Rediffusion 1949-2012 RIP

[ablekid]

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

Yes the back lane have rows of food stall, use to have breakfast and lunch there,old man's father
goes there every lunch time with two oranges and his own mug to ask the fruits juice guy to press
for him no electric juicer in those day.And of course the man dare not charge him otherwise complain to his son the stalls will be clear from the lane.

 

[RediffusionSG]

Thanks to all for the fond memories and support of Rediffusion.
Rediffusion will stop broadcasting on the 30th April 2012.
Although that is the official statement, but we still keep our spirits up and have not given up hope.

We, the staff of Rediffusion will strive our best and help preserve Redigold to carry on through the generations!

Meanwhile, we are collecting all memories, photos and videos on our official Redigold facebook group at www.facebook.com/rdfGOLD

Please share all your memories there and don't let Rediffusion fade away!

Download Press Release: http://www.rediffusion.com.sg/pdf/Redif ... ves_On.pdf

 

[RediffusionSG]

Thanks all for the fond memories and support of Rediffusion.
Rediffusion will stop broadcasting on the 30th April 2012.
Although that is the official statement, but we still keep our spirits up and have not given up hope.

The news has taken some statements out of context. It does not take $1million to 'save' Singapore, as running a radio station is a long-term 'project', and it is not a mere issue that $1m can solve.

It takes a corporation with experience to buy and run Rediffusion, together with experienced operational staff and talents.

We, the staff of Rediffusion will strive our best and help preserve Redigold to carry on through the generations!

Meanwhile, we are collecting all memories, photos and videos on our official Redigold facebook group at www.facebook.com/rdfGOLD

Please share all your memories there and don't let Rediffusion fade away!

Download Press Release: http://www.rediffusion.com.sg/pdf/Redif ... ves_On.pdf

 

[Talking Donkey]

The day Rediffusion died was in the early 80s when the government ask them to stop brocasting in dialects
in order to promote the speak more mandarin campaign..another fxxk policy...
in the 60s and 70s almost every chinese kopitiam,provision and bicycle shop has a rediffusion.
the government need to know time has change and not to dictate our lives up,teach or tell us which milk to drink.
as long as we're law abiding citizens they've nothing to fear.
some of their policies has killed the spore way of life especially the chinese folks.

 

[CheesePie]

Million-dollar miracle for Rediffusion?

<cite style="display: block; font-style: normal; font-size: 10px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; ">Rediffusion presenter Bai Yu Chi and her colleagues hope that their radio service will be saved. (Pic/Omy)</cite>
Staff at beleaguered radio service Rediffusion Singapore is hoping that the broadcaster can be saved from being closed – by a million-dollar shot in the arm.

The fund injection will allow Rediffusion to continue broadcasting for another six years, Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao reported on Monday.

According to Redigold Station Director Noelle Fong, the company lost about $1 million in the last six years and it will need the same amount to keep operating for another six years.

But Ms Fong added that even if there was no miracle, she was not disappointed and was proud that she saw the broadcaster to its end.

News of the impending closure has prompted listeners, clan associations and members of parliament to call for dialect radio programmes to be preserved, The Straits Times newspaper reported on Tuesday.

There are calls to broadcast its programmes in FM format to make the service more accessible.

Some are also asking the government to relax rules on dialect programming.

In a statement on Sunday, Rediffusion said it will stop operation on 30 April after 63 years of broadcast.

Set up in 1949, Singapore’s only subscription-based radio service now has 15 channels and is popular with older listener for its Chinese dialect programmes.

In 1982, the government ordered dialect programmes to be stopped. But eight years later, it eased rules to allow a certain number of hours of dialect programmes a day.

The company was bleeding as much as $40,000 every month due to shrinking advertising revenues and having fewer subscribers, The Straits Times reported on Monday.

In its heyday, it had more than 120,000 subscribers and about 720,000 listeners.

Today, it has about 4,000 subscribers, many of whom tune in to its three dialect programmes.

Each subscriber pays between $12 and $16 a month for the service.

Veteran Rediffusion presenter Bai Yu Chi, 47, said all her colleagues feel that the broadcaster’s closure is a pity.

But everyone is still holding out hope that a miracle will appear in the next three weeks, the presenter said.

 

[Ramseth]

I remember my time, it was S$9 per month for three channels only, A, B (Chinese + dialects) and C (English). My dad would pass me S$10 close to billing day and on billing day, the Rediffusion man would come a-knocking. I paid him and he gave me a small square ticket-type of receipt and S$1 change. I got to keep the change.

I've even worked as a Rediffusion kid before, during school holidays. Going around HDB estates asking for (i.e. selling) subscriptions. We were paid S$5 per day allowance (actually half-day job only) plus S$5 per subscription signed on. Transport was provided by Rediffusion vans. Meals on ourselves, that's what the allowance was for.

 

[HTOLAS]

Adrian Lim was a Rediffusion bill collector for a while.

