Sports fans are hoping for better
programming and moderate price increases from cable operator
StarHub after it won the exclusive rights to screen the English
Premier League matches in Singapore for the next three seasons
starting from 2007.
The company clinched the deal over rivals SingTel and the current
right's holders, ESPN StarSports.
Football, especially the English kind, is a favourite among
Singaporeans so it was a coup of sorts for StarHub to clinch the
deal.
But the bad news is fans might have to pay more to watch their
favourite sport.
StarHub claims that securing the EPL telecast rights does not come
cheap, driven partly by the escalating costs of sports
rights.
But it assures its customers it will do everything possible to
minimise the increase.
This is not the first time fees charges been raised.
In 2004, fees for the sports group of channels were raised from $8
to the current $15.
"As a viewer, we are at their mercy, as so to speak, because they
are the monopoly. So we want to watch and there is no choice, we
have to pay for it," said one EPL fan.
"If you want to catch EPL at all cost, I think you wouldn't mind
forking out a bit more," said another.
Cost aside, content is another issue with sports fans.
StarHub says it hopes to deliver a richer EPL experience to
subscribers
