arts (Brigadier General) George Yeo announced the plan for the creation of a fourth free-to-air television channel in Singapore, offering a predominantly cultural lineup. Under this plan, Channel 8 would switch to an entirely-Chinese format, causing the Tamil shows there to move to Channel 12, using its new format to concentrate primarily on Malay and Indian content, whereas the cultural output that was on the former Channel 12 would move to a new UHF channel, due to the lack of VHF slots available.
Television Twelve (later renamed Singapore Television Twelve), who following the privatisation was the owner of Channel 12, received the greenlight from the Singapore Broadcasting Authority to broadcast a UHF channel on 27 July 1995.
In preparation for the launch of the two channels, it was announced that the logos and identities of services were to be revealed on launch night (1 September), as part of a special programme, 12 by 12, which was to be simulcast over both channels. The former Channel 12 output that had been virtually unchanged since its inception in 1984 (aside the inclusion of Malay content that would later appear on Prime 12) was to be carried over by the frequency 72 hours a week, with 15 1/2 hours devoted to sports, which The New Paper was its "crowd puller", football being its main driving force, emphasizing on Serie A, the S. League and Asian football. Sandra Buenaventura, CEO of Singapore Television Twelve, said that the channels were "like a tin of assorted biscuits", reflecting the individual nature of the specialist programming of the new services.
The channel launched at 8pm on 1 September 1995. Up until the start of the launch show, what would become Prime 12 was still carrying the "old" Channel 12.
At the end of 1999, Singapore Television Twelve announced that Premiere 12 was going to be replaced by Central as part of a company-wide restructuring of MediaCorp's television output, with the launch set for January 30, 2000.
Central's programming schedule was composed of three timeshared channels: Kids Central, focused on kids' programming; Vasantham Central, a Tamil-language programming block; and Arts Central centred on cultural programming. On launch week, Kids Central reportedly had 70,000 to 173,000 viewers, Vasantham Central exceeded 30% share and the showing of the Cirque du Soleil performance Quidam on Arts Central attracted 140,000 viewers. On 28 February 2000, Singapore Television Twelve increased Central's on-air hours from 91½ to 110½ hours per week.
On 19 October 2008, Central was dissolved. Vasantham Central on-air time was extended to form Vasantham, an independent channel focused on the Indian community of Singapore, as announced on 29 February that year by then Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts Dr. Balaji Sadasivan in Parliament. Meanwhile, Kids Central and Arts Central were merged into a single channel named Okto, which took Channel i's frequency and channel space.