Thursday, December 1, 2016

Remembering Sebastian Tan

Remembering Sebastian Tan Chiaw Hock(1923 – 2016}

With deep sadness I came to know of the passing on of  my ex boss and mentor Sebastian Tan former Chief Engineer and Director of Engineering Radio and TV Singapore. He was called home to be with the Lord on 22 Nov 2016, dearly missed by loved ones and ex-staff.
When I joined RTS in 1967 Sebastian was then engineer with the transmission stations. I came to know him when he was posted back to Caldecott Hill Broadcast Centre. He was a kind and considerate boss. Over the years I knew him to be a hardworking diligent professional engineer. He was a mentor to many young engineers and I myself had the benefit to learn much in the technologies of broadcast engineering and successful career  on the Hill.
He was instrumental in introducing many new systems and technologies to the company namely FM , B/W TV, Colour TV, MW and Short Transmission, TV Studios etc. The most memorable project I did with him was the setting up of a colour TV outside studio to broadcast Singapore National Day Parade first time in colour at the Padang. Despite a very tight schedule his can-do attitude made it possible for viewers in 1974 to watch TV in colour.
Together all of us went through the restructuring of RTS into SBC, SIM (TCS,RCS,TV12) and Sebastian was the Chief Engineer giving us strong support to tide over the changes.
Sebastian never said a harsh word to anybody. As a kind and caring boss, he was well –liked by everybody including those who might have disagreements with him.
After his retirement Sebastian still continued with his professional work and acted s consultants to companies like National Productivity Board, Singapore Teleport, Singtel , Polytechnics etc.
We will miss this great engineer. If there is a role model of a excellent professional engineer to emulate, Sebastian is the one.

Rest in Peace .

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Ernest Wong - New Chairman



Ernest Wong is back to MediaCorp as its Chairman from June 2016( succeeding Teo Ming Kin). He was Group Chief Executive from 2000 to 2005..
Mr Teo said Ernest is best suited for the job and can help navigate the complex landscape of the broadcasting business.

“A veteran banker since 1972, Mr Wong was United Overseas Bank Group President and board member from 1990 to 2000 when he left to join Mediacorp as its Group CEO. Before 1972, he worked for five years with Singapore’s Economic Development Board and the Ministry of Finance. Currently, Mr Wong chairs Temasek Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiary, Fullerton Financial Holdings, which invests in and operates financial institutions in emerging markets. He is a board member of Pavilion Capital Holdings and commissioner of PT Bank Danamon Indonesia. Outside of the financial sector, Mr Wong chairs A Menarini Asia-Pacific and is a Trustee of the NTU Board of Trustees and Chairman of its Investment Committee.” ..from CNA

I worked with him during his five years (as Chief Engineer) at MediaCorp. I could get along well with him.
I would say he was a know-all CEO, colourful character and always had focus for the business aspect of the company ---making money.
For info see CNA website  at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/mediacorp-announces/2718760.html

Sunday, February 28, 2016

new logo
old logo 2001 -2015


Mediacorp Singapore broadcaster moves into a new building after 63 years at Caldecott Broadcast Centre. It has unveiled a new logo to replace the longest serving blue one which was used for 15 years. With a multi colour design it reflects a evolving open company in the years ahead. Mediacorp’s CEO Shaun Seow said he hoped the logo’s colours and texture would help to “project Mediacorp’s vibrancy and its multiplicity of talent, media and experiences.”
The new12-storey  building at Mediapolis has facilities  for 3 new studios, 4 entertainment studios and a theatre was officially opened by the Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong.  It will take nine months from Dec 2015 to completely move to the new complex.

At last it is done. We had  been talking about moving since the days of SBC in the 80s. Over the years there were feasibility studies for a number of sites which included Bugis Junction Area, Changi Business Park, Harbout Front and Bukit Batok.  Best wishes to all at the new Mediacorp and congratulations to the hard-working project team for this milestone achievement.

For more details of the complex please go to:
http://www.mediacorp.sg/en/mediacorp-in-the-news/media-releases/mediacorp-campus-5947114