The following quantitative analysis and description is based on the recording ofseven weekdays. It describes the programmes as they have been really telecastand deviates slightly from the printed programme schedules, since it takes intoaccount those changes which occur without prior announcements.

The tables in the Appendices which break down the total air-time into time-slotsallocated to different languages, programme types, and so forth, do not takeinto account those “hidden” programme types which are neverpublished, although they are telecast each day and take up a considerable amountof air-time. They comprise commercials, internal publicity of the televisionstation, national policy messages, and presentation of national symbols. Takingthese programmes statistically correct into account would have required anenormous time-taking effort, since these programmes, in particular thecommercials, are quite unevenly distributed, so that some popular dramas aresurrounded and interrupted up to five times by over forty advertisements, whileother programmes are not affected at all. Time for these programme types hasbeen taken cumulatively but, nevertheless, carefully. The exact timing of theseshort items (often less than 20 seconds), however, is prone to marginal errors.In addition, the necessary change of cassettes was made on four days during acommercial interval between programmes; the missing data have been averaged fromthe remaining three days.

Figures, which as a whole are taken as approximating the average television weekin Singapore, have been rounded so as to add up to 100%. Hence, smalldifferences in quantitative value should not be taken as a basis forfar-reaching conclusions. None of the findings of this study will be based onsmall nominal differences.

Type of Programmes: Categories

The categories used to describe the different types of television programmes arenot fully mutually exclusive. It is not always easy to separate one categoryfrom another. The ensuing difficulties in unambiguously describing actualtelevision programmes by means of these categories is enhanced by the fact thatan individual programme may contain elements which fall into differentcategories.