Memories of Caldecott Hill

RTS Orchestra - Rufino Soliano

2012-01-02T04:34:00.000-08:00

George Favacho sent in a picture of

Talentime-Xmas-1967-POST-PRODUCTION-FAMILY-PIC

which was produced at the Caldecott Hill Studios.

I recognise Steven Lee and George and Rufino Soliano and Ahmad Jaffar in the picture. For those who are viewing this picture please write in and tell me more of the others in the picture.
For information Rufino who was also leader of the RTS Orchestra celebrates his 80th Birthday this week. Happy Birthday. Those were the Days!

DAB switch off

2011-11-03T06:33:00.000-07:00

MediaCorp's Digial Audio Broadcasting (DAB) service switch off from 1 Dec

News from Channel News Asia. For more click
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1162810/1/.html
"Digital radio services over MediaCorp's airwaves are set to end.

Come December 1, MediaCorp will discontinue its Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) service which was widely seen as the "replacement technology" for FM radio more than a decade ago.

MediaCorp was the first broadcaster in South East Asia to offer digital radio, which was launched in November 1999.

However, the effectiveness and reach of DAB was soon overtaken by technology which offered listeners a wider range of convenient access to radio alongside the FM services such as online streaming as well as mobile phone apps.

In a statement, MediaCorp also noted that the growth in DAB listenership remained stagnant against the rapid uptake for Internet radio and the MeRadio phone app....."

Comment: For those cars and homes equipped with DAB only set, you may sell it on the internet. Countries such as United Kingdom and Australia have adopted different verson of DAB

Old TV Show Clips

2011-10-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

JUST CLICK ON A DATE AND SIT BACK AND ENJOY..
This is great for those who lived through the 50’s here are old TV shows to bring back memories.
It is kind of nostalgic to see old videos with golden oldies. Some of the TV shows were on RTS (now MediaCorp) channels in the early 60s and 70s from black and white to colour TV days. The shows were telecast from the play-out studios at Caldecott Hill.

1. JACKIE GLEASON ON THE ROCKY MARCIANO SHOW THE MAIN EVENT (1960)
2. JAMES DEAN: HIS FINAL TV APPEARANCE (1954)
3. ELVIS SINGS BLUE SUEDE SHOES (1956)
4. A TRIBUTE TO ELVIS PRESLEY, THE KING OF ROCK & ROLL (1959-62)
5. THE EDSEL INTRODUCED ON NBC (1957)
6. BOBBY DARIN'S "MACK THE KNIFE" (1959)
7. WESTINGHOUSE DEBUTS HI-TECH "ADVANCED TV" (1951)
8. WILLIAM BENDIX AS LOVABLE CHESTER A. RILEY (1956)
9. ICONS I: WHAT MADE 50'S TV GOLDEN (COMPILATION, (1952-60)
10. THE PATTI PAGE SHOW (1958)
11. BLOOPERS FROM THE HONEYMOONERS (1957-58)
12. THE CENSORED JERRY LEE LEWIS HERE UNCENSORED! (1957-59)
13. A TRUE 50's DOO WOP TV CLASSIC (1958)
14. FAMILY AFFAIR (1966)
15. ALAN FREED'S BIG BEAT DANCE PARTY DANCERS (1959)
16. THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW (1957)
17. The Inventor Of TV Sketch Comedy ERNIE KOVACS (1954)
18. THE RED SKELTON SHOW (1959)
19. ICONS: THE DELINQUENCY RAMPAGE! (COMPILATION, 1957-60)
20. FATHER KNOWS BEST (1953)
21. PETTICOAT JUNCTION (1962)
22. OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST BOB MATTHIAS (1956)
23. DANCES OF THE 1950's: THE HAND JIVE (1957)
24. GROUCHO MARX YOU BET YOUR LIFE (1959)
25. DRAGNET (1959)
26. THE IMMORTAL MUSICAL COMEDY OF VICTOR BORGE 1951
27. EDDIE FISHER SINGS A MEDLEY OF HIS BIGGEST HITS 1953
28. ABBOTT & COSTELLO: WHO'S ON FIRST? 1951
29. MORE DANCES OF THE 1950's THE JITTERBUG 1958
30. THE HONEYMOONERS ... IN COLOR! 1969
31. THE ORIGINAL FLASH GORDON SERIAL theatres-1939; TV-1960's
32. THE LONE RANGER 1955
33. THE ENDEARING GRIMACES OF EDDIE CANTOR 1952
34. BOBBY DARIN NERVOUSLY HOSTS A BEAUTY CONTEST 1957
35. MORE DANCES OF THE 1950's: THE LINDY HOP 1959
36. SHAKE, BABY, SHAKE! IT'S THE KILLER AGAIN! 1958
37. THE DANNY THOMAS SHOW 1958
38. SID CAESAR: YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS 1957
39. HERE COMES TOBOR! 1954
40. THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN 1954
41. THE ADVENTURES OF FLIPPER 1964
42. SPIKE JONES 1951
43. CAPTAIN VIDEO & HIS VIDEO RANGERS 1950
44. THE LIBERACE SHOW 1952
45. MEDIC 1954
46. THE BIG VALLEY 1965
47. THE ROOTS OF TV BASEBALL 1950-57
48. Mc HALE'S NAVY 1962
49. HOPALONG CASSIDY 1952
50. DARK SHADOWS 1966
51. FADS & FANCIES OF THE 50s &     60s
52. I LOVE LUCY 1952
53. THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW 1962
54. THE BEATLES FIRST TELEVISION APPEARANCE 1963
55. BAT MASTERSON 1958
56. MARTY ROBBINS ON THE JOHNNY CASH SHOW 1964
57. FRANK SINATRA SPEAKS CANDIDLY 1954
58. PASSWORD 1962
59. STAR TREK TV ON DEMAND 1966-present
60. MORE DANCES OF THE 50's: THE SWINGBACK 1958
61. THE LIVE TV FRIDGE COMMERCIAL CATASTROPHE 1954
62. THE ARTHUR GODFREY SHOW 1957
63.   BUILDING THE 1958 DODGE 1957
64. FIGHT CLASSIC: ROCKY MARCIANO vs. JERSEY JOE WALCOTT 1952
65. AND MORE GREAT ICONS OF THE 50's VOL III 1952-59
66. ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS 1959
67. SATURDAY NIGHTLIVE~~ BEFORE SNL 1954-58
68. FELIX THE CAT 1959
69. THE DONNA REED SHOW 1958
70. THE GOLDBERGS 1952
71. LUCILLE BALL & CAROL BURNETT 1965
72. THE LITTLE RASCALS 1955
73. HIGHWAY PATROL 1956
74. LOST IN SPACE 1966
75. BEULAH 1951
76. BEWITCHED 1966
77. I DREAM OF JEANIE 1966
78. SEA HUNT 1957
79. DYNAMITE JOE RINDONE 1954
80. THE MILTON BERLE SHOW 1957

The above info is contributed by TT Goh

Rest in Peace Ananda

2011-09-30T07:08:00.000-07:00

Below is information from CNA and a note from George Favacho (writing from Perth) on the sad news that Ananda Perera has passed away.

"Dear COT Friends,

It is indeed very sad to hear of the Passing of our Dear Colleague Ananda Perera last Wednesday.

I personally will miss a very dear work colleague. I will always treasure the many Laughs and Fun we had together at our BBC TV Training in Shephards Bush, UK in 1972.

Ananda came to our COT Gathering on 23rd February 2011 ... and it was especially lovely to re-new our contact there after a lapse of 35 odd years! Below is my last photo taken of Ananda, see here with CHAN HENG WING, LIM BENG HOON & DAPHNE HONG

If any of you will attend his Funeral this Sunday, please convey on behalf of COT our sincere condolences to Lalitha, his Children and Family.

Rest in Peace Ananda!"

George Favacho

From Channel News Asia

"Ex-news director Perera leaves behind wealth of memories
By S Ramesh | Posted: 30 September 2011 1840 hrs

SINGAPORE: He is known as someone who would not miss his TV news bulletins - this best sums up the passion that the former Director of News of the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Ananda Perera, had for his craft.

Mr Perera died on Wednesday after a battle with lung cancer.

As friends and former colleagues paid their respects, the family requested for privacy - a wish of Mr Perera, the private man.

But for the many who had worked with him, he leaves behind a wealth of fond memories.

"He is very approachable and whenever I was outdoor shooting at location, he will make it a point to come talk to me about all the problems," said Aminuddin Abu, principal cameraman, MediaCorp.

Lee Foong Ming, Chief Editor of Radio News, and VP of 938LIVE, MediaCorp, said: "He had very high standards for the newsroom and as a rookie broadcast journalist, he was the standard I was familiar with. But what I remember of Ananda is his very resonant beautiful broadcaster's voice, and whenever he spoke I would automatically listen - not because he was the boss, but his voice has a lot of authority and he was the embodiment of the power of what the spoken word can be, the impact of that voice."

Others remember him for his ready smile and ability to tell a good story that touches the heart.

"His laughter, his joy for life, his incredible ability to capture the human condition in film - that is something Ananda was very strong at," said Chan Heng Weng, a former TV producer who worked with Mr Perera.

"Ananda was working at a time when News and Current Affairs was very different from now. We saw ourselves as trying to explain the development polices of a new government to a population and try to help the government to bring these ideas, very complex ideas, asking people to make sacrifices in the 70s when challenges abound."

Mr Perera's documentaries have bagged the Asian Broadcasting Union's awards three times. One of them, Addiction - Three Experiences in 1974, was a touching story of drug addicts.

"In particular, he observed and asked to film the cremation of one of the addicts who died from his addiction. It was very important to him because it always reminded him the death of his mother. For him, it was very personal to watch the process, he filmed it. That became a very dramatic ending to this documentary film," said Chan.

Mr Perera's funeral will be held on Sunday."

Ananda (third from right)showing the Sri Lanka President the Auto-Cue System

Ananda rose from the rank and file starting as a floor manager and to the top job in the news division. I worked with him when he was producer for the National Day Parades and the Prime Ministers Speech and Rally. He was very professional in his field of work and his relationship with those who worked with him was always cordial and jovial. Ananda gave a short speech during the COT gathering in Febuary this year and he was cheerful and looked healthy. It is very sad to hear of his passing. Rest in Peace Ananda.
-philip tay

Ananda at the COT gathering in Feb 2011

Some pictures of yesteryears

2011-09-23T05:35:00.000-07:00

George is in town for the Formula One! He has asked Auntie Lucy to organise a COT get-together. It will happen on Monday 12 noon. As we do not want uninvited guests please call Lucy for details or you can email me at tay.philip@gmail.com or George at gfavacho@gmail.com.
Meanwhile George has sent the materials below to let us remember "those were the days"

VERNON was also one of the earliest TV Newsreader on Channel 5.

VERNON reading theTV News with HARRY CRABB beside reading TV NEWSREEL

Many of you will remember VERNONMARTINUS as one of the earliest TV Producers of TV SINGAPORE in the Black& White days of Television. Here's VERNON giving Studio directions.

a photo of MAUREENLIEW doing a TV Interview

From Left:

George Favacho; Terry Oon;

Francis Yeoh & Vernon Martinus(recent picture)

And from VERNON'S TV PHOTO ALBUM(compiled & Presented to him as a Farewell souvenir by ROSIE CHEE)is the photo

Above were our earliest ScriptAssistants at TV Singapore on Caldecott Hill:
Lilian Eng; Helen Lau; Rosie Chee & Pinky Leong

Ah .. "THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND!" -George Favacho

MediaCorp's New Complex

2011-08-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

News from CNA MediaCorp

“SINGAPORE: The Republic's leading media company MediaCorp announced on Friday that it has selected DP Architects and Maki and Associates as the architects of its new campus, which will be located at Mediapolis@one-north.

MediaCorp first announced its relocation to a 1.5ha site in Mediapolis@one-north in December last year.

Following a selection process, the design presented by Singapore-based DP Architects and Tokyo-based Maki and Associates was chosen "for their ability to meet operational needs, the seamless public engagement connectivity and their experience in designing media facilities around the world", MediaCorp said in a press release.

Collectively, the team has built iconic structures including Resorts World Sentosa, Republic Polytechnic, Japan's TV Asahi Headquarters, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Arts and Sciences Building (MIT Media Lab), as well as the upcoming New York World Trade Center Tower 4.

MediaCorp CEO Shaun Seow said: "Beyond building an efficient and functional working environment, our vision for the new campus is to incorporate fun, collaborative and exciting spaces for staff and members of the public to enjoy. We want the new complex to act as a catalyst to the cultural and media development of Mediapolis." ..For more please see http://channelnewsasia.com

- At last it is happening . The project to move started 20 years ago. I remember Cheng Tong Fatt, Albert Hong, Mrs Wong and Management Team made study tours to Canada, Japan and USA to look at how others plan and build their new complexes. The current building in 1966 was not that old then but the decision was taken to free the land possibly for good class bungalows and the location of a broadcasting complex on Caldecott was somehow a misfit. Over the years many sites were explored including the old World Trade Centre, Bugis Junction area and Changi Business Park as well as Bukit Batok. Chairmen came and went and eventually with Teo Ming Kian on board a firm decision was made to move to Mediapolis instead of Bukit Batok as earlier announced.

75 Years of Radio

2011-07-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

RADIO

info from ChannelNewsAsia

"It was a night of glitz and glamour at the Capella on Sentosa on Tuesday as MediaCorp Radio celebrated its 75th anniversary with a gala dinner.

And, it was nothing short of a starry night with radio's biggest personalities - past and present - celebrating the diamond jubilee.

MediaCorp Radio started out with just one radio station at Empress Place in 1936.

Today, MediaCorp operates 13 FM stations.

Overall, there are 18 FM stations in Singapore now.

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister of Information, Communications & the Arts, who graced the event, paid tribute to Radio saying it has stayed resilient all these years.

And he's confident that in tandem with the changing media landscape, Radio will adapt and stay exciting to listeners.

Dr Yaacob said: "I believe MediaCorp has done a good job in reinventing Radio .

"Stations and deejays have built up a faithful following and even have presence across media platforms and live shows, giving an added boost in reaching out and keeping the conversation alive even after the music fade."

Mr Shaun Seow, CEO of MediaCorp, said: "American songwriter Bob Dylan once said radio makes hideous sounds. The (late) 38th US president Gerald Ford remarked he listened to a lot of baseball onradio.

"So whether you're a radio fan like Ford or a hater like Dylan, guess what, radio is alive and kicking at 75 years.

"75 long years and radio rocks!"

Mr Seow also paid tribute to those who have contributed to Radio 's success.

"I value even more very special people who have made this all possible, my dedicated radio team........................................................." for more read at CNA

(In my 43 years there I spent most of my time in the TV Engineering Department but had opportunity to manage the radio engineering facilities for a few years. During these few years i met with nice people like Brian Richmond and the late Steven Lee and Vernon Palmer. During the later years when they were about to call it day at Caldecott Hill Vernon and Steven were our regular lunch kakis. I missed the jokes (original ones) from both of them which never failed to make my day.....)

