IMDA Introduces Series of Initiatives To Boost Singapore’s Media Sector Amidst COVID-196 min read
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) introduced a series of initiatives to help the local media sector tide over COVID-19. Complementing the broadbased measures announced by the Finance Minister in the Unity, Resilience and Solidarity Budgets, these latest initiatives will help media companies benefit from more production project opportunities and reduced operating costs, as well as assist media professionals and freelancers build up their resilience through training and upskilling. These are part of the ongoing national efforts to protect jobs and livelihoods.
Supporting Media Professionals and Freelancers
More immediately, IMDA seeks to protect jobs in the media industry with the launch of a new $8 million Public Service Content (PSC) Fund that will catalyse more production projects that in turn, benefits media professionals in the coming months. Under this initiative, Mediacorp, Viddsee and SPH will commission short-form content for their digital platforms through a Call for Proposal. Media companies and talent can take advantage of the Circuit Breaker period to start planning, conceptualising and submitting their proposals to be ready for production work when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. More details of the PSC Fund are at Annex A below.
In addition, IMDA will continue to support ground-up initiatives by media associations to support those in need. For one, IMDA will match the Singapore Association for Motion Picture Professionals’ (SAMPP) COVID-19 Relief Fund contribution of $20,000 to support media practitioners affected by the cancellation and postponement of projects.
The relief fund will offer grands of between $300 and $500 to film and TV media practitioners affected by the cancellation and postponement of projects.
IMDA also encourages media professionals to make use of this slowdown to deepen their tradecraft by bringing forward their training plans so that they are in good stead for the upturn. IMDA will support the upskilling of Self-Employed Persons (SEPs) by providing a training grant of up to 90% of course fees, capped at $3,000 per course under the Talent Assistance (T-Assist) Programme. In addition to subsidised fees, Self-Employed Persons, including freelancers, can benefit from training allowance for eligible courses.
Supporting Media Companies
IMDA will also help media companies reduce their operating costs. The Film Exhibition and Distribution Licence Fees will be waived from 17 April 2020. The waiver will apply to new licence applications and renewal of existing licences. Classification fees for films (public exhibition and video distribution), video games and label fees will also be waived until further notice.
In addition, IMDA will help local media companies strengthen their capabilities and increase their competitiveness by leveraging the expertise of MNC partners. IMDA has worked with international content partners such as WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks APAC and ViacomCBS Networks Asia, to bring forward the implementation of the Capabilities Partnership Programme (CPP), which pairs media MNCs with local media companies to develop “Made in Singapore” content. For example, ViacomCBS Networks Asia will develop up to three regional entertainment or family content Intellectual Properties (IPs) in May 2020. WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks APAC plans to commence development of up to three regional original content IPs for HBO Asia in June 2020. The CPP programme is expected to benefit 80 to 100 local media companies over the next 12 months.
Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran said, “The Government will continue to support our media companies and professionals as they weather this trying period, so that they can continue to create content that inspires, uplifts and binds us as one united people. Media companies can look forward to more project opportunities and reduced operating costs, while media professionals and freelancers can benefit from subsidised training fees to sharpen their craft during this downtime. These initiatives form part of our larger national effort to protect jobs and livelihoods. In the longer term, the Government will continue to build capabilities to better prepare our workers, businesses and people to seize opportunities. Working together, we will overcome this period of uncertainty and emerge stronger as one”.
For more information on efforts to support the media sector, please visit https://www.imda.gov.sg/forindustry/Efforts-To-Support-Singapore-Media-Sector
For media clarifications, please contact:
Lee Wai Leng
Manager (Communications & Marketing)
Infocomm Media Development Authority
T: +65 6202 4930
E: lee_wai_leng@imda.gov.sg
Priscilla Gan
Manager (Communications & Marketing)
Infocomm Media Development Authority
T: +65 6202 4417
E: priscilla_gan@imda.gov.sg
Tan Lay Ping
Assistant Director (Communications & Marketing)
Infocomm Media Development Authority
T: +65 88702688
E: tan_lay_ping@imda.gov.sg
Annex A
Public Service Content Fund to Spur Local Media Productions
IMDA launched a new $8 million Public Service Content (PSC) Fund to catalyse more projects that can benefit local media companies and professionals in the coming months. Under this initiative, Mediacorp, Viddsee and SPH will commission short-form content for their digital platforms through Calls for Proposal (CFP). Up to $150,000 in funding will be available per project per call. Mediacorp will be launching the first CFP on 23 April 2020. Media companies and talents can take advantage of this circuit breaker period to put together their proposals and start production work when restrictions are lifted.
The $8 million PSC Fund comes on the back of an earlier $1 million fund launched by IMDA in March 2020 (“Content Fund to Support SG United”). The fund was well-subscribed with close to twenty proposals from local creators. Five videos have since been released, and the full slate of videos will be made available progressively.
Links to the videos can be found below:
– If Not For You – A tribute to the frontliners of the Covid-19 outbreak
– Smile Again (Music video)
– Everyday Heroes
– The Viewing
– The Unspoken Love – Story 1
Criteria for application of Public Service Content Fund
Singapore-registered media/production companies with a proven track record in local content production over the last three years and which have adopted the Tripartite Standard on the Procurement of Services from Media Freelancers may apply for the Call-for-Proposals from commissioning partners of the Fund.
Proposals should fulfil the following criteria:
– Short form digital content (single video or a slate of videos) with minimum duration of 10-minute per video (standard rate of $25,000 per video will apply)
– Creative concepts that meet any of the six Public Service Broadcast objectives
– In any of the four official languages and any genre, with some flexibility for dialect content, but dialect should not form the bulk of the funded slate
– Funded content should not exceed PG13 classification in accordance with the Content Code for Over-the-Top, Video–on-demand and Niche Services to allow for widest possible reach
PSB aims to foster a connected society through quality, engaging and informative public service content with reach and impact. PSB programmes serve the following national and social interest objectives:
– Promote positive social values important to Singapore and Singaporeans
– Celebrate our culture and heritage and/or promote cross-cultural awareness
– Promote racial and religious harmony
– Promote the Singapore identity
– Stimulate knowledge and learning, including factual and educational programmes targeting children, youth and the general population;
– Foster an informed society via news, information and analysis of current affairs that increase understanding of the world
