Vasantham (TV channel)
| Vasantham | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Launched | 19 October 2008 |
| Network | Mediacorp |
| Owned by | Mediacorp |
| Picture format |
1080i HDTV (downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed) |
| Slogan | Naalthorum Navarasam |
| Country | Singapore |
| Language | Tamil |
| Broadcast area | Singapore |
| Headquarters | Mediacorp Campus, 1 Stars Avenue, Singapore 138507 |
| Sister channel(s) |
Channel 5 Channel 8 Channel U Suria Channel NewsAsia Okto |
| Website | Vasantham |
Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| UHF | Channel 24 |
| Digital terrestrial television | Channel 5 (HD) |
| Cable | |
| StarHub TV | Channel 105 (HD) |
| IPTV | |
| Singtel TV | Channel 5 (HD) |
Vasantham is a Singaporean free-to-air television channel that is owned by Mediacorp. The network is focused towards the Singaporean Indian community in the country. It was originally launched on 1 September 1995 as Premiere 12. Tamil programming was included on 30 January 2000 when the channel was rebranded as Central, and was later rebranded again as an independent Tamil-language channel on 19 October 2008.
History
Tamil programming was originally shown on channel 8 from its launch on 23 November 1963 until 1 September 1995, when it became a Mandarin-language channel, along with the launch of Premiere 12. With the rebrand of Channel 12 to Prime 12, Tamil-language programming was moved from channel 8. On 30 January 2000, it was later transferred to Premiere 12, as Prime 12 was rebranded as Suria and became a standalone Malay-language channel. Premiere 12 was renamed Central.
On 19 October 2008, Vasantham started broadcasting as an independent Tamil-language network focused on the Indian community living in Singapore.