Singtel secures EPL for 3 more years from 2016.....

[Piyopico]

At a higher price......

 

Shit man. Can't they bid low and secure the damn rights. After all it will be subjected to cross carriage. Not exclusive at all so no bragging rights.

 

I think football fans are screwed AGAIN.

 

 

[Piyopico]

Lim Say Heng, Gregory LooTHE NEW PAPER

Wednesday, Nov 11, 2015

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How much do we have to pay?

 

 

 

That is the question that many English Premier League fans in Singapore are asking, after Singtel TV announced yesterday that the pay-television provider has secured the rights to broadcast the English Premier League for the next three seasons, starting from August next year.

 

Singtel has held the rights to broadcast the popular league here since the 2010-2011 season.

 

In a release yesterday, Singtel's Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Singapore, Yuen Kuan Moon said: "We are delighted to bring the Barclays Premier League to Singaporeans for another three seasons.

 

"Singtel TV fans can be assured that their football experience stays uninterrupted at rates that remain affordable."

 

But fans wonder if they would have to pay more to see the likes of Sergio Aguero and Alexis Sanchez in action from next season.

 

SHARED CONTENT

 

In 2013, Singtel announced that its standalone EPL packages would cost $59.90 per month, after the Media Development Authority (MDA) mandated that Singtel had secured an exclusive deal with the Premier League to broadcast EPL matches here from 2013 to the end of the current season.

 

Under the cross-carriage rules, the telecommunications giant had to share exclusive content with its rivals upon request, which StarHub did.

 

Before that change, Singtel offered EPL coverage under its Sports+ bundles, which cost $34.90 per month.

 

In response to stories online on Singtel's announcement yesterday, Facebook user Wai Zai said: "It doesn't matter who gets the rights, the more important point is how much they are going to charge subscribers."

 

Another Facebook user, Tj Frederike Jin, said: "Cross-carriage of EPL is costly too. (You pay) $60 a month just for EPL on a two-year contract.

 

"There is a three-month break every season, so you are actually paying $1,440 for only 18 months, which works out to a costly $80 per month for just EPL only."

 

Deng Lei added: "Now, it seems like I have to cancel (my subscription) and there'd be no need to argue with my kids (on what to watch) during match days."

 

According to a Daily Mail report last month, Singtel forked out £190.1 million ($408.8m) to secure its current broadcast deal, the highest for any individual company.

 

Singtel and the Premier League both declined to comment on the accuracy of the report in previous media queries, but the journalist behind the Daily Mail report, Nick Harris, told The New Paper that he had "been following these matters closely for 20 years" and that he has "good inside information about a lot of TV deals relating to the Premier League".

 

In response to TNP's queries yesterday, Singtel declined to reveal the amount of their winning bid for the new deal, or if the new deal is an exclusive one, and therefore subject to cross-carriage.

 

Singtel's Managing Director, Home, Consumer Singapore, Goh Seow Eng, said: "Cross-carriage is a matter for the regulator to handle.

 

"We will work with all relevant parties to make sure fans get access to the best league experience."

 

In response to queries, a StarHub spokesman said: "StarHub was engaged in the bidding process for the Premier League.

 

"In a climate of ever-increasing cost of sports rights, we tried to acquire content at a sensible rate to keep the Premier League affordable for the majority of viewers in Singapore.

 

"While we are disappointed that we did not win, we have been advised that the rights were won on an exclusive basis and hence the content would be subject to cross-carriage, in accordance with MDA's cross-carriage regime."

 

It is likely that Singtel had to fork out a significantly larger amount of money in the new deal, as compared to 2012, when it won the rights from 2013-2016.

 

After all, the Premier League inked a record British TV rights deal in February with broadcasters Sky and BT worth £5.136 billion ($11b) - a 70 per cent increase on their existing deal.

 

Broadcast network NBC also extended its current broadcast deal in the United States by six years, starting next season, at the cost of about US$1b ($1.42b), or US$166m a year.

 

The broadcaster pays about US$83m a year under the current deal, according to a New York Times report in August.

 

While new subscription rates for Singtel's football packages will be out in "due course", Goh said: "Suffice to say, Singtel is committed to keeping rates affordable for football fans, and all Singtel customers will continue to enjoy their football content at the best prices."

 

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/singtel-rates-will-remain-affordable#sthash.cA2fvn4h.dpuf

[Lala81]

No joint bid?