Note: Picture shows a visit 42 years ago by VIPs at the early short wave and medium wave radio broadcasting station in Jurong. In subsequent years transmission technology was replaced by FM and the site at Jurong given way to HDB estate.

SHAUN SEOW is new CEO of MediaCorp

2011-07-06T03:28:00.000-07:00

Latest info from CNA...

"Singapore's leading media company, MediaCorp, has appointed Mr Shaun Seow as its Chief Executive Officer and Board Director with immediate effect.

With a media career of more than 20 years, Mr Seow has been MediaCorp's Deputy CEO since 2005, overseeing a range of business lines spanning television, radio, print, interactive and outdoor media.

His appointment comes after an intensive executive search to fill the position of MediaCorp CEO after Mr Lucas Chow resigned in January 2011.

"I am very pleased that the new CEO is a homegrown talent from within the organization" said MediaCorp Chairman, Mr Teo Ming Kian.

"Having experienced and run the whole gamut of the media business, Shaun is a most worthy successor and I have every confidence that he will be able to harness the strengths of the company and work alongside the Board, Management and staff to steer the company to greater heights.

"The time for renewal of leadership is most appropriate as the company prepares itself for the move to a new campus at Mediapolis over the next few years."......"

For more please read at CNA website
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1139240/1/.html

About Radio

2011-06-19T16:09:00.000-07:00

When is the last time you turn on a Radio? I bet it is only a while ago while driving. Yes I do that all the time. It is either 93.8 or 95.8 and occasionally 92.4. But when is the last time you switch on your Radio at home? Probably you cannot remember. But I do occasionally listen to 92.4 at night despite the busyness with the internet and television. And I listen to 92.4 on my EVOKE DAB receiver. Yes ,DAB ... digital audio broadcasting. The quality is better than that of FM. MediaCorp has DAB services on air besides its 13 FM services. But unfortunately you need new radio receiver to tune in and it is more costly than a FM receiver and manufacturers don’t see a business case to put more receivers on the market. Mainly because there are a number of different digital standards that leave broadcasters and manufacturers uncertain of the future of digital radio. As such FM will remain the king for the next 44 years!
Radio in Singapore started in 1936 with a short wave service. In later years medium wave followed and with the present FM services in 1967. Both SW and MW closed down already. I must say Singapore listeners are spolit for choices on the present FM. There many FM channels by MediaCorp, SPH and SAFRA. I understand two more FM frequencies (FM 92 and FM89.3)are being offered by MDA and there are many takers. Don’t forget also we have Redifusion.

The website of Redifustion says

“Rediffusion is Singapore's ONLY subscription radio, offering a full suite of 15 regional and international channels (the most number of radio stations in Singapore) that include news, storytelling, music, entertainment, education and 17 local free-to-air channels.
Rediffusion is the 1st in the WORLD to broadcast on Digital Audio Broadcasting Plus (DAB+). This digital platform allows subscribers to enjoy Rediffusion's programs on our wireless digital receiver, which boasts flawless crystal-clear sound as compared to the fizzy FM noise.
Rediffusion has a rich history since 1949 and has been entertaining Singaporeans with quality programs that glue listeners to our radio 24/7.”

When I was a boy I used to listen to a famous story-teller on Redifusion and I remember it was the story of “The Monkey God”. He got many ears glued on the box every evening. Now Redifusion is pioneering the next wave of digitizing of the broadcast media that digital radio over the air. I forsee there will many more niche channels on the digital radio wave in the next five years.

If you are young you may prefer to listen to radio while on the go on your mobile phone. Most phones have FM services. And there is also Internet Radioboth on the PC and portables. You probably will know you could get many almost limitless radio channels on the net world wide. My wife and mum wont for this cause of the effort put in to turn on a computer or operate thoswe portable internet radio(using Wi-Fi). I think until Internet Radio is made easier to use FM will forever remain the King of Radio.

Whither Digital Radio??

A Poem

2011-06-11T17:27:00.000-07:00

Crabby Old Man
(Info contributed by Anthony Ng -a Caldecott Hill Old Timer)

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in GRASS VALLEY, CA. It was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Missouri. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

Crabby Old Man...
What do you see nurses? . . ... . . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . When you're looking at me?
A crabby old man . .. . . . Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit ... . . . . With faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food . . . .. . And makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice .. .. . ... . The things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not . . . . . Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . .. . .. . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . ... . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . You're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am. . . . ... . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .. . . .. With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . .. ... Who love one another.

A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. With wings on his feet.
Dreaming that soon now . . . . . A lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . .. My heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . That I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . . . .. . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other .. . . . . With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons . . ... . . Have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . . . . To see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . .. . . . My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . Shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . ... . . . Young of their own.
And I think of the years .. . . .. . And the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man . . . . .... And nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . . . . Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . Grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . . Where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass . . . . . A young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . ... . Life over again.

I think of the years, all too few . . . . . Gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . . That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . ... . Open and see.
Not a crabby old man . ... . . Look closer . .. . See ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within.
We will all, one day, be there, too!
PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM
The best and most beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart.

(Note: there are many stories spun around this poem. This is one version)

I remember LEE CHEOK YEW

2011-04-24T04:54:00.000-07:00

I remember LEE CHEOK YEW

He was with the then SBC and TCS from 1991 – 2000. During the period he was in top management positions in the SBC Enterprises, CEO of TCS and COO MediaCorp. He left to join MediaWorks as CEO to compete with MediaCorp.

I was fortunate to be able to work with him and learn the commercial aspects of running a media company as Head of the Engineering Department. Known to think out the box and removing all the bureaucy of the previous organisation Radio and TV Singapore, Cheok Yew was set to bring MediaCorp to new heights.

Every CEO i knew faced the challenges of managing the company both as a commercial broadcaster and a national broadcaster. Till now no CEO has come up with a formula to manage this dilemma to bring the company to soaring heights.

As for Cheok Yew I think he was a commercial broadcaster first and national broadcaster second, which was the reason for the company making lots of money during his tenure of office. And the reason for most bureaucrats to misundertand his style of management.

As a result a series of events in the company that initiated the creation of a competitor, SPH MediaWorks.. he left to be its CEO. Unfortunately the competition was short-lived. It lasted three years. He then joined MTV and was involved in a number of consultancy and media business projects. I understand he has retired but still active in the Marketing Institute and other related consultancies on the media. You can find more information about him on the NET.

Mr S M Ong a former Executive Producer has this to say about him in his blog when he wrote about his favourites CEOs of MediaCorp:

"He was my CEO at both the Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) and SPH MediaWorks.

In 2000, I was part of a group sent to Cannes, France, for an international TV trade show. On one of the days there, Cheok Yew, another executive and I rented a car to explore the region. We drove all the way to Monaco.

But the most unforgettable part of the road trip for me was eating some raw seafood and having the most spectacularly explosive diarrhoea of my life when I returned to my hotel room.

Because of this cherished memory, Cheok Yew will always be my favourite MediaCorp CEO.”

Mr SM Ong blogs at http://smong.net

COT Gathering 2011

2011-04-02T23:19:00.000-07:00

one of the many pictures of 2011 gathering which will be posted on facebook

On Wed 23 Feb about 50 CaldecottHill Old Timers got together at Mariners Corner Restaurant for their annual and had a wonderful time updating their travel and life experiences and living out their old memories of working life at Caldecott. Those who were there included Ananda Pereira, Heng Wing, Maureen Liew, George Favacho, Lucy Leong, Michael Loke, Lam Lychow, Cheng Kee, Ter Kwang, Lay Hong, Andrew, Joo Thong, Francis Chowdurie, Aye Lan, Fernandez , Hua Swan and many more.

Watch out for the newsletter 2011 from George Favacho. Meanwhile take a look at this hilarious newsletter 2010(bottom two images).

..........................................................

Memories keep the heart warm

¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨

This morning I rx a nice note from Ee Boon Lee . Here it is:

Dear comrade

Early this morning, I received an internet messsage from a long-lost niece in America.
After wishing us the best wishes etc etc, she ended up by saying: I've read lovely things about you on the internet.
I owe you a debt of gratitude for putting me on the Internet. Otherwise, my niece would not have known that after retirement, I had appeared on TV to recount Singapore's passage from self-governing status to independence.

Cheers
Boon Lee

CEO LUCAS CHOW calls it a day at Caldecott Hill

2011-02-16T06:24:00.000-08:00

CEO LUCAS CHOW calls it a day at Caldecott Hill

Lucas Chow CEO of MediaCorp has tendered his resignation. He spent five challenging years managing the media group, taking over from Ernest Wong.
According to CNA report –
Chairman Teo Ming Kian said
“Lucas has built up MediaCorp to what it is today in the five years as its CEO. Under his watch, MediaCorp has done well to keep up with audiences’ needs and changes sweeping the media industry"
For more details of his achievements please go to:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1110877/1/.html

I was not in the management committee but I know him to be an approachable boss with good people-management skills. Among other things he has good technology knowledge of the media. I was pleased to be able to convince him to adopt high-definition television in MediCorp’s strategic plan and his passion for subject such as digital television surround sound has made the transition to new technologies easier. While mindful of the commercial side of the business he is always open to innovation and introduction of new media technologies. The latest approval I had from him was to undertake a trial on 3D Television. And he is a strong advocate of Internet Television and the Next Generation Broadband Network.

I guess one of his likeable decision was to restore the pay-cuts of staff after the recession and the other is token appreciation for good performance with ice-cream. I must have taken three or four during his tenure.
His notable interest for charity work is also well-known among staff.

His resignation is also timely and in keeping with the tenure of other CEOs at Caldecott Hill. CEOs there called it a day after spending 4-5 years moulding the Media conglomerate.
CEOs come and go but MediaCorp go on forever......

Best Wishes to him in his future endeavour.

Stop Press: It was reported that FAR East Organisation appoints Lucas as its Executive Directive effective Aug 2011. Please see report from CNA below:

Link

COT Get-together

2011-02-08T21:54:00.000-08:00

COT CLUB DINNER

Date: Wednesday 23^rd February 2011

Time: 7 pm

Cost: $20 per person

RSVP: LUCY LEONG

By: Wednesday 16^th February 2011

email: tay.philip@gmail.com

Mariners’ Corner Restaurant
Maritime House
120 Cantonment Road #01-02
Singapore 089760
(65) 6220 6572

Bus services: 75, 167, 196
Nearest MRT: Outram Park / Tanjong Pagar

My Dear COT Friend ... I am in need of some NEWS from you on what you have been up to recently or in 2010.

Better still send me some photos for me to share with our other members ... a photo of you climbing Mt Everest? or Playing with

the Grandchildren or a holiday pic somewhere in Europe? Yes even a pic of you having breakfast with AH MENG will do ... PLEASE HELP!

PLEASE SEND ME YOUR NEWS BY Wednesday 16th February 2011 ... I'd like to put together a simple NEWSLETTER to share with all out COT FRIENDS.

Much Thanks,

George Favacho

Gong Xi Fa Cai

2011-02-04T05:54:00.001-08:00

Wishing all my old colleagues, acquaintances, friends and all on Caldecott Hill and the Transmission Broadcast Centre GONG XI FA CAI and Good Health Always.

Aunty Lucy Leong is organising a get-together dinner on 23 Feb 7pm.

Caldecott Hill Old Timers (COT)who are interested please contact here to book a place. George Favacho will be in town to join the party and he wishes to meet as many COT as possible. Cheers.

Words of Wisdom at: http://www.flickspire.com/m/IAAW/LifeIsLikeCoffee

Caldecott Hill Old Timer lights up Laos 450 Year Anniversary Celebrations

2011-01-21T16:58:00.000-08:00

Seah Hong Gim who retired from MediaCorp as Lighting Designer in TVOB unit is still active as a lighting consultant for shows in the region. Here he talks about his experience at the Vietiane 450 Years Anniversary Celebration in Laos

Vientiane 450 Years Anniversary Celebration ,Laos

Lighting Advisor for the “Vientiane 450 YearsAnniversary”, Seah Hong Gim talks about
his experience at the event that was held in November in Laos.The article was published in
Entertain Technology Asia .

Introduction

My role as lighting advisor on “Vientiane 450 Years Anniversary” celebration was my 2ndproject with Showtec Group since I designed lighting on F1 Singapore Grand Prix from2008 to 2010. Showtec was awarded the job by Tekcast, a technology and broadcast development company under the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Vietnam.
The show was held on 19 Nov 2010 at the same stadium which featured the Sea Gamesin 2009. The venue is small but it poses a challenge for the LD. It has a very low roof structure due to its limited rows of seating gallery. I estimated that it can accommodate some 10,000 people only.
Lighting Operation
Owing to some constraint, the client had earlier decided on the types and quantities of the luminaries and I was appointed later to execute the lighting operation. For basic illumination, I was provided with a small quantity of 120 Moving Heads at the FOH and 150 at the back stage but with a larger number of eff ect luminaries, namely 130 x 4kw searchlights, 2 x 4kw Follow spots, 4 x 2.5kw Follow spots, 60 x Led floods, 4 x 4kw Sky Trackers, 1 x 16w laser and 4 x 8w laser. Since the luminaries were rigged below the low structure, it had very shallow keying angleonto the display area. When the beam was aimed at the centre portion of the field, itsvertical angle was only 14° instead of the ideal angle of 30° to 45°. This small angle causeda problem as its beam would spread far to the back of fi eld and made localized lighting extremely critical. In most cases, the proper way of design is to include wash luminaries such as the Fresnel or for basic illumination and the Moving Heads for the eff ect. The Fresnel would provide basic illumination required by the TV system and the Moving Heads for eff ect such as scanning, fl ickering, patterning, color changing and etc. Since I did not have the Fresnel, my Moving Heads had to perform double duties of wash plus effect at the same time. It was a compromise which would finally aff ect the quality of TV video. Any LD will agree that lighting a soccer field (112m x 75m) with 120 Moving Heads at FOH is a big challenge to his credential. It worried me initially. However, after working out the lighting level on every part of the fi eld using formula on Beam angle, Canleda, & Distance, my programmer Tai Ping and I were relief that we could achieve 305 to 478 Lux to meet the TV specifi cations and also satisfy the organizing committee who requested for more changing colors and eff ects.
Speech by VIPs
The show started rather early as the Vientiane sky is fairly dark by 1745hr when TV lightingis effective. The celebration began with the Deputy PM presenting a report followed by the President delivering a speech. After the presentation, the President beat traditional gong 9 times to signal the start of the celebration. It started with a choir singing 2 songs followed by a parade where thousands of participants representing various organizations marching past the grand stand. In between, there were colorful floats featuring various aspects of Lao life and traditions. To a foreigner like me, the most impressive was the colorful costumes worn by the various ethnic tribes. Most costumes were stunningly beautiful and attractive.
The Main Performance
The main performance was featured in 3 parts each with diff erent lighting treatment.
Part 1 - A wealthy and Splendid Land A local proverb “in rivers there are fi sh, in farm there are rice” described a wealthy, happy & secure environment enjoyed by the Lao people during the time from 1353 AD to 1695 AD. Lighting was bright and colorful in harmony with the theme.
Part 2 - Blood and Tears
A serious dispute resulted in wide spread discord and divided the kingdom into 3 smaller ones. This weakness allowed foreign forces to invade and killed Lao people. Many were forced into slavery. It lasted more than 100 years. Lighting was contrasty and in low key, with blue wash indicating sorrow and grief; red wash as blood and killing.
Part 3 – 35 years of Vientiane under PDR
National Flag
On 2 Dec 1975, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic as the people’s democratic regime was openly declared on the international stage. This was the greatest achievement in thousands of years in Lao history.
Lighting was pushed to its max level and changed with various hues. 130 Searchlights were dancing to the beat of the national music. Moving Heads on narrow beams were sweeping across the fi eld on multi colors. The beams of the Searchlights were very eff ective due to the foggy air in Lao sky. It is not possible to achieve the same eff ect in Singapore as our air is hardly foggy. Tai Ping’s creativity in effect lighting was appreciated by all around.
Towards the fi nal 15 minutes, fireworks of various patterns and hues exploded into the sky. All VIPs and the general public were in high spirit. The show committee did a good job.

