Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) will be presenting the signing ceremony and prototype preview for e-Link on 23rd March 1999, Tuesday, 3pm, at Caldecott Broadcast Centre. e-Link is a new business management tool designed to enhance operational efficiencies for advertising agencies to do TV advertising on TCS. The signing ceremony signifies the commitment between TCS and IBM Singapore in developing e-Link. It also formalises the support which top agencies have pledged for the system. The prototype gives a sneak preview on how the system will work.

Targetted to be ready in the last quarter of the year, the system is built on the SingaporeOne broadband infrastructure and Internet technology. This will make obsolete the current system of submitting bookings for commercial spots via faxing. The features of e-Link will allow agencies and media independents to view on-line, real-time information such as programme schedules, synopses, loading factors and video clips. They will be able to make online enquiries, submit bookings electronically (which will facilitate local and regional buying) and generate reports. Invoices will also be automatically generated. TCS is also looking into integrating the media ratings into the system, as well as for e-commerce enabled transactions.

TCS has engaged IBM Singapore and its Lotus Professional Services to develop e-Link. In line with the national IT2000 efforts, TCS is working with Netrust, 1-Net and SingTel Magix to provide a secured broadband web-based application. This project is also supported by the National Computer Board.

As a market leader in the television and media trade, TCS pushes ahead of the increasing competition by being at the cutting edge of technology. e-Link will be the first-of-its-kind IT media system in the region. The high-speed and high-content capacity of broadband technology provides a platform for TCS to deliver products and services in an innovative and rich, real-time environment. The e-commerce system brings about cost-effectiveness and faster turnaround time by streamlining and integrating processes along the business value chain.

Says Mr Lee Cheok Yew, President and Chief Executive Officer, TCS, "We want to revolutionise the way we conduct business with our advertising and business partners. ...e-Link will change the playing field in the media arena in the new millennium. ...e-commerce is going to be a thing of the future. TCS will be there when that happens."

Adds Mr Ang Miah Boon, Managing Director, IBM, "Through e-Link, TCS and its business partners reap the real benefits of what IBM calls e-business - the business of harnessing Web-based technologies to become more productive, to communicate more effectively with more people. We believe that e-business is about winning - it is about integrating the Web with your core business processes to create business value."

Issued by Airtime Sales & Marketing, Television Corporation of Singapore.

For more information on e-Link, please contact:

Lily Chua
Assistant Vice-President, Airtime Sales & Marketing, TCS
Tel : (65) 6371 7561
Fax : (65) 6270 1403
email : lilychua@singnet.com.sg

Ng Hwee See
Trade Marketing Manager, Airtime Sales & Marketing, TCS
Tel : (65) 6371 7578
Fax : (65) 6270 1403
email : hweesee@tcs.com.sg