[Spring]

I've always felt that EPL fans will continue to pay for quality football in their living rooms but now I'm feeling that it's almost at saturation point n so the next pricing n more importantly its acceptance by our viewing public is all important.

 

Low acceptance rate n MIO will be screwed for the next 3 yrs n perhaps a lesson on not to bid so high. Strong acceptance n they will be vindicated n continue with their win at all cost policy. We shall see how this pans out by Aug 2016, hopefully our EPL fans get a fair deal, good luck to us!!

[Piyopico]

No joint bid?

Nope. StarHub outbidded.

 

I am like wtf. These two are idiots.

 

I will go for streaming. They are killing themselves. Singtel being the biggest idiot.

[Thaiyotakamli]

Singtel haolian want bid high then pass the cost to us. Nb those who still going suscribe to them means u supporting them to bid higher next time

Edited November 11, 2015 by Thaiyotakamli

[Vid]

EPL is just like COE. Everybody complains COE blardy expensive but still got lots of people buy cars. EPL subscription expensive but people still want to watch.

 

 

Singtel has nothing to worry about.

[Lala81]

EPL is just like COE. Everybody complains COE blardy expensive but still got lots of people buy cars. EPL subscription expensive but people still want to watch.

 

Singtel has nothing to worry about.

 

Not really. Among my friends, only one still has a subscription. All of us can well afford it, but paying 80 bucks to watch like 1-2 games over the weekend.

 

It's really getting too expensive for the average fan to watch.

Edited November 11, 2015 by Lala81

[Ktglfc]

They bid so high ... who's the winner?

None !

 

All Singaporeans are the losers and same go to the 2 bidders ...

[Hamburger]

one thing i have learn living in singapore.

 

Do not complain. If not intervention will comes in and thats when you bleed even more.

[Bismarck]

EPL is just like COE. Everybody complains COE blardy expensive but still got lots of people buy cars. EPL subscription expensive but people still want to watch.

 

 

Singtel has nothing to worry about.

 

No not me. Not since Starhub increase subscription fee from $15.xx to something, which has been donkey years ago. 

[Joseph22]

They bid so high ... who's the winner?

None !

 

All Singaporeans are the losers and same go to the 2 bidders ...

BPL Lor

[Vid]

Not really. Among my friends, only one still has a subscription. All of us can well afford it, but paying 80 bucks to watch like 1-2 games over the weekend.

 

It's really getting too expensive for the average fan to watch.

 

Well, from the looks of things, there is a sizable number of subscriptions for singtel to continue to bid high for it. Must be good business and still growing

[Galantspeedz]

This thread more suitable under complaints folder

[Kusje]

Well, from the looks of things, there is a sizable number of subscriptions for singtel to continue to bid high for it. Must be good business and still growing

 

Is it really possible based on the speculated 408 mil for 3 years?

 

408 mil for 3 years =

136 mil per yr =

11.33 mil per month

 

Based on 80 SGD per month subscription, that's 141,666 subscribers. Do we have that many?

[Vid]

Is it really possible based on the speculated 408 mil for 3 years?

 

408 mil for 3 years =

136 mil per yr =

11.33 mil per month

 

Based on 80 SGD per month subscription, that's 141,666 subscribers. Do we have that many?

 

So they rather lose money than to bid low? Even with the cross carriage ruling? Very hard to imagine

[Ingenius]

I doubt singtel is making profit from epl . They bid it is more of a social responsibility. Someone has to carry the flag even if it is a heavy one, and as the biggest isp they really don't have much choice. Many complain about the high subscription fee but singtel is probably the one who eats the biggest bitter pill but yet cannot complain.

Edited November 11, 2015 by Ingenius

[Piyopico]

I doubt singtel is making profit from epl . They bid it is more of a social responsibility. Someone has to carry the flag even if it is a heavy one, and as the biggest isp they really don't have much choice. Many complain about the high subscription fee but singtel is probably the one who eats the biggest bitter pill but yet cannot complain.

I dunnoe how their bidding works but if cross carriage mandates who ever wins still must offer to their competitor, then why not just bid $1. Ok, that's extreme but I see no reason to outbid anybody cos you are really bidding against yourself in Singapore's context.

 

Unless EPL sets a minimum bid.

 

For the record, I stopped subscription three years ago. Nobody gonna earn a single dollar from me. I rather watch at a pub and pay for a beer and get a crowd and ra ra then let these two idiots earn but that's just me. Anything more than $30 is too much.