TELEVISION CORPORATION OF SINGAPORE (Charges for phone-in programmes)

Mr R. Sinnakaruppan asked the Minister for Information and the Arts why Television Corporation of Singapore charges 75 cents and 30 cents per minute for phone-in programmes despite the fact that Singapore Telecom charges callers a standard rate of 0.7 cents per 30 second block or an economy rate of 0.7 cents per 60 second block.

Mr R. Sinnakaruppan (Kampong Glam GRC): Mr Speaker, Sir, before I ask Question 11, I just want to declare my interest, if any, as a Singapore Broadcasting Authority member. In Question 11 on TCS, I wish to include TV12 as well.

Encik Mohamad Maidin B P M (for the Minister for Information and the Arts): Mr Speaker, Sir, Television Corporation of Singapore's phone-in programmes use an interactive voice response system provided by an audiotext service company. Audiotext services charge beyond the price of a standard phone call because they need to be supported by customised software programmes and computer equipment. TCS's charges for phone-in programmes are comparable to that of other audiotext services available in Singapore.

Mr Sinnakaruppan: Sir, the point that I am raising here is that the price is not demand-related. In other words, there are some programmes which have 30,000 people calling in, eg, on-the-line programmes and the Pyramid Game. There are other programmes which have a few hundred people calling in and they are all charged 75 cents. The question is that there must be some supply and demand. Secondly, there must be some control because, first, it started with on-line programmes and now we are flooded with so many of this kind of 1900 calls which have a great visual impact on the listeners, especially the younger children. I would urge the Ministry to take this seriously and regulate it so that TCS and TV12 do not go over board in trying to get revenue. 1.30 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question time.

[Pursuant to Standing Order No. 21(3), Written answer to Question No. 13 is reproduced in the section, 'Oral Asnwers to Questions not Reached' (Cols. 529 - 530). Question Nos. 12 and 14 have been postponed to the sitting of Parliament on 19th January 1996.]