Rediffusion 1949-2012 RIP

[Ramseth]

I got a confession, I had the impression that Rediffusion was closed years ago, more like decades ago after due to the dialect issues.

It was a longstanding struggle that inevitably. Rediffusion was forced to retrench dialectal storytellers but refused (no pun intended) to give in no dialectal news. Wireless radio was fledgling and government just gave face but never gave a damn. As the older dialectal listeners died off, the younger got used to wireless radio already.

 

[butoh6050]

My family had Rediffusion and we only spent listening to it for the 4D numbers

 

[Ramseth]

My family had Rediffusion and we only spent listening to it for the 4D numbers

How much have you struck? Can belanjah Sammyboy bros to a good feast for old times' sake?

 

[warthog]

Remember to preserve everything ( e.g records, documents, tapes, CD, DVD, LPs etc )

It may come back in fashion again .......

 

[butoh6050]

How much have you struck? Can belanjah Sammyboy bros to a good feast for old times' sake?

not a single cent la.....:o

 

[Papsmearer]

As with all things in S'pore, the demise of Redifussion is caused by the greedy policies of the PAP. When the govt decided to open up the radio stations market and invited tenders for grants of licence, Redifussion was one of the bidders for a licence to run a radio station. It was not awarded a license despite its many many years of broadcasting experience and that it was highly acclaimed by its listeners who were all wishing to be able to enjoying listening to Rediffusion over the airwaves instead of cable. But no, the PAP refused to grant them that licence. Instead they gave out licences to all its government linked companies like NTUC, SPH and SAFRA all of whom had not even a minute of experience in broadcasting. Why? Because the advertisement revenue for radio stations is damn bloody lucrative and typical of LKY policies, where there is money to be made, it must be made by the govt, the private sector can pick up the leftovers and scraps.

So in S'pore, all the bad things that are happening can all be traced back to the PAP which effectively is tracing it one one man, LKY.

That in a nutshell is the summary of what the PAP did to them. Good job.

 

[RonRon]

Station was 'part of Singapore way of life': Rediffusion listeners

Longtime listeners and radio veterans on Sunday described the impending closure of Rediffusion as a loss of what had been part of the Singapore way of life.

They also raised concerns over how the dialect programming that proved to be so popular on its airwaves with some listeners would continue in the current radio industry.

Ardent listener Yang Ai Choo told The Straits Times on Sunday night that she has never failed to tune in to her favourite broadcaster over the past 50 years.

BACKGROUND STORY

Tuning in... and out

1949: Rediffusion was first launched in Singapore during a time when radio sets were costly and reception to stations poor.
1970s: Buoyed by its popular dialect programmes, Rediffusion garnered more than 100,000 subscribers by the end of that decade.
1982: Rediffusion was required to stop all dialect programmes as the Government's Speak Mandarin Campaign, which started in 1979, kicked into gear. This marked the point when its fortunes began to dip.
1988: Listenership dips to about 63,000, mainly due to the death of dialect programmes and the rise of radio broadcasting among mainstream stations. Rediffusion had also attempted to diversify its business over the years by starting a subsidiary that specialised in installing television sets, while another unit handled the rental and purchasing of domestic appliances.
2008: Rediffusion became the first in the world to launch the Digital Audio Broadcasting service, increasing its channels from nine to 22.
2011: It launched Sync, a free-to-air channel and a tie-up with telco StarHub to offer its services on cable television.
2012: Rediffusion announces that it will cease broadcasting on April 30 after 63 years on the air.
The 74-year-old retired hotel attendant is such a fan that she has memorised exactly when each programme would air.

 

[HTOLAS]

A Beijinger friend of mine once worked as a parttime DJ for Rediffusion and told me this funny story.

He hosted a Sunday morning phone-in show. On a particularly slow morning, several songs went by without a call-in. He then remarked on air that it must have been a busy Saturday night for everyone (ironic, given that most of his listeners were old folks). He went on to say, '相信大家听众都还在睡着懒觉吧。' Trans: I suppose listeners are still lazing in bed. But he had used a Mandarin phrase 'lan jiao' (lazy sleep) which was of course never used here.

Well, that got a response. Listeners started calling in to say that he had used foul language on air. He asked what was foul but it was of course difficult to say so on air without repeating the words. So they went into a verbal dance about without getting anywhere. Finally, his colleague called in to tell him.

It was a longstanding struggle that inevitably. Rediffusion was forced to retrench dialectal storytellers but refused (no pun intended) to give in no dialectal news. Wireless radio was fledgling and government just gave face but never gave a damn. As the older dialectal listeners died off, the younger got used to wireless radio already.

 

[Ramseth]

This picture brings back great memories. Rediffusion had a lot of big sponsors in the old days. One of the biggest was Lion Corporation for its Mama Lemon brand of dishwashing liquid. There'd be free live shows in the auditorium during weekends. Listeners who wanted free tickets to attend called in to answer a simple question. Sometimes, my aunts would have tickets and brought me along. After the show, walked over to Plaza Singapura to shop at Yaohan and OG.

 

[erection2015]

nice one ah Ron

Station was 'part of Singapore way of life': Rediffusion listeners

.

 

[Bigfuck]

Corruption lee will see all the shits of hell coming before he goes there. Systemic failure faster ans faster and faster

 

[Varuna]

Last time we never switched it off and used it as alarm clock. With proliferation of Internet and more of today's people spending less time at home, it is a matter for time before they close shop

 

[OrLanChowHorFun]

My family had Rediffusion and we only spent listening to it for the 4D numbers

really ah ? and i thought my family was lame !


we subscribe so we can have that cool retro-looking box in the house ! we never turn it on, just use it as part of the decor only !

 

[Ramseth]

Last time we never switched it off and used it as alarm clock. With proliferation of Internet and more of today's people spending less time at home, it is a matter for time before they close shop

The Chinese channel was best for alarm clock. It'd announce date and year in both western and Chinese formats in full, e.g. 阳历一九七七年三月十五日，农历庚申年
四月十六日。

 

[SinghSons]

Childhood days, gone now.

 

[Fook Seng]

The knell was tolled for Redifusion the moment dialects became irrelevant.

 

[Varuna]

The Chinese channel was best for alarm clock. It'd announce date and year in both western and Chinese formats in full, e.g. 阳历一九七七年三月十五日，农历庚申年
四月十六日。

Yes, now the memories came back slowly...I miss the music they played before announcing horse racing results on weekends. Then my uncles and neighbours would take pen and jot down the results on reverse side of used calendar papers. The music damn Kan Jiong, machiam pump your adrenalin as though you are the jockey riding the horse like tat. It's part of my childhood..

 

[scroobal]

Thanks.

Not sure why but I can't recall any of my classmates ever mentioning redifusion. I assumed that it belted out dialect programmes.

It was a longstanding struggle that inevitably. Rediffusion was forced to retrench dialectal storytellers but refused (no pun intended) to give in no dialectal news. Wireless radio was fledgling and government just gave face but never gave a damn. As the older dialectal listeners died off, the younger got used to wireless radio already.

 

[Ramseth]

Thanks.

Not sure why but I can't recall any of my classmates ever mentioning redifusion. I assumed that it belted out dialect programmes.

The best thing about Rediffusion was they refused to play Majulah Singapura at 6 a.m. or 12 a.m. And their news reporting not submitted to censorship or approval.

 

[GoldenDragon]

Near Rediffusion building, at the backlane, used to have sarabat stall there in the late 60s. Nasi lemak and teh sipei best.