SINGAPORE: Nothing, it seems, will stop Singapore football
fans from catching the South African World Cup live on television
next year, with fans saying they are willing to pay more to watch
the month—long tournament on television from June 11.
In a report on Tuesday, it was revealed that FIFA and joint—bidders
SingTel and StarHub have yet to come to an agreement over broadcast
fees, which industry sources say have tripled since the Germany
World Cup in 2006.
But over 200 countries have already reached an agreement with the
football’s world governing body, with Malaysia’s only pay—TV,
Astro, sealing theirs more than a year ago.
It is likely fans will resort to crossing the Causeway or to other
neighbouring countries come June, or even tap into Malaysian and
Indonesian free—to—air television to watch all 64 matches in the
World Cup, if the telcos fail to secure the rights to beam them
live here.
"I really don’t mind paying more, $30 to $50 extra for the World
Cup, which comes only every four years, is not a lot," said Richard
Neubronner, who is backing Brazil and England.
"But I hope SingTel and StarHub will let us know early if they will
show the matches live. The World Cup falls during the peak school
holidays and if they are not showing the matches, I need to book my
air tickets and hotel to probably Thailand before they are all
fully booked. Might as well go for a holiday at the same time."
Agreeing, teacher Eugene Ng, who is backing Spain, said
football—crazy fans will absorb a one—time increase in fees for the
World Cup if they have to but added it must also make business
sense to the two telcos.
"I think from a business point of view it is quite easy to
sympathise with SingTel and StarHub," said the 29—year—old.
"I don’t think it is really their duty to bring the World Cup to
us. They need to make a profit as well but I hope they will make it
fair for us if they are going to charge us. I don’t mind paying up
to $30 more or I will find another way through the Internet to
watch the games."
Fans across the Causeway are not caught in a similar dilemma as
they won’t be charged extra to watch the World Cup matches.
Astro’s head of sports C K Lee said the company paid about three
times more for the broadcast rights than four years ago but besides
commercial reasons, considers it a national service.
The pay—TV company have about 2.3 million subscribers and the
matches will be accessible to those who have already opted for
their RM$67 sports package.
"I think all broadcasters had expected to pay more for this World
Cup," said Lee. "For us, to keep our subscriber base, we consider
it a worthwhile cost to pay for the television rights because it is
the biggest sporting event in the world."
With six months to go before the big kick—off in South Africa,
World Sports Group chief operating officer Andrew Georgiou is
confident that cooler heads will prevail.
"I am 100 per cent confident that FIFA and the telcos will find a
way to make it work at a price that the market will pay. In my
opinion, there will be little chance for the World Cup not being
broadcast in Singapore. It is not in FIFA or the television
networks’ interest," said Georgiou.
Responding to further queries, both SingTel and StarHub they will
pursue to secure the rights from FIFA.
"The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be aired by free—to—air broadcasters
in some markets, so pay TV is not the only option. Nonetheless, we
are interested to secure the telecast rights of the World Cup and
will continue to negotiate with FIFA in an attempt to reach an
agreement, so as to make the event available to the broadest number
of our customers," they said.
— TODAY/ir
