Ministry of Communications and Information/ Portfolios/ Infocomm Media/ What We Do

Infocomm Media

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Ensure TV viewers’ interests are well-protected

We promote consumer choice by encouraging innovative services, not media content exclusivity. The aim is to allow for affordable, accessible and diverse content on our local pay TV platforms. We do so by working with IMDA to regularly update the Media Market Conduct Code (MMCC). At the same time, we work to increase the opportunities for premium content to be shown on free-to-air TV.

Anti-Siphoning Regime

The Anti-Siphoning regime was introduced in 2003 as part of the MMCC to provide free-to-air and pay TV licensees with a list of programmes which pay TV licensees are restricted from acquiring exclusively. This aims to ensure that viewers in Singapore have access to programmes of national significance on free-to-air TV.
- Challenges
- Actions
Challenges

Competition among broadcasters may drive up content prices without introducing further innovation in content, technologies or delivery platforms to suit different groups of viewers in Singapore.

Diverse interests among pay TV consumers in terms of willingness to pay, content offerings and consumption habits.

Pay TV content may change to some extent in the middle of the contract period, as a result of commercial review or content rights renewal.
Actions

MMCC: Maintain fair market conduct and effective competition in Singapore's media industry through regular review of the Code of Practice for Market Conduct and its application in a converged media and telecom environment;

MMCC Consumer Protection Amendments: Monitor and review the effectiveness of the April 2016 consumer protection amendments to the MMCC. For example, consumers can now exit their contracts without early termination charges if certain conditions are met. Pay-TV operators must also provide one-year or shorter contracts for their content bundles.

Regularly review the Anti-Siphoning List and evaluate its effectiveness in facilitating public access to content.
Ensuring a conducive infocomm media regulatory environment

Infocomm media convergence has caused a paradigm shift in the way the infocomm and media sectors are operator and how consumers consume telecom and media services. Market forces and technological developments are blurring the traditional divides between IT, telecommunications and broadcasting. MCI and IMDA work together to ensure that our infocomm and media regulatory environment remains conducive for businesses and that consumers can continue to benefit from these market developments.
- Challenges
- Actions
Challenges

Ensure that our regulations keep pace with infocomm media convergence and market developments.

Maintain a balance between harmonising policies across the infocomm and media sectors, while recognising that each sector may have unique characteristics.
Actions

Adopt a nimble and responsive position on the regulation of Over-the-Top service providers as the market is still evolving.

Allow the offering of triple/quad-play bundles that comprise a range of telecommunication and broadcast services (e.g. mobile phone, fixed line broadband, fixed line phone, pay TV).