TV Coverage
TV video tends to look flat without side
lighting. Since we did not have the side
luminaries, we decided to switch 38 x 4kw
Searchlight at both sides to fl ood mode (plus
diff user) as side lighting. It came out well. The
Picture looked more solid.
TV Nationale Laos deployed 10 cameras
at strategic locations for the coverage. At
the end of the show, TV director Mr. Inpong
told me that they were very pleased with
our lighting. Cameras could operate at F/3.5
to get reasonable depth of fi eld. In return, I
congratulated him for doing a splendid job
as he only had one camera rehearsal 2 days
before the grand event. In my experience,
most need 4 to 7 rehearsals for a show in
this scale.
Conclusion
My 2 weeks stay in Laos gave me an
opportunity to appreciate Vientiane and its
fi ner things in life. I simply love its laid back
and quiet atmosphere. An old Chinese saying
“work while the sun rises; rest when the sun
sets” is still a practice here. Some shopping
centers & tourist attractions close at 1700hr.
There is no queue and nobody ever has to
rush. However it may not be the cup of tea for
most Singaporeans.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-23T20:49:00.000-08:00

Save Mother Earth ...Think Green when celebrating this Christmas

From Caldecott Hill to One North

2010-12-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

MediaCorp moving out......

After more than 60 years on Caldecott Hill MediaCorp known previously by names such as RTS, TCS and SBC will be moving out of Caldecott Hill to One North.

The new centre will be at the new Mediapolis@one-north Buona Vista. Mediapolis is Singapore's digital media hub with an area of 19-hectares.

MediaCorp will occupy 1.5 hectares of land and a built-up area of 79,500 square metres, just at the side of the MDA building Fusionpolis. It will house all the media facilities including television studios and broadcast facilities.
CNA reports
"Speaking at the opening of the Asia Television Forum, Information, Communications and the Arts Minister Lui Tuck Yew said the move would attract other local and overseas industry players involved across the value chain -- such as creation, production and post-production -- to Mediapolis, and to participate in collaborative projects with MediaCorp.

The broadcaster could also extend its facilities and services to other production houses "for greater synergies and possible cost benefits".

He said this would contribute further to the growth of the media landscape.

Mr Lui also said he hoped the infocomm infrastructure at Mediapolis, which includes a high-speed network and high density storage systems, would be a lure for digital content companies.

MediaCorp CEO Lucas Chow welcomes the decision.

He said the group looks forward to playing a catalytic role in attracting new and foreign media players to Mediapolis.

In 2006, MediaCorp had announced its decision to relocate to a site at Bukit Batok, but the plan was shelved due to high construction costs and the onset of the economic crisis.

But it said in a statement that the move to a new campus gained traction as the economy improved and new options presented themselves.

The design of MediaCorp's new complex is yet to be decided, but the company said it would be high-rise in nature, with television studios and theatres occupying the lower floors.

The move to one-north will be carried out in phases, and is expected to be completed by mid-2015.

Separately, MediaCorp and the Media Development Authority are working together to support independent production houses in creating made-in-Singapore content exclusively for online viewing.

The regulator will co-invest up to half of the production budget, and the finished products will be distributed on MediaCorp's xinmsn online video platform.

Selected projects will also be promoted through MediaCorp's media network."
For more:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1097926/1/.html

ASEAN DIGITAL BROADCASTING MEETINGS

2010-11-28T05:34:00.000-08:00

ASEAN DIGITAL BROADCASTING MEETING

One of the more interesting project which I helped to facilitate was a series of ASEAN DIGITAL BROADCASTING Meetings. The idea of this gathering of broadcasters on a regular basis was mooted by the then Permanent Secretary in the PMO’s Office , Brunei.. Pengiran Ismail.

The first meeting was held in Brunei on 15/16 March 2004. It was supported by MDA and the PMO of Brunei. Co-organised by RTB and MediaCorp, it was attended by 70 delegates from the technology broadcasting departments of ASEAN countries. Manufacturers and vendors also attended the meeting. I helped to co-chair the meeting with the Director of RTB.

According to the Press Release the meeting was to share latest knowledge and applications relating to digital television terrestrial broadcasters. The group set up guidelines for implementing common specifications for digital television set-top boxes and receivers, thereby with the hope achieving economies of scales (with a total households of more than 500million). The second meeting was held in Singapore on 14 June 2004. Pengiran Ismail and CEO of NDA Christopher Chia gave very encouraging opening remarks. Subsequently the group expanded to include content and policy persons involved in free-to-air broadcasting in the ASEAN region. The ASEAN Ministers responsible for Information etc endorsed the meetings. One of the notable achievements was the agreement among members at the AMRI meeting in BALI Indonesia to adopt DVB as a digital TV standard (except for the Philippines) .

The latest meeting the 9^th ADB was held in Singapore in November 2010. Members discussed the implementation of the new version of DVBT (T2), interative TV , the digital dividend, Dolby Surround Sound, Disaster Recovery etc as well as the switching of existing analogue TV services. The next meeting will be hosted in 2011 by the Philippines.

It was always a satisfying experience when I attended ADB meetings. First I know that I was among friends. Secondly the knowledge gained from the experience of the others was enriching. And thirdly the networking enabled and facilitated some of the projects that were done in the company.

I attended the recent meeting at the Concorde Hotel mainly to inform members and friends that I had retired from MediaCorp after more than 40 years there. And to introduce my consultancy company MediAComm Associates LLP – dealing with digital media and all things digital. They were all kind enough to wish me well.

ASEAN Members: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

The Phoenix and the Dragon

2010-10-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

The Phoenix and the Dragon

All Singaporeans should be saddened by the demise of Kwa Geok Choo wife of MM Lee Kuan Yew. The great love story of Mr and Mrs Lee had been told and retold many times, a couple with 61 years of loving care for each other , started a long time ago in Cambridge England with MM Lee’s vision of building the Singapore nation and the support of his loving wife to carry out this mission successfully. . It is a story of the Phoenix and the Dragon which can be best expressed in film memorable.

Many had paid their respects to Madam Kwa Geok Choo. Many important people, many common folks had paid tributes to this great grand lady the likes of which will not be felt in Singapore never again, I think……

“an exceptional worman who passed on excellent values to her children”
”kind and caring woman that helped my daughter to study in England”
”brilliant,compassionate and motherly”
”woman behind the success of MM Lee”
“gone thro and thick and thin with him and build Spore for the next generations to come” and many more tributes to a great lady from community centres, coffee shops, cyberspace and public and private events and the media.

I do not know Mrs Lee personally but I do know that she was a caring wife and kind person. I had the opportunity to meet her and MM Lee during outdoor broadcasts of the National Day Rally at the Singapore Conference Hall and Kallang Theatre. Usually then two days before the Rally she would accompanied MM to the theatre to rehearse the teleprompter and also to check on the suitablility of his shirt for the TV telecast. Many a times MM would turn to her for advice on he looked on TV and she would lovingly gave her comments like too bright, too gaudy and made him look older or younger etc. She would also turn to the engineers and producers politely for opinions. Eventually it was MM who made the final decision. Also she would politely remind security to ensure that the tea for MM should be in placed at the lectern on stage. And when we got into the late of the night rehearsing the script she gently reminded MM that the crew needed to make adjustments for the night and retire for the next day. She won the admiration of all the crew members involved in the recording and she was met with high respects from all whenever she appeared in the TV Studios and Outside Broadcasts.

Without doubt Madam Kwa Geok Choo with her husband had dedicated their lives for a better Singapore. She will be forever be in our memories.

3D Photo

2010-09-15T07:00:00.001-07:00

click picture for You Tube pictures
View this with colour spectacles Red on left and Cyan on Right
Same type of colour spectacle given free by TODAY

S Chandra Mohan

2010-08-28T08:16:00.001-07:00

Another Caldecott Hill Old-timer dies – S Chandra Mohan

It is with sadness that I hear the news that Chandra has passed away. Auntie Lucy Leong
called me this evening to inform me.
Please read this news from Channel News Asia

“Broadcasting veteran S Chandra Mohan dies
By Milton Sau | Posted: 28 August 2010 1558 hrs
SINGAPORE : Former director of news and current affairs at the then-Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, S Chandra Mohan, died on Saturday afternoon after a long illness.
He was 72.
For those who were privileged to know him well, Mr Chandra Mohan was a man of smiles.
Former colleagues remember him as a mentor and dear friend.
Tan Lek Hwa, vice-president, English Current Affairs, MediaCorp, said: "He showed me everything from how to tell a story, how to peel the layers of stories and in fact, the most instrumental - it is how to manage national programmes. I feel very sad that he has passed on today because I think we have really lost an industry giant."
The industry giant started his broadcasting career in Radio Television Singapore in the early 1960s.
As a producer, he was on the ground to capture that historic moment of Singapore's separation from Malaysia on 9 August 1965.
He held key positions within the then-Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, playing a pivotal role in the station's programmes and driving award-winning shows such as Diary Of A Nation.
He was also instrumental in the launch of Radio Singapore International (RSI) in 1994.
He retired in 2007 but remains dear to those he had worked with,,,,,”. For more at
http://www.channelnewsasia.com

ST dated 30 Aug also reported that

"DUBBED by some as 'the father of Singapore's broadcast journalism', veteran broadcaster S. Chandramohan passed away on Saturday after a long illness.

The former news and current affairs director, who started his career with Radio Television Singapore (RTS), was 71.

His career spanned five decades - beginning with a stint at the now defunct RTS in the early 1960s. After RTS became the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) in 1980, he was appointed director of current affairs and played an important role in the station's programmes, with the Diary Of A Nation series being a particular success. He was also instrumental in the launch of Radio Singapore International in 1994.

During his tenure, Mr Chandramohan was on the scene to report on, and later oversee, many milestone events - ranging from Singapore's separation from Malaysia on Aug 9, 1965, to various live telecasts of election results and also the Prime Minister's National Day Rally speeches.

Ms Jacintha Stephens, a former current affairs producer at SBC who has been in the broadcast industry for 23 years, remembers him fondly as the 'father of broadcast journalism', who was instrumental in shaping the field in Singapore.

'He mentored and nurtured several generations of broadcast journalists and documentary producers - who are now all over the world. He brought to the profession an intellectual vigour and great passion,' said the media consultant........." Read more at http://straittimes.com

In a letter to his wife Mdm Chandramohan Nirmala Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said "...he was
a professional with a fine political sense, a good understanding of the issues of the day as well as keen insight into the medium, of what would work on TV..it was a pleasure working with him..." For more read TODAY or ST dated Aug 31 2010

When I was a young engineer, Chandra Mohan already made his name as a producer of current affairs programmes that won a number of awards. His programmes informed and educated the population. He rose to the top position of Director of News and Current Affairs in the late 70s and early 80s. It was then that I had encounters with him at the Television Studio Three where the Prime Minister’s National Day messages were recorded. My job then was simply to operate the auto-cue. Over the years he took charge of productions such the National Day Rallies (done at the Singapore Conference Hall and the Kallang theatre) and the General Election coverages. He was instrumental in the early 80s to introduce programmes such as Friday Background, Feedback, Tinjuan, Focus etc which were impactful to Singaporeans. He co-ordinated the implementation of Today in Parliament and the engineers supported this project in okaying the microphones and lighting systems which were critical to this coverage, among other things.

I knew him to be a very serious person in his work. In the years I know him one outstanding habit of his was to be perfect in his production work. He would want pictures to be properly composed and make-up to be properly done. In one of the production meeting much to the relief of the engineers he said “ I can tolerate technical breakdown but not a bad picture composition even though it is just a talking head” He must have countless productions where VVIPs were involved, sometimes there were scoldings from important people and more often he took the blame on behalf of the crew. The production crew respected him a lot.
In 82/83 because of the expansion of SBC the News and Current Affairs were split with him running the Current Affairs Unit. Improvements were made in presentations and the acquisition of new technology equipment such as Electronic News Gathering cameras transformed the face of News and Current affairs reporting.
In the late 90s when he became Director of Radio Singapore International which he set-up I began lunching with him together with Michael Loke Director of Human resources. The other half of Chandra was friendly and warm but still a reserved and serious person exhibiting a high level of professionalism in his work. During the extension years after his retirement, he was still immaculate in writing a VVIP story with enthusiasm.
Taking account of all his work on Caldecott Hill over the years I think he should be remembered as one of those dedicated and loyal backroom boys that helped build the nation.

Farewell Chandra and rest in peace.

I remember the NDP

2010-06-29T07:06:00.000-07:00

I remember the NDP

My first encounter with the NDP was in the year 1969, two years after joining the Department of Broadcasting. I was rostered to work in the black and white NEC TVOB van as a sound assistant. My job was to install and operate effects microphones. The mics were hanged on the lamp-posts along High Street. That year the contingents marched past this road. I remembered on the day of the live telecast the late Mrs Wong forwarded instructions to producer “ More effects sound more effects sound!” She was monitoring the progress of the parade at the master control room on Caldecott Hill together with some senior management staff(which included George Ang the Chief Engineer then). And I was a young sound operator trying desperately to oblige with more effects sound. Later on I found out that that there were viewers who complained that the effects did not bring up the fullness and boom of the Parade. It was then that I realized how important each and every staff in a TV show was especially the NDP.
Since that year I had grown from doing sound, microwave transmission, vision control , supervisor , engineer work to even Chairman of the Technical Committee a few times –responsible for vision, sound and lighting for the whole Parade. The most memorable Parade was in 1986 when together with Colonel Tang Mun Poh we brought night-lighting to NDP. As mentioned elsewhere in this blog, it was the biggest challenge we had ever faced in an Outside Broadcast Operation and to this day the night segment became the essential part of the NDP.

