SINGAPORE - It is almost certain that Singaporeans will, after all, get
their dose of World Cup football on television from June 11 to July 11.
After months of uncertainty for fans, MediaCorp understands an
announcement by joint bidders SingTel and StarHub on broadcast details
is just around the corner.
Both companies had been locked in a stalemate with Fifa's Asia sales
representatives, Football Media Services (FMS), since December over
broadcast rights fees.
The standoff had gripped the country and last Friday, Acting Minister
for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew told
Parliament the telcos had recently submitted a new offer to FMS and he
was hopeful of "a sensible outcome".
The initial bid was believed to be in the region of $40 million and the
latest offer has apparently struck a chord with FMS, breaking the
deadlock.
"The latest negotiation with FMS has progressed very well and we can
expect an announcement by the two pay-TV operators before the end of the
month," a highly-placed source told MediaCorp.
When contacted, both SingTel and StarHub declined to comment. Neither
would the head of the Fifa representative's Asia headquarters in
Singapore, Mr Michael Francombe.
News of an imminent announcement was greeted with cheer by fans and pub
operators.
Mr Dennis Foo, chief executive officer of St James Holdings which
operates the St James Power Station at Harbour Front and outlets at
Clarke Quay and Orchard Road, said he never doubted a deal could be
reached. "(The World Cup) is once every four years and the climax of
football. Without the live broadcasts, our business will be 50 per cent
down; with it, we will be 50 per cent up," he said.
Indeed, it is good news for food and beverage outlets with the World Cup
broadcasts encouraging people to go out more and stay out longer during
the tournament, said Mr Michael Ma, founder of the Indochine chain of
pubs and restaurants. "The impact will be huge for us."
With less than three months before the kick-off, analysts said there is
still time for SingTel and StarHub to round up enough sponsorship to
offset the cost of beaming the World Cup live.
"They would have lined up their sponsors way ahead of time," said Mr
Kenneth Liew, senior analyst at IDC Asia/Pacific.
"So if they have struck a deal, sponsors can be activated and this can
help bring down their cost."
Gartner Research's director of carrier operations and strategies, Mr
King Yew Tong, added that the telcos' joint bid will not prevent
competition for subscribers. "This is an opportunity to increase their
base," he said.
"They could offer a discount for the World Cup by packaging it with
their current offerings on their respective networks to attract new
subscribers and even try to retain existing ones," said Mr King.
For sports buff Kelvin Tan, it is all about the telcos' reciprocation to
fans who have endured yearly increases in fees to watch football,
especially the English Premiership, on pay-TV. He hopes the World Cup
rates will be reasonable.
Said the 30-year-old banker: "They owe it to us, their loyal football
fans, to give us the World Cup at an affordable price after all the
hikes."
Source: http://www.todayonline.com/Sports/ED...d-of-the-month