New S'pore radio broadcasts from RI

New S'pore radio broadcasts from RI

SINGAPORE (Reuters): An independent Singapore radio news
service takes to the airwaves on Friday, broadcasting via
Indonesia to provide an alternative to the city state's tightly-
controlled media.

Singapore Independent News Service, or Sinews, the brainchild
of a group of social activists, will cover the whole spectrum of
local news. It will broadcast through independent Indonesian news
service Radio 68H.

Sinews founder Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff said the self-funded
service was not-for-profit, but Sinews was in discussions with
both 68H and a foreign media venture capitalist to work out
viable revenue models for the future.

Radio stations must seek the approval of the Singapore
Broadcasting Authority to set up shop on the island.

The city-state has 18 free-to-air radio stations which are
either pro-government or government affiliated with the exception
the World Service.