The NDP has progressed over the years with better planning, better equipment and better people. There were never a shortage of creative ideas. We used to think that the NDP was the best for a particular year but only to see the following year surpassed the previous. I must have left organizing the technical part for the last 10-15years and was clearly looking forward to my retirement when the boss suddenly assigned me the job of co-ordinating the NDP recording in 3Dimensional Television. It is my last fling so to speak and I am looking forward to this year’s parade (year 2010)with enthusiasm and excitement. And certainly very glad that the workforce at Caldecott Hill has matured over the years and could work very closely together now for this mammoth event happening this year at the Padang on 9 August. Watch out for the 3D telecast on Ch 37 in Sep/Nov 2010 and the main telecast in full HD on MediaCorp Channels on the 9th.

A Digression:Earthday Baby has her say

2010-05-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

This message has nothing to do with memories of Caldecott Hill. My grandpa , Philip J T Tay , who is still working on Caldecott Hill for the past 43 years and who is the administrator of this blog has allowed me some blog space to pen what I am going to say for the record. Ha Ha.
I was born on Thursday 22 April 2010 at 1741 hrs at Thomson Medical Hospital . My weight was 3.09 kg and now a week later is 3.2kg. I stayed in the hospital for two days being in the “cocoon” which I crouched for the past 10 months. Sure glad to be out!
My dad was given the chance to cut the umbilical cord and the ceremony of this is recorded on camera. It is going to be exciting when I view it when my sight matures.
The first talk I had with my mum is by the method of crying loudly. This seems to be modus operandi and the next few days I had to communicate by this means whenever I need to be fed or when I pooh.
Kongkong(father’sfather) came over every night to take a look at me and carry me just to tell me he loves me very much. Grandpa Tay also came over my cot many time to peep and admire this little me. He shyed away carrying me and I know he is clumsy at this. By his own confession he hardly carried my mum when a baby. The excuse was late hours at Caldecott Hill lah!
Now I am seven days old and everybody from nanny,grandma and pa. mum and dad and my aunties had studied me inside and out. And they seem to know and understand my crying . I was never left to cry for more than 2 minutes!
Dad has started a facebook for me and got me a email . Grandpa promises to start a blog so that he can document my early life from birth till I am able to operate a blog independently. He is retiring soon and he thinks it is great to start blogging me!
Well that’s all folks . Hope to tell you more on my blog as the days pass and the years come…

PS: One of the photos shows I sent a greeting card to my uncle in Sydney and my auntie in Sengkang to wish them happy bithday on 2 May.

With Love from Claire Ong

Raymond has something to say....

2010-05-03T23:22:00.000-07:00

I remember Raymond Anthony Fernando. He was the smartest dressed officer in the days of RTS/SBC. With the Public Relations department, i think he was one of courteous person I had met. He recently wrote this to me. He has something to say on behalf of senior citizens..

"Doing more for senior citizens -Show re-runs of old TV Shows. Many of our seniors citizens who have fulfilled their responsibilities in the past should be able to look forward to a better quality of life in their twilight years. ... See MoreMediaCorp TV and radio have a role to play in supporting our elderly. Certainly a trip down memory lane will help to revive the beautiful memories that our seniors have of what they once enjoyed. During the 60s and 70s, there were some very entertaining programmes on television and radio. Television shows like Dr Kildare, Ben Casey, 77 Sunset Strip, Sea Hunt and many more always had a large following. Westerns such as The Rifleman, Rin Tin Tin and The Lone Ranger also had viewers glued to the small screen. Ours seniors will definitely appreciate a revival of such TV shows including comedies like The Jack Benny Show and I love Lucy. I remember Jack Benny could easily secure a laugh just by his body language. Even our local TV productions such as Pop In, Dendang Ria and Talentime were also delightfully entertaining. Though all these programmes were in black and white, I am sure ours seniors will enjoy watching them all over again because it brings back beautiful memories. Could MediaCorp TV introduce a senior citizens slot on Channel 5 to recognise those who have contributed much to nation building?Community support I remember veteran broadcaster Lucy Leong hosting a radio show dedicated to the sick. Listeners could write in and request songs and send get-well wishes for their loved ones who were hospitalised. Such a programme could be brought back as part of a community project to support the sick in hospitals and nursing homes. It will also help seniors if our major supermarkets make available ready-to-cook meals. When the Japanese supermarket Yaohan was in operation here, these cleaned and packed ready-to-cook meals were very popular. Meat and fish packed with vegetables, garlic and ginger enabled consumers to prepare a meal in less than 10 minutes. Such products may also prove useful for working couples who often have little time to prepare dinner.

RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO

what do Kopi-O and Under One Roof have in common?

2010-04-30T01:06:00.000-07:00

Both were my family favourite shows on TV years ago. And both were prime time TV hits – KOPI-O on channel 8 and UNDER ONE ROOF on channel 5.

KOPI-O is a drama serial televised in 1987. It centred around the daily lives of stall operators in a HDB coffee shop. Every story was about a situation which they would argued and quarreled and eventually came to a good ending. There were good times and bad times in their lives in providing services to coffee-shop customers. One of the things that made this show memorable is the catchy theme some. Many of the local stars performed superbly. You see them in the opening of for this show at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2ngqUY8h6w

Under One Roof is the story of Tan Ah Teck (Moses Lim)-the owner of a provision shop and his family-wife Dolly and children Ronnie, Paul and Denise and their daily encounters with their neighbours in a HDB apartment. The stories that were told could be easily identified with the daily lives of HDB heartlanders. We used to gather round the TV set to watch this hilarious show and everybody had good laughs.
It was the first locally-produced English situation comedy. First aired over channel 5 in 1994 it starred Moses Lim ,Koh Chieng Mun , Norleena Salim , Vernetta Lopez, Nicholas Lee, Andrew Lim, Selena Tan, Zaibo and Daisy Irani. It won many international awards and was also shown in many overseas broadcast stations. Here is the opening of Under One Roof http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMxZgQvvrB4

MediaCorp had produced many good ones over the years and I think the above two are classics during the formative years of the company. The other classic is Phua Chu Kang another classic of recent vintage……...

Remember the first TV Guide?

2010-04-23T01:21:00.000-07:00

One of the priorities when RTS rolled over to SBC a statutory board was to keep viewers and advertises informed of its channel porgrammes. The first issue of TV Guide in English called Radio and TV Times was published on 25 Oct 1980. It gave viewers lots of programming information and was an instant success. This issue featured programmes such as Battle Galactica, the Muppet Show etc and interesting snippets on TV personalities.

About three months later the Chinese version of Radio and TV Times was published. The Chairman of SBC the late Ong Teng Cheong gave an encouraging forward to this issue. Mr Cheng Tong Fatt the General Manager also had something to say, thanking staff for the support and giving information on the reorganisation of the company. The first edition of Chinese RTV Times had interesting information on Carol Cheng and Chow Ying Fatt. It also featured our new drama artistes including Huang Wenyong. The TV Guides became an instant hit with viewers.

Many look forward to the guides weekly- now called 8 Days for English and I-Weekly for Chinese.
You cannot watch TV without it!

MediaCorp Logos over the years

2010-04-20T05:57:00.000-07:00

The above is not complete. Please emaiil me if you have more logos of the station on Caldecott Hill especially during the British Colony Days, Japanese Occupation and any that is in your collection.

Email to: tay.philip@gmail.com

Remember the SBC Orchestra?

2010-04-13T05:46:00.000-07:00

(left: Leslie Weddell, Ahmd Jaffar)

Yes there was a SBC orchestra on Caldecott Hill. It had a humble beginning in 1956 (only 9 musicians) and expanded to 38 members over the years. Gus Stein was the leader at the early stages (i didnt know until recently). I knew the next leader Ahmad Jaffar who had dedicated his whole life to music and was a recipient of the Cultural Mediallion from the Ministry of Culture. I also knew there was a Christopher Daniel who brought electronic music into the station . And I remember having being scolded for poor lighting quality on some of the shows that SBC Orchestra appeared and the poor sound balancing as well. Which was the reason for sound experts on Cladecott Hill from the BBC and NHK in the early 70s and 80s. In the formatives years the station depended on lot on foreign expertise including in the Orchestra. Last week I was pleasantly surprised by an email from one of the musicians a Mr Leslie Weddell. He was kind enough to share his memories with us in the write-up below. Enjoy the memories!

My days in Singapore, working at RTS in the orchestra.
By Leslie Weddell.

I do not think of myself as an ‘expat’ worker, although it may appear so as I was not Singapore born, because all the British expats had long gone by the time I joined the RTS orchestra.
For the ten years I worked in the Radio & television Orchestra in the period 1964 to 1974 or thereabouts, and as a young lad, I loved every minute of it.
Singapore was going through a period of rebuild after WW2 and it was going to be a long haul because there was little or no money for the Government to finance a vast rebuild of the republic for the nation, to give future generations a real chance to work with pride and enjoy better health and remove the poverty of those desperate years.
Because of the shortage of local trombone players at that time of a standard good enough for broadcasting, staff orchestra positions were offered to anyone that wished to audition for the vacant post.
I was serving in the British Royal Marines Band in ‘HMS Terror’ in the (then) Royal Navy base at Sembawang, and we all used to listen to the radio on the wall of our barrack room, the very same blocks that the Japanese Forces occupied when Singapore fell to them from the British Forces.
There was no television in those days, and the radio was king, along with the person putting on the records at request times. Today we would call the presenter a ‘D.J’.
Being a trombone player, I was always interested in the RTS Big Band playing every week, and one day I bucked up enough courage to write in to the ‘Director of Music at RTS, Caldecott Hill’ !
I was flabbergasted to actually get a reply, and a well written letter in lovely handwriting from Gus Stein, the then Orchestra Leader. He invited me to come to one of the recordings and to say ‘hello’ to the boys in the band.
The first thing I found out was that the studio in which the band made their recordings was FREEZING! All the personnel were sitting there with coats or woolly jumpers on to keep warm, so besides the music they were recording I most certainly enjoyed getting back in the heat of the day on the tea break in the canteen.
Gus asked how long I had been playing the trombone and as he had only three trombones in his section at most on the recordings, would I like to make up the full compliment of four trombones that big bands use, and could I bring my trombone in the following week for a sit-in with the band.
It was a try-out of course, and I must have passed it, for he asked if I would have any problems getting out of the Band duties I had with the Marines in the Naval Base, and I had none, for when I told my Band officer about my wonderful experience at RTS he was delighted, and urged me to ‘go for it.’
So I played with the RTS big band for a few weeks until the resident trombonist left.

The following day Gus Stein contacted me and asked if I would consider applying for the position of staff trombonist with the RTS if I could get out of the Royal Marines.
It was really all a lucky break for me, since at that very time the British Government decided to cut the size of the armed forces and I, along with anyone else that wanted to, could buy our discharge from the Service.
It all went through the channels and within a few weeks I found myself a civilian and driving through the gates of ‘HMS Terror’ in a taxi for the very last time.
For ten long and happy years I played with the RTS Orchestra, and I recall the jobs we played for; everything from radio and Television band programmes, song contests, street galas, official functions for heads of State and visiting foreign dignitaries to parties next to Chinese opera performances. We always had a laugh when we had to play in a street carnival for sure as little green apples, as soon as we started playing a piece of music with a young lady singing her heart out - the Chinese opera band would start up too!
Ahmad Jaafar would simply grin at us and say ‘ Alamat!’ and we would all roar with laughter for there was no way we could compete with that lot.
Before I came to the end of my stay in Singapore I met, and fell in love with, a lovely lady named Zarah, and we have been married now for 38 years and have three grown up children; Zarinah, Stephen and Richard, and we have now got a granddaughter named Kateejah.
Life after Singapore
My return to the UK was in the month of May in 1974, and so the transition from the lovely tropic heat of Singapore was not too bad, and I soon acclimatized.
It was a rude shock though to witness at first hand a completely different culture in Britain from Singapore. I could not believe my eyes at the drab, black clothing of the young; the long hair and massive boots they wore, looking as if they were all going to a funeral.
Walking through the streets of London I was window shopping and my eyes found something called a Sex Shop. I was totally astounded at what I saw in that window! It was disgusting to me, for I had left a good society of folks with clean minds in Singapore, and was wondering what I had let myself in for coming back to the UK.
A job working as a musican was not hard to find, and via a Band booking Agent, I secured a summer season theatre post in the pit orchestra of the ‘Pavilion’ theatre in Torquay for four months. Torquay is a pleasant seaside resort in the county of Devon in South East England and is very popular with holiday makers.
By this time my wife had joined me from Singapore and it was time to think about setting up a home and finding a secure job, so at the end of the summer run on the theatre I headed with my wife for my Mother’s house in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, Scotland.
I soon found out that it was not going to be easy finding work as a trombone player in Scotland, so I worked for a short time as a labourer on a building site and that was tough. I have immense respect for anyone that is a builder or works as a brick layer on those jobs, and then I decided to move back to London to look for work as a musician.
Some theatre work came along deputising for other established trombone players, and eventually I attended an audition in a London studio for another summer season job with a band in a holiday camp in Southport, a small seaside town near Liverpool.
I stayed with that band for two years, going on cruise ships in the Caribbean during the winter months and returning to the holiday camp for the summer seasons.
In my time living in Southport I decided that it was not fair to my wife to be away from home so long on those cruise ships for five months at a time, and decided to take a teaching job with the local education authority. I was teaching music to children in Primary schools in the area and working casual gigs (engagements) in bands in Liverpool and Manchester on the weekends, and one thing leading to another, I found myself moving to Blackpool in Lancashire, for I had found a really good job as staff trombonist with the (then) Blackpool Tower Company.
I played in the Opera House theatre for all the big stars of the era such as Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Tony Christie, Matt Munro, and many more. As my job required, I also played as a member of the Empress Ballroom orchestra, and had the pleasure of performing with them for 29 years on all the World Ballroom Dancing Championships before I took retirement in November of 1999.
There were other good jobs too, for I eventually played trombone with the Northern Dance Orchestra (not really known in Singapore, but very famous in Britain in the seventies and eighties) and other jobs I had short spells with, such as the New Geraldo orchestra, UK Glenn Miller Orchestra, Eric Delaney big band, BBC Big band, and numerous studio sessions in Leeds, Manchester and London.
Finally moving to my present home in Preston, Lancashire, twenty two years ago I concentrated on teaching children to play music and have been with the Lancashire Music service for over twenty years.
Although I no longer play professionally in bands I do a little part time teaching with children in Preston Primary schools.
One of my interests or hobbies is writing books, and I love photography too.
I have a website at www.James1-Stirling.webs.com and besides my publications on it there is a more extensive bio of my travels as a trombonist.
You are welcome to visit the website and use anything you wish from my light hearted book ‘Have trombone will travel’

Regards,
Les. Weddell

Les Weddell email is leslie.weddell@sky.com He is planning a trip to Singapore and if there are any Caldecott Hill Old timers who would like to meet him to chit-chat and recall old memories please contact.
Please keep me informed if you guys are getting together. Cheers.

