Okto
Okto on 5 is a daily children's program block on Mediacorp's Channel 5. The block airs daily during 5's morning and midafternoon time slots.
| Okto | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Launched | 19 October 2008 (as a standalone channel) 1 May 2019 (as a children's block on Channel 5) |
| Closed | 1 May 2019 (as a standalone channel) |
| Network | Mediacorp TV12 |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed) |
| Slogan | It's ok to have fun |
| Country | Singapore |
| Language | English |
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Mediacorp Campus, 1 Stars Avenue, Singapore 138507 |
| Replaced by | Channel 5 (children's programs) meWATCH (sports programming) |
The Okto brand was introduced as a Singaporean standalone free-to-air television channel. A replacement of the Kids and Arts segments of Central, the channel aired mostly children's programmes, as well as some arts and sports programmes. The channel's target audiences were children ages 2–13, and adults ages 18–39.[1] Okto ceased as a separate channel on 1 May 2019, due to lack of viewership.[2]
History
Predecessors (1995-2008)
Premiere 12 was launched on 1 September 1995, following the split of Channel 12 into it and Prime 12. The channel broadcast on a separate UHF frequency (Channel 12's was occupied by Prime 12, now Suria). Premiere 12 also included children's TV series (mainly for a preschooler audience) and sports coverage. Premiere 12 later included Tamil-language series and was rebranded as Central, on 30 January 2000.
Central's programming schedule was composed of three timeshared channels: Kids Central, focused on kids' programming; Vasantham Central, a Tamil-language programming block; and Arts Central centred on cultural programming.
Okto channel (2008-2019)
On 19 October 2008, Central was dissolved. Vasantham Central on-air time was extended to form Vasantham, an independent channel focused on the Indian community of Singapore, as announced on 29 February that year by then Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts Dr. Balaji Sadasivan in Parliament. Meanwhile, Kids Central and Arts Central were merged into a single channel named Okto, on a frequency and channel space formerly occupied by Channel i.[3]
On 4 May 2015, the channel began airing in HD.
As Channel 5's kids block
At midnight of 1 May 2019, Okto ceased transmission as a separate kids and sports channel due to lack of viewership, as announced on 20 February that year. The current Okto and OktoSports programming were split upon shutdown: children shows were merged into Channel 5's morning and midday schedule (replacing show reruns and morning bulletin simulcasts from CNA) under the Okto on 5 branding, and sports content were absorbed primarily to Mediacorp's over-the-top service Toggle and on Channel 5 for selected sports coverages.[4] Okto's channel license was surrendered to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) a few days later.
Programming
Since its standalone channel era, Okto mostly aired English language-produced series with selected shows being broadcast in their original language. The channel's programming consisted of children's TV series, documentaries, lifestyle, news, current affairs, anime, and art performances.
In June 2014, Sports on Okto (later renamed as OktoSports) was introduced which showed sporting events live as well as recorded and delayed coverage. Events such as 2014 FIFA World Cup (opening match, 2 semi-finals & final), 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, 2014 Asian Games and 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup had been broadcast on the channel.[5] As Singapore hosted the 2015 SEA Games, Okto took the full coverage of the games live, and in HD for the first time, including the Opening & Closing ceremonies and the daily highlights.
See also
- MediaCorp Vasantham
- MediaCorp TV12 Central
References
- "Mediacorp refreshes okto with new kids and premium sports content". Mediacorp.sg. 22 April 2017. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- "Mediacorp integrates Channel 5 and okto into one definitive family viewing channel". Mediacorp.sg. 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- Wong, Alicia (1 March 2008). "Dedicated Indian and kids TV channels". Today (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- "Mediacorp integrates English-language channels Channel 5 and okto". Channel NewsAsia. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
- "Game on with the new Sports on okto!". mediacorp.sg. MediaCorp. Archived from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.