Orbit

It's official: Ch U to scrap own news programmes

IT'S confirmed: Channel U's original news bulletins will be a thing of the past from March 29.

This is a stark U-turn from MediaCorp's earlier promise to viewers in 2005 that it would refrain from using Channel 8's packaged news items in Channel U's news programmes.

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Yesterday, my paper had reported on buzz that Media- Corp might be replacing Channel U's 11pm daily news programme with repeats of Channel 8's 10pm news.

Sources also said that it is planning to scrap the channel's weekday 9pm news programme and its weekend 7pm news programme.

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a little history.
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Launched in May 2001, Channel U then belonged to MediaWorks, Singapore Press Holdings' now-defunct television arm.

The Mandarin channel's news programmes were renowned for its celebrity news anchors - Helen Cheung, Wang Yanqing and Evelyn Tan. However, MediaWorks merged with MediaCorp in January 2005.

Channel U was relinquished to MediaCorp TV under a new agreement, and its news anchors were replaced by a new team.

Now, the channel is rocked by further changes. A press release issued yesterday by the broadcast giant said that from March 29, there will no longer be a daily news programme at 9pm.

The channel will feature entertainment programmes on weekdays between 8pm and 10pm.

The daily news bulletin at 11pm will repeat the 10pm news from Channel 8. Its weekend 7pm news programme will be replaced by current-affairs programmes, Money Week and World This Week, on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, from April 3.

Ms Jeslyn Low, Channel U's head of branding and promotions, said: "By consolidating resources, the group is able to push for stronger content from its news platforms to serve the public."

No staff will be retrenched or lose their jobs, she said.

adapted from
Fri, Mar 05, 2010
my paper
By Joy fan