The late Mrs-Wong-Lee Siok Tin- we missed her very much

2010-03-25T06:03:00.000-07:00

The late Mrs Wong-Lee Siok Tin rose from the rank of journalist-producer to the top executive of the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. She spent a good part of her life (29 years)serving this media institution on the Caldecott Hill estate. I knew her from 60s to 80s when I was a young technician in the TV studios and as engineer-in-charge of operations. She was a humble and hardworking General Manager . Never known to have a temper, she was a caring general manager to her staff. She had a pleasant disposition and cut a very nice figure in her cheongsam- always. I never got to tell her that she looked lovely in her cheongsam.
She worked late hours and was well-known as a workaholic. She was a task-master but never a slave-driver. I was very impressed with her mastery of Queen’s English. This was witnessed by many international visitors. At one of the ABU meetings she was praised for her chairmanship and excellent speeches. She received many international accolades.
I could recall that at every National Day Parade she would sit beside us with all the other Management members. Her advice and direction to the NDP producer (at the Padang or National Stadium) was indispensable as she was able to recognize camera shots that had high impact values to viewers. She would advise VVIPs on how to look good on TV cameras .
I was told that during the earlier years (before I joined the department) she travelled many times with PM and his team during the Singapore fight for independence and merger. And she brought back many reports which were broadcast to keep the people well-informed.
She was a teacher before he joined RTS. She started in 1961 as a Programme Assistant rose quickly to Controller, Deputy Director and then Director of Broadcasting in 1978. She became General Manager of SBC in 1982 . She retired in January 1991.
Shortly after her retirement she lost her battle with cancer. It was with great sadness that we heard the news.
On occasions I would meet his younger brother Winston for a chit-chat at the Club. He said her sister was loved by everybody. She was a good sister to all. With a tearful eye he said “we missed her very much”

Mr n Mrs Chan

2010-03-24T06:36:00.000-07:00

Mr and Mrs Chan

You will never go hungry when Mr or Mrs Chan is around.
If you work at Caldecott Hill for more than 30 years you will know Mrs Chan and the late Mr Chan. Mr Chan was the boss of the cooked food stall operating at the Old Broadcasting in the 60s. The stall is still around in the TV Centre canteen. The name of the stall is Lau Lim Kee (Old Lim Kee. Mr Lim is the father of Mrs Chan) . In its 41st year the food stall is still popular and is now managed by his daughter and wife.
Mr Chan Soo Har was a very nice man. Very friendly and got along well with staff and workers. He used to come around and chit-chat when we gathered for lunch at the old canteen. Many liked to see his smiling face except for pay day. In the old days staff received cash at the old auditorium. Mr Chan would stand at the exit and collect his money for those who were on account. At times we all would participate in a credit scheme called “tontine”.
The best dish I recalled at the old canteen was nasi berani. He had a secret recipe for this. The other cooked dishes were delicious too. Till today his food stall is till crowded during lunch and dinner hours. I had hokkien mee yesterday (the week before was mee goreng) and was pleased to talk to Mrs Chan and her daughter on some of the past memories.
It is said that staff on Caldecott Hill come and go but Lau Lim Kee go on forever!

In Memoriam- Yang Lina

2010-03-23T04:44:00.000-07:00

It is with sadness that I post this news..that Yang Lina a former MediaCorp actress died of uterine cancer two days ago at age 47. She was one of the early pioneers when the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation(SBC) created the Chinese Drama Division and started to produce very good dramas for local television and regional distriubtion. Her last TV appearance is in last syear's Pedrfect Cut 2 on Ch U.. I do not know her except to have seen her in the studios on occasions when I was engineer-in-charge of television in the 80s. She was very pretty and had a sweet smile.
Artistes and newbies show up at her wake to support her make-up artist hubby Chau Kim Wa and show respect. The artistes include
Chen Liping, Rayson Tan, Chen Shucheng, Belinda Lee, Shaun Chen, Chris lee, Fann Wong, Gurmit Singh, Pierce Png, Andrea Dcruz and many more. MediaCorp Management executives and staff also turned up to pay respects. They know they lost a good actress and friend.

COT go Lo Hei

2010-02-24T16:37:00.000-08:00

Thirty-three CaldecottHill Old Timers (COT) gathered for Lo Hei yesterday at Boon Tong Kee Restaurant Whampoa West. As usual Auntie Lucy Leong organised the event. George Favacho flew in from Perth for the get-together.

It is great to meet old colleagues again. Great to see most of them in good health..Seah Kim Hock, Ujagar Singh, Sim Choon Hin, Ee Boon Lee, Jim Soh, Lee Kim Tian, Michael Loke, Liew Ter Kwang, S C Leong, Cecilia, Jenny, Sebastian Tan, Lucy, George etc..

And of course we miss Vernon Palmer who left us last year. God Bless.

May the year of Tiger bring good health to all and make all of our wishes come true!

Here is a write-up from Wkipedia which may be of interest..

"IngredientsArranged on a large serving plate, the colourful array of ingredients include raw fish which is traditionally ikan parang 西刀魚 or "mackerel", shredded green and white radish drained of liquid, shredded carrots adding a bright orange tinge to the dish, pickled ginger, crushed nuts and pomelo. The ingredients are topped with various condiments including deep-fried flour crisps, crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, cinnamon, pepper and other spices. All at the table would then jointly toss the salad with a generous portion of plum sauce and cooking oil to add sweetness and taste.Rituals and MeaningsYusheng plays on the homonyms where "yu" 魚 means "fish" but enunciated appropriately, it also means 馀 "abundance"; and "sheng" 生 means literally "raw" but enunciated appropriately, it means "life". Thus Yusheng implies "abundance of wealth and long life". In Cantonese it is known as "lo sheng" with "lo" 捞 also meaning "tossing up good fortune". The tossing action is called "Lo Hei", which means to "rise" (起 "hei"), again a reference to a thriving business and thus its popularity with businessmen during the New Year.Step 1: All at the table offer New Year greetings.Words: 恭喜发财 "Gong Xi Fa Cai" meaning "Congratulations for your wealth" or 万事如意 "Wan shi ru yi" meaning "May all your wishes be fulfilled".Step 2: Fish, symbolising abundance or excess through the year, is added.Words: Nian nian you yu 年年有馀 and You yu you sheng.Step 3: The pomelo is added over the fish, adding both luck and auspicious value.Words: 大吉大利 Da ji da li.Step 4: Pepper & Cinnamon Powder is then dashed over the ingredients in the hope of attracting more money and valuables.Words: 招财进宝 Zhao cai jin bao.Step 5: Then oil is poured out, circling the ingredients to increase all profits 10,000 times and encouraging money to flow in from all directionsWords: Yi ben wan li and 财原广进 Cai yuan guang jin.Step 6: Carrots are added to the fish indicating blessings of good luck.Words: Hong yun dang tou.Step 7: Then the shredded green radish is placed on the fish symbolising eternal youth.Words: Qing chun chang zhu.Step 8: After which the shredded white radish is added - prosperity in business and promotion at work.Words: Feng sheng shui qi and 步步高升 Bu bu gao sheng.Step 9: Chopped Peanut bits are dusted on the dish symbolising a household filled with gold and silver. As an icon of longevity, peanuts also symbolise eternal youth.Words: 金银满屋 Jin yin man wu.Step 10: Sesame seeds quickly follow symbolising a flourishing business.Words: 生意兴隆 Sheng yi xing long.Step 11: Deep-fried flour crisps in the shape of golden pillows is then added with wishes that literally the whole floor would be filled with gold.Words: Pian di huang jin.Step 12: All toss the salad an auspicious 7 times with loud shouts of "lo hei" 捞起 and other auspicious New Year wishes.Words: Lo hei 捞起 which is Cantonese for "tossing luck".The ingredients are mixed by pushing them toward the centre, an encouragement to push on the good luck of all at the table. If you can't finish the salad, don't worry, as usually a small amount is left behind to signify abundance."

MORE PICTURES AT MY FACEBOOK AT

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=149201&id=701328278&l=6efebe0eec

I remember Cheng Tong Fatt

2010-02-14T17:21:00.000-08:00

(Dr Cheng Tong Fatt second from left)

I called him Mr Cheng (not Dr Cheng , a more proper salutation) whenever I met him at the studios on CaldecottHill. I remember him well because he was
‘strongest ‘CEO I ever encountered. He came in before 1980 and prepared us for the corporatisation of the then RTS,officially known as the Department of Broadcasting MInistry of Culture. The Singapore Broadcasting Corporation SBC was formed on 1 Feb 1980. Mr Cheng Tong Fatt was the first chief executive as GM of SBC. The late Mrs Wong-Lee Siok Tin was the first Deputy GM of the Corporation. Later on the Corporation was restructured and Mrs Wong became the GM with Mr Cheng as Deputy Chairman. He remained in this position till early 1988. Mr Cheng was concurrently concurrently the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture. The position of DyChairman was an executive one. I knew him to be a tough-minded leader that brook no nonsense. Being target-orientated he transformed RTS into a company that could meet the challenges of a commercial world. Over the ten years or so there he introduced many firsts to SBC. His greatest achievement was the formation and development of the Chinese Drama unit. I can say sthat without him the Chinese Drama would not have been what it is today. During his tenure, Chinese Drama produced many popular series, such as the Awakening , Samsui Woman etc. Also other departments such as the Current Affairs section blossomed and popular programmes such as Feedback and Friday Background for instance. The biggest success in the Entertainment section was the introduction of night shows outdoors, the first being telecast of the NDP at night in 1986. Other night shows such at City Hall Steps, China Town, Singapore River became a regular evenets during New Years eve and Lunar New Year. And of course the staging of the Miss Universe 1986 – an event which I personally faced many challenges.
I was not with the Management team then during his stay at Caldecott but certainly had encountered with him as the engineer-in-charge of studios and outside broadcasts. He seldom put on a smile and appeared stern and stately all the time. Under him engineers had to really be on full alert because he was the sharpest boss in all areas including the technologies. He would wish for staff to be innovative and adopt a can- do attitude. All staff were toughened by his management style. He was credited with bringing the drama producers from Hongkong and top executives as well to run the Drama unit. The greatest respect for him was that he gave all the executive local producers a chance to take charge first. But none were able. The turnaround came when foreign talents from Hongkong were roped in.
Mr Cheng later on became the Ambassador to China. His assistance was sought again, this time for SBC’s foray into the China market….Without doubt he was one of the top-notched civil servants that helped build Singapore.

I met him about a year ago at a friend's wedding dinner. He was in the pink of health. I asked him what made him look so young for his age. He said "Never Retire!". Here is wishing him many good years of a healthy life.

Syonan Jinja(the search for the Yamashita Gold)

2010-01-20T06:19:00.000-08:00

Syonan Jinja (the search for the Yamashita Gold)

Hi A bit of history that took place during World War II near Caldecott Hill. Here is the interesting piece.

"Based in the dense jungle of the MacRitchie Catchment Area are the ruins of SyonanJinja, a Japanese Shinto shrine dating back to World War II. Built to commemorate Japanesesoldiers who died fighting in the invasion of Singapore, Syonan Jinja was the locationof many Japanese religious and cultural ceremonies. The original structure,built during the Japanese Occupatiion (1942-5), was a temple with no walls.Raised from the ground by a stone platform graduated with a few steps, the slopingtemple roof rested on pillars that stood at regular intervals round the perimeter of theplatform. It is believed that during rituals, worshippers would drink from a huge granite ceremonial fountain located outside the shrine......."For more information please go to the entrance of Sime Road (left side) and read the two tablets.by courtesy of the National Heritage Board and Singapore pools.
I remember Lisa Ang presented a programme Hey Singapore telecast over Channel 5 in 1999 I think. In one of the episodes “Search for Yamashita Gold” was featured. It is documented that General Yamashita commander of the Japanese Army that swept through South Asia buried his loot along the way..one location is rumoured to be at the Syonan Jinja. Remnants of the Shinto Shrine can be found next to the SICC Bukit 3rd Fairway (see photo) The then Television Corporation had a team there with metal detector attempting to find the gold. Nothing!
I spoke to one of the crew members WL Ang and he said maybe it is worth a second attempt.

Those interested to search for the Yamashita gold please email me.

Who is the first pay TV operator in Singapore?

2009-12-18T18:09:00.000-08:00

Who is the first pay TV operator in Singapore?

No, it is not the present Starhub Cablevision(SCV). The first pay TV operator is the then SBC (now MediaCorp). In 1992 SBC ran three subscription TV channels on the UHF band. An engineer from SBC Chang Long Kiat was the first CEO. It operated through a company known as Singapore CableVision(SCV) owned by SBC. The three channels were Newsvision, MovieVision and VarietyVision. Newsvision was a mainly CNN channel with local news and news from UK. MovieVision contained movies from HBO and VarietyVision featured mainly Chinese drama, movies, documentaries from HK, Taiwan and Japan. A TV antenna and a SCV set-top were required and bundled into the services if a viewer paid for all three channels. The rational from offering this service was the need to offer more channels for Singaporeans and expatriates in view of the clamouring for direct satellite services and demand for information. The urgency was triggered by comments that the Gulf war was imminent when viewers saw the grim face of President Bush whilst walking out of a crucial meeting. Millions over the world where CNN was available especially businessmen watched this news clip and made their business decisions accordingly.
SBC took on the challenge to start the first pay TV service in Singapore..and with a view to also operate a cable network. I together two other officials were sent to US to study cable TV operations. Singtel and SBC undertook feasibility study calling for consultants to make proposals. More than five international consultants responded. Eventually Continental CableVision USA was selectd. Engineers from Singtel and SBC assisted in the design of the hybrid-coaxial network which remained in use to this day. When the cable licence was issued in 1995, SPH . ST Ventures, Continental Vision and SIM (which was then a holding company for a restructured SBC) owned SBC. The operations of Singapore CableVision was passed over to engineers mainly from the ST Group together with the running of the three UHF subscription services. In 1998 Starhub Pte the second telecoms operator was formed and 2002 Starhub merged with SCV. SCV then was renamed Starhub Cable Vision (SCV). Randall Coleman from Continental Vision USA was the first CEO and Khaw Boon Wan chairman of SCV.
Continental Vision divested its shares later on to the other shareholders… and the new owners were SPH 26.7%, MediaCorp 41.3% and ST Telecom 32%. (this position has changed over the years)
SCV now carries all the free- to- air channels on analogue and digital cable. For the digital services, a SCV set top box is required to receive MediaCorp channels.
It had been a good experience for me to be involved in this project in the early days ie from the technology perspective. There were high hopes then that engineers from MediaCorp would operate the cable network. But this was not to be. It is one of the disappointments of my career....

