Singtel will drop Singapore-based regional channel TechStorm from 29 Nov. The telco told subscibers that technical issues had forced the indie channel off air. 

“We’ve had to close the channel due to technical issues caused by our partner’s broadcasting source,” the telco said in a note to subscribers. On-screen crawlers started running on Friday. 

Singtel said the channel had been running on a free-to-air basis and therefore no adjustments would be made to subscription packages. The telco pointed subscribers to other complimentary channels on Singtel TV, including Outdoor Channel, for lifestyle shows. 

Singtel’s official notice follows weeks of rumours about a possible closure. Techstorm did not respond to initial emails sent from the end of October. 
TechStorm founder, Debbie Lee, said today, in response to another request, that “there is no change to our distribution”. 

She did not address the SingTel channel decision, and said TechStorm was still available in Singapore on meWatch and WeWatch and on 100+ platforms in Southeast. Lee did not comment on whether the distribution deals were for the full channel or on-demand programming. 

A search on meWatch showed a slate of short-form programming availableon-demand.  It’s not clear if alternative play-out facilities have been secured.