MDA’s content classification approach enables consumers to make informed media choices, whilst encouraging media companies to explore and provide a wider range of content that adheres to community standards.

In line with this approach, MDA introduced the co-classification initiative for the video industry in 2011. Industry representatives are trained to classify films under General (G), Parental Guidance (PG) and Parental Guidance 13 (PG13) ratings. By the end of 2012, 47 content assessors were accredited under the pilot scheme.

In the area of pay-TV, MDA granted SingNet’s mio TV (mio TV) and StarHub the approval for the launch of Restricted 21 (R21) content on their Video-on-Demand (VOD) platforms, as a step towards increasing media offerings for consumers while ensuring that safeguards are put in place to protect the young.

To prevent unauthorised access by the under-aged, the pay-TV operators are required to lock the R21 content by default and issue a unique R21 PIN only after verification of the customers’ identity and age. mio TV launched its R21 content on its VOD service in October 2012, and StarHub followed suit in January 2013.

In 2012, MDA also classified 10,525 videos, 1,178 films and 635 video game titles for distribution. The same year also saw MDA issuing 1,293 arts entertainment licences, facilitating the introduction of 214 new local publications and processing 682 imported publications.