If Trees Could Talk......

2009-12-06T05:35:00.000-08:00

If Trees Could Talk….
…memories wll come alive. And the stories they tell we'll know our heritage better.

I can imagine what stories the trees on Caldecott Hill tell if they could talk. Here is some interesting information on some trees ( with a quiz)

We are a cluster of old trees near the former street scene and next to the old canteen and broadcasting house. I think one of us is at least 75 years old when Radio started and the others are probably 10 years younger. Many had come by us to the canteen and many drama artistes enjoyed the shades during filming at the old street scenes. Perhaps you can see me in some of the archive pictures of old broadcasting house during the launch of television services when an OB van was parked next to us..or archive recordings of the fire that destroyed the record library a few meters away from us. Thank goodness we are still alive! You can find our kind at many places on the island as we are in the class of the heritage trees in Singapore. I think we will make it to the top 10 in Nparks campaign on the Top Ten Trees in Singapore.

We were planted during the 80s when RTS rolled over to SBC. The Management decided to upgrade the slope with greenery including a nursery nearby. I don’t think many people notice us as we are not shady. We are just there to soften the hard environment between OBH and the new radio and TV building. Staff come and go at the entrance nearby. It is also the exit and entrance for busloads of our artises and extras that go out for filming. We notice those beautiful people (Zoe , Fann , Eileen, Wenyong) in beautiful costumes that walk pass us daily after their make-up at the OBH.

I was rooted when the first satellite dish was built..which brought live news to our news bulletin on channel 5 and 8 then. And I am situated near the TV building entrance where VIP alights on their way to the TV studios. The land which I stand now was vacant land during the time when Lee Kuan Yew opened the black and white TV service in a ceremony at the entrance of the TV building. Now the place is clusterd with a number of different species of trees. It is a place where producers will do their outdoor shooting when time is short. Many can be found near the entrance of the Singapore Botanic Garden

Perhaps the biggest pride of Caldecott Hill is the beautiful entrance to the TV reception. I mean all of us line up in straight line and look majestic and tall with the MediaCorp signage next to it. It is nice to hear that we give out fresh air for the humans and beautify the compound. The whole concept of this scenic entrance is work of the ExCo chaired by the then boss Cheng Tong Fatt. It is said that Albert Hong contributed the idea of us being installed there to look nice and beautiful for the visitors . But we not sure that we were there because of complaints by the neighbours that the TV building did not gel with the high-class bungalows nearby.

I am part of a landscaping done in 1985 or so next to the Management Carpark. There are about 10 different types of plants in this location I guess you can say I am the most outstanding there. The CEO’s car (Cheok Yew, Hup Seng, Ernest Wong and now Lucas) would inevitably glance at me on their way to their office.

We can be seen on this short clip at video. Please watch this clip and send the names of 10 trees on this video to tay.philip@gmail.com. The first email that has the answers will get a prize.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S8BrTdDI04

For info, Nparks has launched the know 10 trees of Singapore movement. Please click here for details. http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_news&task=view&id=171&Itemid=50

If Trees Could Talk.....

i love lucy

2009-11-02T06:13:00.000-08:00

"I LOVE LUCY
I Love Lucy debuted on CBS in October 1951 and was an immediate sensation. It spent four of its six prime-time seasons as the highest-rated series on television and never finished lower than third place. Eisenhower's presidential inauguration in January 1953 drew twenty-nine million viewers, but when Lucy gave birth to Little Ricky in an episode broadcast the next day forty-four million viewers (72% of all U.S. homes with TV) tuned in to I Love Lucy. When it ceased production as a weekly series in 1957, I Love Lucy was still the number one series in the country. And its remarkable popularity has barely waned in the subsequent decades. Since passing into the electronic museum of reruns, I Love Lucy has become the Mona Lisa of television, a work of art whose fame transcends its origins and its medium."

The above is gleaned from the web. I Love Lucy an American television sitcom, starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley was my favourite comedy TV show during the late sixties and seventies when the re-runs were shown on TV Singapore in B & W. Lucy never failed to make me laugh. I watched it on a 27 inch Setron set . Setron was a local TV set manufacturer located at Tanglin Halt industrial estate.

And what were the other acquired shows I tuned in those days? I remember All in the Family, Bonanza, 77 Sunset Strip, the Lone Ranger, Hawaii 5-0 and many more. In the early 80s I remember Dallas, Magnum and Charlie Angels, MASH, The Incredible Hulk...... I loved to watch TV after my school home work ,of course.

Dawn of Chinese Dramas

2009-10-22T05:56:00.000-07:00

In my view 1 Feb 1980 was the turning point for local productions especially Chinese Dramas. On this day RTS became a statutory board Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. The late Ong Teng Cheong was appointed Chairman Cheng Tong Fatt General Manager and the late Wong-Lee Siok Tin the Deputy General Mnager. According to Chairman Ong “ Western values and standards alien to our society are being introduced all the time. We must therefore produce our own programmes with standards and values suited to our society.” With this direction local entertainment productions increased and the Chinese Drama Production Division was set-up. It was not easy for our locals to meet the challenges of this venture. Production experts from Hongkong were recruited and on-the-job training started. The first drama produced with the HK producers was a film titled the Seletar Robbery – a true story about three men robbing a construction site. This was followed by the Army series in 6 parts telecast in March 83. Viewership climbed steadily. And the best series I ever watched was the 26-episode The Awakening – the story about Singapore immigrants from the 1920s. I could identify it with my father’s early days when he came to Singapore in a tongkang from Swatow. Then came Flying Fish a 8-part series on swimmers. After that there were many more successful ones. Please refer to Wikipedia for a full list.
I remember some of the incidents that happened during early stage of Chinese drama productions. I was the engineer-in charge of TV Studios and Outside Broadcasts. There were incessant complaints from the HK experts that our locals were not creative, our talents were dumb-dumb for example. In one of the post mortem on Seletar Robbery the producer pointed out the actor just took the money under his arms and ran and his facial expression did not appear that he has robbed someone. In another incident, a bird in a cage used as an extra flew out and could not be retrieved. The producer had to change the script to a cat instead. In another incident in TV Studio 4 the producer banged the production panel and shouted to an actress (she is with us till this day) “Cry , Cry damned it cry..” No tears came out. There were many retakes. After the recording the actress went behind a backdrop and cried this time for real! And there was this diligent HK producer who could not work without smoking in the TV Studio...........

Please email me tay.philip@gmail.com if have any interesting memories of the early days of Chinese drama productions.

Seah Hong Gim and F1

2009-10-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

Seah Hong Gim ,a TV lighting expert in this region , helped to light more buildings along the F1 route again. This year STB asked him to light up three more buildings. The new areas included the Pit, Sheares Bridge, and the Merlion area. According to him the lights used this year doubled to 3,000. This would give the buildings greater contrast, a 3-dimensional effects and with an overall night-glow. With this the whole City skyline gave an impressive sparkle to the whole event.

Hong Gim worked for MediaCorp for more than 30 years. He was responsible for lighting up some of spectacular outdoor shows. And most memorable must be the 1986 NDP when for the first time the night entertainment displays segment was introduced. It remains a hallmark of NDP shows till this day. He is now a free-lance lighting consultant after his retirement. For F1 he worked through Showtec the show contractor.

At 65 Hong Gim is till active in work and enjoying his passion for TV lighting. He gives lectures frequently to TV production people in the region.

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union

2009-10-11T03:36:00.000-07:00

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union(ABU) is a non-profit, non-government, professional association of broadcasting organisations, formed in 1964 to facilitate the development of broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region. it provides a forum for promoting the collective interests of television and radio broadcasters, and engages in activities to encourage regional and international cooperation between broadcasters. It currently has 199 members in 58 countries, with its broadcaster members reaching a cpotential audience of about 3 billion people.

I have been associated with the ABU for more than 30 years, having attending its technical meetings and contributed to its deliberations. It is a platform where one makes the contacts for business and career. Over the years I met many broadcasters from all over the world. It was through these contacts I could contribute more to the growth of my company in knowledge and skills of new broadcast developments. Many producers and management attended ABU meetings as well.

It was with great pride and honour that I received the award of the ABU Engineering Industry Excellence this year at the annual meeting in Ulaan Baatar Mongolia. It is for my work in introducing digital television in Singapore and promoting common digital TV standards in the ASEAN region. I am especially pleased to share this honour with engineers from the MDA , MediaCorp and RTB Brunei who are part of a team to promote common digital television standards in the region.

i remember Ian Hope

2009-09-18T23:59:00.000-07:00

I joined the Department of Broadcasting in 1958 as a BroadcastingAssistant and worked closely with all radio producers from the fourdifferent sections including Mr. Ian Hope. He was then a radioproducer for the English Programme Section. He produced mainly talkshows, eg. Radio Forums on current topics, Youth Programme "Youth AtThe Helm" and he also read the news. Over the years, we got alongvery well. I understand from him that in 1954 he was a EnglishLiterature teacher at Bartley Secondary School. In 1956, he joinedthe Broadcasting Service, organised as "Radio Malaya, Singapore andthe Federation of Malaya" headquarters in Singapore. When TV wasintroduced in 1963, there was the News and Newsreel Programme. Theannouncer who read the News would appear on TV while the Newsreelannouncer would be seen off screen.I attached the following photographs which I took of Mr. Hope beforehe left for Australia in 1973.Caption for Photo No 1 taken on 23 November 1961Mr Hope and his 4 children taken at the Mount Emily Swimming Pool inSophia Road.Photo No 2 taken on 7 November 1962Mr. Hope chaired the programme "Youth At The Helm" in "B" Studio Radio Malaya.Photo No 3 taken on 26 March 1963.Mr. Hope and Mr. David Prior from Australia during a last minuteinclusion for the Newsreel portion at the TV studio.

Regards Mun Chor Seng

In Memoriam - Ian Hope

2009-09-13T06:39:00.000-07:00

In Memoriam - Ian Hope

Ian Hope, a former broadcaster, passed away in Melbourne on 2 Sept 09 at the age of 87. His body was cremated on 9th Sept.Ian was born on 6 March 1922. He retired from RTS in 1972 at the age of 50.He was a producer on radio on the English channel and did many programmes. When TV came on, he also read the news on TV.Maureen, Lucy and others fond memories of him

Above is a photograph of him and his wife Anita taken in his home in 2003 with Simplicius Cheong and his wife. (Simplicius was also a producer during RTS days doing mainly classical and jazz msuic recordings. Simplicius emigrated to Australia, I think also in the 70's).

Above info contributed by Norman

Sad to hear about Ian's passing.When I first joined Radio - RTS in 1968, he was like a mentor to me. He taught me how to read news and share market report. He was a good trainer, with patience and persistency, and I learned a lot from him as a broadcaster. He left RTS in 1973 and not 1972, I think. -Belinda Sunshine

Thanks for the news on the passing of our old colleague IAN HOPE. I remember him well - ever prim and proper and always helpful and willing to help out anyone in need. I recall the many moments when Stephen Lee and I shared long discussions with Ian in the old Canteen at Radio Singapore, sometimes over a few bottles of Tiger Beer.
May he rest in peace - George Favacho

MRT in Singapore - The First Dig....

2009-08-27T01:15:00.000-07:00

MRT in Singapore – The First Dig….

Do you know the place where the first hole was dug to start the MRT project? Answer: It is at a site in Shan Road (off Balestier Road).. I know because I was there with the Outside Broadcast team to cover the ground-breaking ceremony on 22 October 1983. It flagged off Singapore's largest single largest construction project with a capital outlay of $5,000million.
The event was opened by a Member of Parliament.. And there was a Shinto ceremony followed by some wine drinking, a lion dance and more celebrations. Apparently the company doing this construction midway between the Toa Payoh and Novena Station, believed in the blessings that such ceremony would bring. Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit system has now more 7o stations running through densely-populated housing estates of the island. A world-class system it is still expanding its services to other parts of Singapore.......

The MacRitchie Reservoir

2009-08-14T06:09:00.000-07:00

The MacRitchie Reservoir has a special place in the hearts of those working on Caldecott Hill. Especially me. In my forty over years there Reservoir is still a pleasant retreat from the hectic pace of show business and broadcasting. Surrounded by lush greenery the 12-hectare park around the reservoir contains areas of primary rain forest and wildlife. Many staff of the company jog , exercise or take brisk walks weekly in the shaded tracks and use the exercise stations. Of and on I see some including myself do a bit of kayaking.( It costs $15 per hour to rent a kayak) From middle of the water whilst canoeing you can catch a scenic view of the top of the Radio Building and Satellite dishes on Caldecott Hill.
It is said there are three dragons living on the hills of Singapore. One of these resides on top of Caldecott Hill which is endowed with metal, wood and earth elements. It has chosen this place for its good feng shui and also plenty supply of water and from time to time will descend on the Reservoir to have his fill.
Mediacorp thrives on the Hill. It progresses from a government entity to what it is today. Knowing the value of this catchment area to the company and as a responsible corporate citizen Mr Lucas Chow signed an MOU with PUB and the National Parks to promote activities to conserve to enhance the enjoyment of the beautiful environment of the MacRitchie Reservoir.

a bit of history
MacRitchie Reservoir, located off Lornie Road and completed in the late 1860s, was the first water supply system implemented in Singapore. The Impounding Reservoir, as it was then called, came about through the donation of S$13,000 by philanthropist Tan Kim Seng in 1857. The reservoir was renamed Thomson Road Reservoir in 1907 and its name was changed again to MacRitchie Reservoir in 1922 after James MacRitchie, who was the Municipal Engineer of Singapore from 1883 to 1895.

The Telecentre

2009-08-11T00:46:00.000-07:00

The Telecentre at 1 Hillcrest Road
The Telecentre in the 70s was the training school for the
Telecoms Department (known as the Telecommunications Authority of Singapore,TAS
the Singapore Telephone Board, STB and Radio and Television of Singapore RTS).
It was set up with assistance of the ITU. I remembered the training
centre well because I was there for about five years training RTS engineering staff for the roll-out of colour television. I enjoyed working there. One reason was that it was also the location of Telerec- the recreation wing of TAS and STB. Where else do you get a work place
with a swimming pool, table-tennis,badminton and tennis courts? Staff and trainees
always looked forward to the end of day where they could cool off in the swimming pools etc. And we had wonderful people there like Ng Siow Fan, Low Sin Leng, John Tan, Lim Shoiw Shiaw ,John Tan and Ching Koo Leng. We had two experts from the BBC Alan Bermingham and John Kirkus who came with their families- the most warm and friendly people I ever met on earth! And not forgetting other ITU experts from all over the world training the Line Plant, Switching and Transmission staff.
The Broadcast Wing as it was called ran about twenty courses
ranging from Lighting Techniques for TV to 8080 microprocessor programming. Besides
RTS staff, trainees came from other companies like the MOE,EDB and NPB. RTB Brunei
regularly sent their staff here as well.
The picture above showed the old building . In the 80s a twin building was built and the centre was known as the Singtel Academy. RTS moved out later ...and Singtel as well after they sold the place to MCL a property developer. The buildings were demolished and made way for more than 150 terrace houses selling for about 850 per sq.ft.
Now the training of MediaCorp staff and other external trainees on media is undertaken by the Singapore Media Academy a subsidiary of MediaCorp.
"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life." -Chinese Proverb

The above pictures are by courtesy of Singtel and John Tan

Wish Singapore a Happy Birthday

2009-08-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

Every year 9th August brings back good memories...memories of the National Day Parade..which I supported for more than 30 years since the 60s ..as a private soldier of the PDF marching pass the President, a TV sound operator fixing microphones on the Padang to chairing the NDP Technical Committee. Every year this time gives me a sense of joy and achievement...and every year on 9th August my heart is with the many in front and behind the TV cameras. Here is wishing them and the Chairman a successful and Happy National Day!

