| |
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 S$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."
- TODAY/il
|
