Singapore media history is one of monopoly.
The local newspaper the Straits Times was a monopoly created some
years back by the government out of the fear of free press.
Up to today, that fear might exist as an anomaly not real because
when people writes their views, they may not necessarily target at
government but may do so for a variety of reasons.
So because of the monopoly Straits Times has been enjoying, it was
able to enjoy high rates of advertisement charges. TV media charges
are priced based on formula of charging by the Straits Times with
loading for peak times and multiples based on program's
rating.
When newspaper and TV are highly priced, businesses cannot afford
to advertise except the very successful companies. The present lack
of media advertising support were mainly self-created by monopoly
in the first place.
With lack of advertising revenues, it becomes not viable to have
two or three TV stations. Each will have to lower the charges
further to get advertising revenue. Unlike the ST, they are now
split into a few channel causing TV media's peculiar
problems.
It is therefore not viable to have MediaCorp and MediaWorks as in
the case of Straits Times which is true monopoly and still reining
supreme. This is the anomaly of media industry in Singapore.