I remember my time, it was S$9 per month for three channels only, A, B (Chinese + dialects) and C (English). My dad would pass me S$10 close to billing day and on billing day, the Rediffusion man would come a-knocking. I paid him and he gave me a small square ticket-type of receipt and S$1 change. I got to keep the change.

I've even worked as a Rediffusion kid before, during school holidays. Going around HDB estates asking for (i.e. selling) subscriptions. We were paid S$5 per day allowance (actually half-day job only) plus S$5 per subscription signed on. Transport was provided by Rediffusion vans. Meals on ourselves, that's what the allowance was for.

 

[laksaboy]

You know why? Because Rediffusion is British owned and based, though privately and nothing to do with politics. They, as in British enterprise private style, ignored most of government requests not to broadcast in dialects, political satires and politically senstive contents until government passed acts, chapters and sections to stop them. That caused their decline in the mid 80s since their regular audience lost interest and they couldn't pick up new audience.

Also, cable radio was already inherently fading out of fashion by then. It's a matter of sooner or later but the government has already the airwaves in control.

Really? Dialect issues? I think FM95.8 or some Chinese radio station is still broadcasting news in major Chinese dialects, albeit only at specific time slots.

Just because LKY the baba half-breed and some of his imbecile bureaucrat underlings can't speak the dialects or appreciate them, does not in any way justify this blatant suppression of those languages. Overreaching and micromanaging bunch of repressed twits, that's what these people really are.

Dialects are just not for 7th month auctions or election rallies.

It is a myth that dialects undermine the learning of Mandarin. Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong are doing quite well.

 

[Ramseth]

Adrian Lim was a Rediffusion bill collector for a while.

I knew him. He lived in Toa Payoh Lorong 7 Block 12 before he went loose and met the noose.

 

[Conqueror]

The word Redifusion brings back many fond childhood memories.

You mean like this one. I heard the transistor radio did not exist in ancient Singapore (60s to 70s). What kind of radio do you guys get in those days ? A big one with gas tubes ? Seems like it was cheaper with cable at that time. But, I thing cables are getting more expensive when the price of energy and materials goes up.

 

[Conqueror]

Teach Our Ancient Languages To PRCs !

Some are also asking the government to relax rules on dialect programming.

Relax the rule for dialects is a great move. Schools should also teach dialects and their common words for everyday usage. This is to weaken the pride of the PRCs here. Let them kowtow to us instead.

我们才是正中的汉人。因为，我会晋语。而，你不会。

 

[Maxima]

Former DJ buys iconic Rediffusion

ChannelNewsasia.com - 14 June 2012 5:29 AM | Updated 5:43 AM

<cite style="display: block; font-style: normal; font-size: 10px; margin: 4px 0px; ">Former DJ buys iconic Rediffusion</cite>
SINGAPORE: Former radio DJ-turned-Chinese-language school principal, Madam Chang Mei Hsiang, has purchased the Rediffusion brand, its archives and equipment in an effort to bring the iconic radio service back on air.

A press conference has been scheduled on Friday where she will reveal more of her plans.

Mdm Chang told Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao that she had fond memories of Rediffusion, which she joined in 1985 after arriving in Singapore from Taiwan.

At the station, she was among the most popular DJs and had the support of many listeners.

Apart from being a DJ, Mdm Chang also took on the role of programme producer for seven years.

She told Lianhe Zaobao that her intention is to help preserve a part of Singapore's heritage, as the radio station had witnessed the country's development over the past 63 years.

Rediffusion, Singapore's only subscription-based radio broadcaster, went silent from April 30 as losses piled up.

In its heyday, it attracted more than 100,000 subscribers who tuned in for everything from American rock 'n' roll music to Chinese dialect programmes by master storytellers such as Lee Dai Sor, Ng Chia Kheng and Ong Toh.

The broadcaster's decision to sign off sparked calls from listeners, clan associations and even Members of Parliament to preserve dialect programming.

 

[CheesePie]

Ms Chang plans to relaunch Rediffusion. -- PHOTO: ZAO BAO


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[Kuailan]

Vernon Cornalius used to work there, formerly The Quest singer!

 

[NoNewsGood]

Really? Dialect issues? I think FM95.8 or some Chinese radio station is still broadcasting news in major Chinese dialects, albeit only at specific time slots.

Just because LKY the baba half-breed and some of his imbecile bureaucrat underlings can't speak the dialects or appreciate them, does not in any way justify this blatant suppression of those languages. Overreaching and micromanaging bunch of repressed twits, that's what these people really are.

Dialects are just not for 7th month auctions or election rallies.

It is a myth that dialects undermine the learning of Mandarin. Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong are doing quite well.

Right said! Take China for instance, when you switch on their TV, there are so many channels showing programmes in their regional dialects. If the stupid baba half breed is right, the first country to lose Mandarin should be China!