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