Okto gets the nod from MediaCorp

Singapore - MediaCorp will launch a new free-to-air channel from 19 October, featuring content similar to Arts and Kid's Central following its decision to recast Vasantham channel as a fully-fledged channel.

The predominantly English channel aims to be a one-stop destination that will enrich, engage and entertain. It hopes to equip viewers with a positive attitude, hence its name Okto which looks similar to ‘ok to'.

With a weekly broadcast of 105 hrs Okto will lengthen the time and scope, enhancing its content as compared to its predecessors.

The channel will be using User Generated Content (UGC) to encourage viewers to interact with the online community through oktobite.

It will also showcase the involvement of students from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts who have chosen to create a series of channel idents for okto. Programmes with strong interactive components with games and chats on-line like ‘Oktor LIVE' will be its other lure to "give participants instant access to a wider audience via a television platform, to share their views and while giving them the satisfaction of knowing that their message is getting out to their peers in real time."

The move is supported by the Media Development Authority (MDA).

"Singapore households can now look forward to greater choices for content and even more high-quality Made-by-Singapore content catering to niche interests in our multi-racial society," Yeo Chun Cheng, MDA's programme director for multi-platform content and chief information officer, said.

The channel is also be one of the first channels in the world to showcase anime titles in the same week as Japan.