For more info:

http://www.ndp.org.sg/

Dont forget to watch this video "The Unsung Heroes" at http://www.ndp.org.sg/unsungheroes.php

Long Service Awards 2009

2009-07-27T01:46:00.000-07:00

On 23 July the CEO Mr Lucas Chow presented long-service awards to about 240 staff of MediaCorp. These staff had worked between 5- 40 years. Most are surprised
the company still dish out this award in view of the financial crisis. Staff I spoke to
to indicated… their families are very happy that MediaCorp recognises loyalty and
dedication. I received the 40-year award last year. I fully understand
how they feel. According to research long-service awards remain one of the
benefits of staff in an organisation which treasures human capital.
I had the opportunities to talk to three recipients all whom I know over the years. Ang Wah Lai, Asaad Sameer and Yeo Kim Pow . I asked them two questions

Can you let me know why stay so long in the company and what are your two memorable events in the company?. Here are their interesting replies.

Wah Lai: "Over the years there are many memorable events.Too many to remember all, but I would like mention these two.During an interview with the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew for the 25th Anniversary of the British Commonwealth I recommended that I record him with a handheld boom to make him stand out from the rest of the Head of states as all of them had a table microphone. May Lin was the Producer and she was not sure that PM can buy the idea. To everyones surprise he just say “That’s different”. The recording came out well and the next thing that surprise us was that he had a photo taken with us.The other I would like to mention is a trip to Oman where we went in a Military Helicopter to the Yemani border to take a look at the war zone from the Omani side.
As to how I stay so long. Our organization is an interesting place to work in as long as we put aside office politicking.In many areas the bosses themselves are also caught up in it. We must inculcate into our staff that such behavior will not be condoned. The organization can then excel as all energies are spend on excellence.I think that this is the principle that brought me this far."

Asaad Sameer: "The single most important reason for my long stay with this company is the people I work with. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with very wonderful people from colleagues, peers, subordinates and bosses. There was never a time when I dreaded going to work or entertained the thought of looking for another job elsewhere. I have fond memories of past colleagues in Engineering like Joseph Ng, Koh Hock Seng, Jimmy De Silva, Lee Yew Kwan, Wong Yew Wah, Ong Kim Bok, Tan Cheng Kee, Leong Ngai Weng, Chang Long Kiat, Lee Soo Wah and Ujagar Singh; to name a few. The 2 Engineering Directors I worked under then, Sebastian Tan and Lam Lychow treated me just like a friend!
My posting to Radio to head the Engineering Division there in 1993 was very memorable. There were many accomplishments during my 14 years there, notable among them were the digitalization of Radio’s operations, launch of DAB and setting-up of a fully automated & unmanned digital MCR. Another proud accomplishment was when I set-up the Technology Business Development Unit in 2001 with the objective of generating new revenue streams from the Internet platform and other technology-related services. This has paved the way for the introduction of many more commercial applications and services on New Media platforms in MediaCorp. "

Kim Pow: "There is no one identifiable factor to explain why I stay so long in MediaCorp. I even wonder whether it is possible to give a satisfactory compact answer as there are both push and pull factors involved along the way and these changes constantly. But if I have to give a short answer, it would be that MediaCorp has managed to meet both my minimal material and intellectual needs throughout the last 30 years except on a few occasions (one of which was when I decided to take study leave to get a Masters in Australia in early 1990). The salary can only be described as decent if one chooses to live a modest lifestyle. At times, the work environment and people issues reaches “toxic” level and work demands can only met at the expense of long term physical and mental wellbeing. However, with the cooperation and support of colleagues/bosses, the frequently under-appreciated understanding of family members and the feeling of satisfaction and achievement from the successful completion of yet another important assignment, one makes quick magical recovery in body, mind and soul from these episodes, hopefully with little long-term ill-effects. I guess when the works are always urgent and constantly need immediate attention, the passage of time went unnoticed and it is rather difficult to account for the years that had gone by. For me, one great attraction is that the work challenges are always intellectually stimulating. Although, I have not changed the company I serve, I have had the opportunity to do a variety of assignments both within the Engineering division ….. spanning the whole breadth of the field of Broadcast Engineering from RF transmission, teletext (analog data broadcasting), building development projects, news computerization, TV signal digitilisation (both baseband and transmission), DVB service planning and lastly introduction of IT-based systems and file-based work-flows, and outside of Engineering as the technical lead of our ill-fated Chinese Satellite Channel (5 years of exposure to a foreign TV environment) and Chinese88 internal portal (2 years of mastering an entirely new field) enterprises. I am thankful for being given so many mind-expanding and experiential opportunities to be involved at a deep level with all the major technological developments that took place in the broadcasting industry.

Perhaps, at the subconscious level, the reason of staying so long is that I joined the broadcasting industry just it entered its most glorious phase. However, sadly, as foretold by doom prophets, left, right and center, the inexorable decline of the broadcasting industry as we knows looks inevitable and imminent. I can therefore tell the world, that I have ascended and declined with a great industry, witnessed its glorious periods and harnessed its many myriad brilliant technical breakthroughs and interacted with the best engineering brains and practitioners. Come to think of it, it is a great way to spend one’s professional life."

Recipients who wish to say something about this occasion please email to me.

Remember the WTO event in Singapore

2009-06-26T20:43:00.000-07:00

Remember the WTO event in Singapore

One of the most memorable days of my career at Caldecott Hill is in Dec 1996. The company the then TCS gave support to the WTO event at the Suntec City where the conferences were held and a big show "ONE" at Sentosa.

The World Trade Organisation(WTO) Ministerial Conference hosted by Singapore drew about 4,000 delegates from more than 120 countries. This prestigious international event held from 9-13 December 1996 paved the way to greater economic co-operation and understanding among the participating nations. As host nation, Singapore rose to the occasion and achieved tremendous in the staging of this major event.

Besides the big effort put in by the crews of radio and Television , the mega show at Sentosa also stretched our resources to the limit. The show "ONE" captures the guiding spirit of the WTO one world of many nations, one mission of working together, one show of diverse cultures. This heartwarming and moving show is produced by Kenneth Liang and his team of Lim Puay Kim and Steven Ong. From the company the big event was co-ordinated by Niam Chiang Meng with capable engineers Loh Siu Yin and John Tan . The Outside Broadcast Crew included Seah Hong Gim,Ong Kim Bok, Yew Tian Hock etc. The CEO was Lee Cheok Yew.

I was pleased with the outcome of the technical support for the whole event. I enjoyed "ONE" as well. My favourite was Sarah Brightman singing Music of the Night.

You can view a video of her at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy6u9TDePwY

Info above also contributed by John Tan. Email me if you have more to say and memories of the event.

the first kiss

2009-06-13T00:31:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the first kiss on local Chinese drama??

Chinese drama productions in the company started when it rolled over to a statutory board –the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. The first was Seletar Robbery broadcast in July 1982 followed by the Army Series. Both were popular with the locals. But one of the common complaints at that time was that the dramas were ‘clean’ and not so realistic. Unlike the shows on US television and Hongkong. For example there was no kissing scenes. The producers were concerned that SBC's government regulator might not like it. And so this feedback was noted and with more Hongkong producers recruited..what the heck if there was no kissing Singapore's local drama would never compete with Hollywood and Hongkong! Eventually the first kissing came about in one of the series on channel 8. (Can anyone reading answer this .. who were the actor/actress in the first kissing scene of our local drama and the title of the drama series? The first correct answer will receive a prize from the blog administrator. You can email or use the comments link)
The newspapers went to town when the first kiss by our local artists was telecast on channel 8 in the 80s.

And for info the first kiss in US was recorded in 1896 on motion picture in a film by Thomas Edison. It was between John C. Rice and actress May Irwin (please watch http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-famous-kisses.php)
And the first inter-racial kiss on US television was in the Star Trek series episode “Plato’s Stepchildren” first aired in Nov 1968.....

Please email information on your favouriste kisses on foreign and local television, maybe from your personal experience as well . email: tay.philip@gmail.com

the Golden Reunion

2009-06-11T01:33:00.000-07:00

Remember the Golden Reunion at the Indoor Stadium

I found this CD in my library last week. It is titled the
Golden Reunion – a channel 5 presentation of the unforgettable gathering of local pop icons of the 60s and 70s produced by Ken Lim of H Hype Records.
When I was part of the TV studio crew in the late 60s I enjoyed their presence in television studio one and four almost every week. They came for the variety shows which in those days had magicians, jugglers , singers and magicians all in one night of
great entertainment fun. The popular ones I could remember were Sakura, Rita Chao, the Tidbits, the Quests, Anita Sarawak and the Crescendos. And of course I could remember the booming voices of the comperes in the likes of Larry Lai and Tan Hock Lye.

About the event Ken Lim Director of Hype Records had this to say:

“ On 9 Dec 1994, a local pop icons of the 60s and 70s performed before thousands at the Singapore Indoor Stadium to commemorate the first successful season of Television Corporation of Singapore’s musical nostalgia programme Rollin’ Good Times. These
pop icons were flown back from all over the world . Anita Sarawak from Las Vegas,
Anneke Gronloh from Amsterdam, Sakura Teng from New York, Veronica Young from France and the Blue Diamonds from Holland. After more than 2 decades for some, they performed in this historic concert in Singapore with other unforgetables- Rahim “Nat King Cole”Hamid, Julie Sudiro, The Quests, Ann Hussein, Zul, Mel & Joe Ferdinands
And Masquerades. The concert was hosted by popular singers, Douglas Oliveiro and Jessica and television host Loretta Alabbons. The evening included the winners of the talent quests in Rollin’ Good Times backed by the TCS Orchestra. It was a golden reunion of stars, memories of whom have never been forgotten”.

Share your memories of work and fun on Caldecott Hill. Email to tay.philip@gmail.com

"Memories are not only for the rich and famous"

we remember the Film Processing Laboratory

2009-06-06T03:23:00.000-07:00

-we remember the Film Processing Laboratory
When we started the first TV channel portable video cameras and video cassettes were at its infancy. News footages were shot on film and rushed to a film processing laboratory outside RTS for processing. Because of transport and processing delay getting news out on time was always a problem.. To improve the immediacy of news for the channel we had the first black film processing on Caldecott Hill. Mr Benjamin Cunha deputy chief engineer was asked to head the Film Processing Lab. He had this to say in one of the TV interviews when asked what were the teeching problems in the new unit:
“None of us had any training or experience in film processing when we started. We had the services of a BBC Film expert to help us along the way. We had problems of getting the right balance of chemicals for the processing. And we experienced during a period scratches on the film from the early processor. With time we managed to get the Film Laboratory running well and infact not only we were servicing news, current and affairs we were accepting jobs from outside RTS ”
Miss Jumiah Karim who started work in the Lab in 1975 and spent thirteen years remembers the heydays of the work in film processing laboratory. Camera and Producers would queue and wait for the films to be processed, then edited to ready for newsreels on the same night. Speed was the essence and later years when viewers were more appreciative of quality film scratches and other related defects had to be removed and edited quickly for transmission . When Electronic News Equipment became possible, the pressure on time was reduced somewhat. And in 80s the Fim Lab was made obsolete by the profileration of portable cameras and video cassettes (Jumiah now works as a Senirl Library Executive at MediaCorp.
Mr Mun Chor Seng Senior Cameraman during the period had this to say.
“On 15 February 1963, the inauguration of TELEVISION SINGAPORE with apilot monochrome service was launched on one channel. The Camera &Sound provided the filming needs for News and General Section. Thefilm used was 16mm monochrome Reversal Film and the processing wasprovided by Cinecraft at De Sousa Avenue, next to the Bukit BatokBoys' Hostel. The processing time for 100ft of filming took about 45minutes to complete. We needed at least 3 hours from the start offilming then the completion of film processing and editing before thefinished footage can be aired on the News Programme. Whatever footagethat could not make it for transmission in the News Programme will beused as soon as possible in the next News Programme as Newsreels.By 1968, Cathay Kris in East Coast Road, took over the processing ofmonochrome for Reversal and Negative films. In addition, they alsoprovided the prints from these Negative film.We set up our own Colour Film Processing Lab in 1974 for Kodak 7242Colour Reversal Film and later included the Kodak 7239 Colour NegativeFilm.The entire Chinese Drama for the Army Series was shot with Kodak 7242Reversal Film. It was transmitted on 4 March 1983."
Francis Chowdurie Senior Film Editor was one of those who loved film and was sad to see it go.He said:” Although film is slower than videotape, the new media did not do justice to actors and actresses. It made then 10 years older. Of course the advantage of video is you can see the results of your shoot almost immediately”

Fire on Caldecott Hill

2009-05-27T05:29:00.000-07:00

In Feb this year while holidaying in Harbin, China I got news that part of CCTV
new building in Beijing caught fire. It reminded me of vulnerabilitis of a television station to fire hazards.
I then remembered there were three major fires at Caldecott Hill over the years. The first was in August 1965 . It happened in the main TV Studio at Old Broadcasting House (this was the studio which PM Lee Kuan Yew held his press conference seven days earlier to announce break-away from Malaysia). Studio lights, cameras and accessories were destroyed . Fortunately back end equipment such as film projectors, telecine and programmes on films were intact. Emergency transmission was carried on at the Bukit Batok transmitting station. About quarter of million of dollars of equipment were destroyed. It remained a mystery how the blaze got started and it was a coincidence that the tv production that night was a campfire by boy scouts.
Less than a year later a new TV Complex was opened with four TV Studios. New regulations were introduced on the use of nake fire in TV studios production.
Till this day no fire happen again in television studios.
The second major fire occurred in the record library where vinyl discs were kept for radio programmes. A big a chunk of the record library was destroyed.

And on 25 Dec 2002 fire destroyed the street scene used for Chines drama productions at OBH. Fortunately in all the fires no life was lost.

