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Georgina Lee

Singapore finds TVB dialect controversial

From network coverage quality to sourcing applications, Singapore's government keeps close tabs on the city's 3G operators.

A source at Singapore Telecommunications told Earful the recent launch of Television Broadcasts (TVB) on 3G handsets in the Lion City had caused a stir.

But this was not due to the sometimes racy content for which TVB is renowned. Singaporeans are in a flutter over TVB's use of a 'controversial' dialect.

Promotion of a 3G streaming television service featuring TVB prime time news was recently scaled back due to a 'dialect violation' because of its Cantonese content, the source said.

The government imposes strict controls over which Chinese dialect can be heard on broadcast television: only Putonghua is allowed. Now, it appears

that rule applies to the 3G airwaves as well.

broadcasting games may become an olympic eventChina Netcom, as the exclusive fixed-line service provider for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is hopeful of making broadcasting history at the Games.

The group has already applied to the International Olympic Committee for permission to broadcast events over the internet, according to chairman Zhang Chunjiang.

'This is something that we want to push aggressively. We expect to make more announcements on our Olympic preparations by the time of next year's annual results,' Mr Zhang said.

But competing for those broadcast rights could turn into an Olympic sport. China Mobile is the exclusive provider of mobile services for the games, and the central government has vowed to have 3G networks up and running by 2008. China mobile could put in a bid to broadcast the Games on 3G handsets as well.

It is clear that if the Olympic committee fails to act, then the pirates will. With devices such as Slingbox and similar technologies, it takes little effort to grab free-to-air signals and broadcast them to the world over the internet.



Earful