What is Ee Boon Lee up to?

2009-05-22T01:21:00.000-07:00

Ee Boon Lee was Senior Controller of News when he left broadcasting in 1981 to go back to print journalism. He became the news editor of the Singapore Monitor. After the newspaper folded-up in 1985, he took on the job as editor of NTUC News. Concurrently, he was editor of Petir, the PAP publication.

Retirement 2000 allows him more time for jogging, swimming and dancing. From time to time, he has get-togethers with his former colleagues in the print media and broadcasting. He also finds time to do some writing and editing.

When Boon Lee was in broadcasting, I didn't have a chance to work closely with him except for some short spells in the Television Studio Three where the daily news bulletins were produced. When he was with NTUC, I had occasion to meet him during some of the major events of trade unions.

I know Boon Lee to be a warm and very jovial person. He cracks jokes like crazy . It is very comfortable to talk to him.

Recently he became an actor in a two—part documentary which aired on 3 and 5 June 2009 9.30pm. The programme is to commemorate Singapore’s attainment of self-government 50 years ago. Together with the granddaughter of the late Mr EW Barker and grandson of Dr Goh Keng Swee he turned storyteller on Channel News Asia’s "A State of Mine" , This documentary takes viewers through Singapore’s journey from self—government to independence.

(Above picture shows Boon Lee being interviewed by ChannelNewsAsia 3 June 2009 on his part in A State of Mine)

email me at tay.philip@gmail.com to tell your story about life on Caldecott Hill when you were young.

My Big Bosses at MediaCorp

2009-05-04T04:58:00.000-07:00

My Big Bosses at MediaCorp

In the 42 years that I have worked at CBC Caldecott Hill I have seen 7 bosses (Director, GM, CEO etc) and 11 chairmen /deputy chairmen served the Broadcasting company known by viz Dept of Broadcasting, Radio and TV Singapore (Ministry of Culture), Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, Singapore International Media (of which Television Corporation of Singapore was the flagship company) and MediaCorp. Before the 60s two caucasians ran the radio broadcasting station. I didn’t get to know them. In fact I never got to know most of the chairmen and heads until the later part of my career. When I was interviewed during one of my retirement parties I was asked my perception of some of them. Obviously I remember some of them better than others ..and certainly will make some comments about them on this blog (sorry no juicy stories here) after some reflections.
Here is a list the bosses at Mediacorp since the 60s.

Director of Broadcasting, General Manager, CEO
Eary 60s – P S Raman
60 -80s - Wong-Lee Siok Tin
80s - Wong-Lee Siok Tin (retired in 1991)
90s - Moses Lee
2000s - Lee Cheok Yew (appt CEO TCS 1 Oct 1994)
- Lim Hup Seng (appt CEO SIM and TV12 15 May 1997)
- Ernest Wong(appt GrpCEO MediaCorp 1 Oct 2000)
- Lucas Chow (appt GrpCEO MediaCorp 1 Dec 2005)(current CEO)

Chairman and Deputy Chairman
- Ong Teng Cheong (appt 11 Feb 1980)
- Wee Mon Cheng
- Wee Kim Wee
- Yong Pung How (appt 1 Dec 1985)
- Cheong Choong Kong (appt 1 Oct 1994)
- Moses Lee (appt DyC 1 Oct 1994)
- Cheng Tong Fatt (appt GM SBC 1 Feb 1980 and later Dy Chairman)
- Goh Kim Leong
-Cheng Wai Keung (appt 1 Apr 1999)
- Kwa Chong Seng ( appt 2 Oct 1995 SIM and again in 1 Apr 2002 MediaCorp)
- Ho Kwon Ping (appt 30 July 2005)(current Chairman)

i remember the Quests

2009-04-30T18:10:00.000-07:00

The Quest was a pop band popular during the 60s and I believe one of the successful pop music group in the region that did Singapore proud. It started at Queenstown Secondary Technical School –the school that I attended from 1959 -1963. They used to perform at the school’s concerts which made the principal, the teachers and students proud ..more so when they became popular.
Jap Chong (rhythm) and Raymond Leong (lead) both attended Queenstown during the 1960s. They named the band after the school’s name. Their original songs Shanty and Gallopin’ won them a EMI Records contract in 1964. In 1963 they were the first local band to play electric instruments on Radio Television’s talentine in 1964. Henceforth they started performing in the television studios at Caldecott Hill. They were supporting popular artists like Rita Chao and Sakura Teng.
After my college and when I was posted as technical operator in the television studios in the late 60s, I remember lighting and vision control the group in television studio one for a number of occasions. They appeared on many radio shows as well. The band disbanded in 1971.

For more information please check out the following links:
http://60spunk.m78.com/singaporeanbandsnew.html

Listen to this piece: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJtY9lr3xZY

The Day MM cried

2009-04-23T03:03:00.000-07:00

The Day MM cried

Many Singaporeans remember this historic moment. This story is told umpteenth times as part of history lessons of Singapore in schools and over the internet.( Just google search “Lee Kuan Yew cried” ) MM cried when he had to announce that Singapore was going to be separated from Malaysia. It happened on 9 August 1965 at a TV Press conference in the black and white television studio at the old broadcasting centre, Caldecott Hill. Two technical operators of the TV equipment (Lim Sho Shiaw and Goh Kee Chai)witnessed the moment and when I talked to them last week, they said they were shocked to watch him cry in the studio in front of cameras.
Chandra Mohan a young producer then producing this event said he was stunned for a moment.And against all the rules of production that such shots of him should be avoided he instructed the cameramen to dolly in to get a close- up of him . This footage proved to one of the most popular in the history of local media. It was a moment only television was capable of capturing. The TV camera that caught the emotion of this historic moment is shown elsewhere on this blog. The producer said he could feel the anguish and pain from the TV monitors in the production room and for him and the TV crew this was to have lasting impression that could never be forgotten.
Many watched him on national TV when emotionally MM Lee Kuan Yew said “For me, it is a moment of anguish. All my life, my whole adult life, I have believed in merger and unity of the two territories.’
And this incident became a pivotal point of Singapore’s history….the day Singapore entered the brave new world….I joined the department of broadcasting two years later. When the separation was announced I heard MM on radio whilst having coffee in a sarabat stall along Prince Edward Road, after classes at the Singapore Polytechnic nearby.

View Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIy2EtmX95o

Road to Digital TV - a satisfying experience

2009-04-16T00:10:00.000-07:00

Road to Digital TV – a most satisfying experience

I think it was around February of 1998 that the company received
word from the authority that Singapore had to adopt a digital TV
standard soon as the world was already digitising. There were 3 world standards then - DVB from Europe, ISDB from Japan and ATSC from USA. The Singapore Broadcasting Authority then wanted a test of the three standards as Singapore’s high-rise buildings of residential houses is almost unique and could pose a problem for digital television reception. Lee Cheok Yew who was then the CEO got me to get quotations for a test and an evaluation of the three systems. The quote came to a $1m dollars from a reputable company. The reply from him was “Shit !#@*..so much... do it ourselves.. Tay you get your engineers to test it! And report” This assignment turned out
to be one of my most satisfying in my career. I took up the challenge.

I visited the three standard bodies in Tokyo, Geneva and Washington to get the experts to come to Singapore to test the three standards. We set up a national committee (chaired by me) and representatives from the industry and institutions of higher learning. The experts and our local engineers took 3 months all over the island to do the field tests. The result led to the adoption of the European DVB standard mainly because of its ability to
to offer mobile services and acceptable signal ruggedness. (I made a presentation to George Yeo who was MITA's minister then, he approved and officially announced the DVB standard for Singapore) Subsequently the company was given licences to operate digital services for channel5, 8 and ChannelNewsAsia as well a TV Mobile service. The TV Mobile service on the buses was the world’s first for Singapore and in a way established the island as one of the leading test beds for digital television services. It was one of the most successful project the company engineers had ever done.(we saved the company $1m bonus and i dont remember us getting a bonus!!Ha Ha!)
In the 2000-2003 we had many visitors from the USA, China, Russia, India, Taiwan..etc to study the system in Singapore. Beijing and Shanghai quickly adopted tvmobile services. Taiwan too introduced mobile TV in the buses. These services proved to be commercially very successful there. But for Singapore, because of its size, it was an upheld task trying to make money from TV services in moving vehicles.
Before long the idea of trying to get the countries in this region to adopt the same standard was mooted. I was given the task together with the regulator and our friends in RTB to help convince the ASEAN countries to adopt the same standard. And we travelled to Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Phillipines to sell the idea of a common digital TV standard for the region. Mainly for the reason of economies of scale and mutual benefits in digital services. This effort paid off when the ASEAN Ministers for Responsible for Information finally approved the adoption of the European DVB standard for digital television in ASEAN region. This effort was one of the most challenging and satisfying experience with my friend Mr Lim Chin Siang of MDA and Haji Ibrahim of RTB. 10-20 years down the road when DTV is prevalent in all the countries in this region we would remain the unsung heroes.. on the road to digital television.

Comments are welcomed from the industry especially those who were involved in the test for a national DTV standard for Singapore. Email: tay.philip@gmail.com

SMART Alliance

2009-04-15T20:08:00.000-07:00

Here is a press release by MediaCorp
ASEAN broadcasters forge SMART Alliance
Singapore, 24 March 2009 – A group of broadcasters has announced its commitment to form an alliance, called SMART Alliance, which hopes to create and deliver commercial benefits to its members.The six founding members – ABS-CBN (Philippines), BBTV (Thailand), International Media Corporation (Vietnam), Media Nusantara Citra (Indonesia), Media Prima (Malaysia) and MediaCorp (Singapore) – met at an inaugural meeting on 24 March 2009 in Singapore and inked a Memorandum Of Understanding pledging to work on 3 specific areas: (1) Content (2) Selling and Marketing (3) Technology.As a region, ASEAN alone presents a combined market size of more than half a billion eyeballs and a growing middle-class population with increasingly substantial spending powers. The alliance is well positioned to exploit economies of scale both as a supplier of coveted content as well as a buyer of technology and equipment. For advertisers and clients, the alliance grouping will be able to deliver marketing and promotional solutions on a regional platform.Mr Lucas Chow, MediaCorp CEO and Chairman of SMART Alliance Steering Committee says, “As a community of regional media companies, we believe there is scope for an alliance that is established and driven purely by commercial considerations and goals. Our hope is that we will be the Alliance of Choice of all media companies in the Asia Pacific within the next 3 years or so”.
Issued by Corporate Communications, MediaCorp
For more information, please contact:Clarence PongAssistant Vice President Corporate CommunicationsMediaCorp Pte LtdTel : (65) 6350 3343Fax : (65) 6251 5628E-mail : clarencepong@mediacorp.com.sg
AnnexT
The operation and management of SMART Alliance is directed by a Steering Committee consisting of:Chairman - Mr Lucas Chow, CEO, MediaCorp
MembersABS-CBN - Mr Eugenio L Lopez III, CEO
BBTV - Mr Khun Veraphan, Director
IMC - Mr Tim Lam, CEO
Media Prima - Mr Abdul Rahman Ahmad, CEO
MNC - Mr Hary Tanoesoedibjo, Group CEO
MediaCorp - Mr Chang Long Jong, Deputy CEO

Thomson Foundation TV College, Glasgow

2009-04-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

Thomson Foundation TV College

I remember whist installing some equipment in a make-shift colour OB Van in 1974 , George Ang the then Chief Engineer of the Department of Broadcasting informed me that I had been nominated to attend a four-month course in Colour TV Engineering in Scotland. Subsequently I was told by my immdiate boss Mr Lam that WY Chan who was my senior and earmarked to go had tendered his resignation to migrate to Australia. I was happy to attend the course, being the first out of the country for me and to learn things which proved to be very useful in my later career. The course was conducted at the Thomson Foundation TV College in Newton Mearns,Glasgow Scotland ( The College was started by Lord Thomson of the Fleet)
The College held residential training courses in television production and engineering for people who were already employed in stations in developing countries. They also sent lecturers to train staff in TV stations in countries such as India, Zimbabwe, Bahrain and China. It was an interesting place to work, meeting people from all over the world and learning a little about the world of broadcasting. So for four plus months stayed in the college with 20 other students who were full time broadcaters. They came from all over viz Brazil, Lebanon, India, Nigeria, Kenya, Turkey, England, Scotland. It was months of intensive learning of colour television engineering and operation techniques.
The four-month study included subjects like fundamentals of colour television, transmitter technicques, camera and studio lighting operations, videotape operations and some management principles of broadcasting stations.

During the week-ends and short holidays the students travelled to places north of the River Cyde eg Inverness, Loch Tay, Loch Ness (The Loch Ness monster did not appear that day when we were there) and visited Edinburgh castle as well. It was during these travels that I learnt a lot about the Scottish people...and the fact that the Scots and English could not get along... would poke at one another when occasions arose..and I also learnt to like bagpipes and Scottish songs. Loch Lomond and the Skye Boat are my two favourites.

As mentioned earlier the knowledge and skills learnt gave me more opportunities at the then Radio and TV Singapore Engineering Division. After the training I was posted to train engineering staff at the Telecentre Centre, 1 Hill crest Road and later promoted to Head of Broadcasting Training(About Telecentre the joint training school for the then Singapore Telephone Board , Telecommunications Department and Broadcasting Department..that is another story). Later I was promoted to Head of Training there . And after few years there I subsequently returned to Caldecott Hill to be engineer-in-charge of television studios………

The above pictures were taken (around Dec 1974) one at the school in Glasgow and the other in London with Lord Thomson.
If you recognize yourself in the pictures please email me and tell us more about yourself since then (I guess most will be in the age group 60- 80 now) email: tay.philip@gmail.com

i remember Foong Choon Hon

2009-04-01T01:03:00.000-07:00

i remember Foong Choon Hon

Mr Foong Choon Hon Hon one of Caldecott Hill Old Timers died suddenly on 30 Mar 2009. He was a retired broadcaster, TV Producer and journalist. At the age of 80 he was still on Radio 95.8 current affairs programmes. I met him only recently at Caldecott Hill canteen and he appeared to very healthy. I am shocked to hear that he has passed away.
He retired from the company in 1984 after spending time in the current affairs department and later on help to establish the local Chinese drama unit.
I remember him to be a soft-spoken cheerful person. In 60s and 70s I used to meet him at television studio 3 where the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yews recording of National Speech was done. I was then operating the auto-cue machine. His advice was sought to make PM’s script easier to be be understood by heartlanders of Singapore. I understand he was also a tutor for Mr Lee Kuan Yew when the then PM was mastering Mandarin.
His last memorable project was to convert the 160-year old villa at Balestier Road into the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall together with another Caldecott Hill Old-Timer Mr Mun Chor Seng. For this he earned the respect of the Chinese community.
I knew him to be a humble, simple person well-respected by his peers and staff …and salute him for his dedication and work till the last hour of his departure. His departure is a loss to the media industry and community.