MDA orders SingTel to cross-carry BPL matches

[Civic2000]

2 HOURS 3 MIN AGO

 

SINGAPORE - The Media Development Authority (MDA) has directed SingNet Pte Ltd (SingNet) to cross-carry the Barclays Premier League "live" matches over the next three seasons, starting from the 2013-14 season.

 

Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) had announced back in Oct 2012 that it had acquired non-exclusive broadcast rights to all BPL "live" games for the next three seasons from Aug 2013 from the Football Association Premier League Limited (FAPL) for Mio TV, its subscription TV platform.

 

However, after studying the agreement between SingTel and FAPL, the MDA found that it contained certain clauses that can prevent or restrict the same content from being acquired for transmission by other pay-TV retailers in Singapore.

 

The MDA said that it would not be disclosing further details of these restrictions.

 

What is clear, however, is that the restrictions trigger the Cross-Carriage Measure.

 

According to this measure, which kicked in on Aug 1 2011, pay-TV retailers who have acquired any exclusive content on or after March 12, 2010, must widen the distribution of such content by offering it to subscribers of other pay-TV retailers.

 

As such, SingNet must now begin the process of enabling the cross-carriage of the BPL programme on rival pay-TV retailer StarHub's platform.

 

When contacted, StarHub welcomed the latest development.

 

Said Jeannie Ong, its Head of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations in a statement: "We welcome the decision of the Media Development Authority (MDA) to make the Barclays Premier League (BPL) subject to the cross-carriage measure.

 

"Singapore viewers are the biggest beneficiaries of this decision and we are excited to be able to bring the BPL to our customers on our reliable network once again."

 

The telco, which announced last month that it was finally able to open negotiations with the FAPL, five months after SingTel's announcement in Oct 2012, added that "in light of MDA's decision, there is no longer a necessity for us to acquire the broadcast rights directly from FAPL."

 

SingTel, however, expressed its disappointment at the decision, and said that it would be making an appeal.

 

Said Allen Lew, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Telecommunications for its 'Digital L!fe' division in a statement: "We are gravely disappointed with MDA's decision requiring SingNet to cross carry BPL content as it disadvantages both the consumers and the industry.

 

"We fully intend to appeal this decision and seek legal recourse if necessary. We assure football fans that we will fight hard so they can continue to enjoy the content that they love at reasonable prices."

 

He warned too that football fans who want to watch the BPL on its own, without subscribing to Mio TV, will probably have to pay "significantly higher fees".

 

"We will ensure that existing SingTel customers who are on contracts will not be affected," he said.

 

"However, those who wish to watch BPL on its own will most likely have to pay significantly higher monthly fees.

 

"This is because it will become untenable for SingTel to subsidise the cost of BPL for such customers."

 

http://www.todayonline.com/sports/mda-orde...-league-matches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Othello]

He warned too that football fans who want to watch the BPL on its own, without subscribing to Mio TV, will probably have to pay "significantly higher fees".

 

"We will ensure that existing SingTel customers who are on contracts will not be affected," he said.

 

"However, those who wish to watch BPL on its own will most likely have to pay significantly higher monthly fees.

 

"This is because it will become untenable for SingTel to subsidise the cost of BPL for such customers."

 

bastaurds !!!! I'll boycott Singtel for life PUI !!

[Watwheels]

He warned too that football fans who want to watch the BPL on its own, without subscribing to Mio TV, will probably have to pay "significantly higher fees".

 

"We will ensure that existing SingTel customers who are on contracts will not be affected," he said.

 

"However, those who wish to watch BPL on its own will most likely have to pay significantly higher monthly fees.

 

"This is because it will become untenable for SingTel to subsidise the cost of BPL for such customers."

 

bastaurds !!!! I'll boycott Singtel for life PUI !!

So unreliable. Skali black out again on the most exciting part of the match. Kenna sai.

 

Anyway their clauses are anti-competitive. How come CCS never probe stinktel or anything?

[Kiadaw]

We have many charity organisations in Singapore. Housing that cost well over a 1/4 million are subsidise, BPL matches are also subsidise.

[Notsogoodman]

He warned too that football fans who want to watch the BPL on its own, without subscribing to Mio TV, will probably have to pay "significantly higher fees".

 

"We will ensure that existing SingTel customers who are on contracts will not be affected," he said.

 

"However, those who wish to watch BPL on its own will most likely have to pay significantly higher monthly fees.

 

"This is because it will become untenable for SingTel to subsidise the cost of BPL for such customers."

 

bastaurds !!!! I'll boycott Singtel for life PUI !!

 

 

That's why we need Starhub!!!

[Yewheng]

That's why we need Starhub!!!

 

Ya lor, make sure starhub keep press on, don't let singtel dominate.

Edited April 24, 2013 by Yewheng

[LoverofCar]

The most important part is...''DO WE GET TO WATCH IT CHEAPER?''....

[Felipe]

last time world cup, i use singtel. i always know when a goal will be scored cos my neighbour use starhub. it was totally not worth the money.

[Rezorn86]

y not mda cant be more fair abit by free broadcast for mediac0ck

Edited April 24, 2013 by Rezorn86

[LoverofCar]

last time world cup, i use singtel. i always know when a goal will be scored cos my neighbour use starhub. it was totally not worth the money.

 

 

haha...delay telecast....

[LoverofCar]

y not mda cant be more fair abit by free broadcast for mediac0ck

 

but doing that....those fat cows sitting on top of these corp eat sai liao..

[Galantspeedz]

last time world cup, i use singtel. i always know when a goal will be scored cos my neighbour use starhub. it was totally not worth the money.

 

euro cup.... my friend in south africa, i in sg using SH, he can tell me score goal liao 30 secs before i see it on my tv

[Gitanic]

y not mda cant be more fair abit by free broadcast for mediac0ck

that would be sunrise from the west for MDA

[Little_prince]

singtel also one kind of b------d one

[Spanly]

Moving forwards does it means Starhub will get to broadcast all those channels such as Jiale, F1 from SingTel whereas SingTel will get TVB, History, HBO etc???

 

With this, who will want be the gudu to start off negotiation with the content providers since the party who do nothing will also eventually get to host the program

[Shorty]

hopefully bcos of this, watching BPL will b cheaper. singtel will wanna make their customers stay on. starhub will wanna take away the customers. n with starhub having better channels besides BPL, i'm sure if the price is good, a lot will take starhub.

[Bencts]

I think singtel really drop a stone on their foot. By signing these clauses with FAPL the consequences are

 

1) there might be compensation

2) their projected returns on investment will be affected

3) affecting their strategic and market position

4) public opinion turning against them

 

Going forward it means that these operators will push for bundle pricing, and channels will cost substantially more if subscribe alone. Which make sense, as it is one of the most significant ways to differenciate their service offering.

 

They will still have to bid contents which provide strategic value to their bundles, but standalone subscription will disincentivise both internal and external customers

 

 

 

 

[Sdxx]

I very angry with Singtel. When they first came in, there was no separate charges for FA cup, euro cup and CL but now you have to pay extra for all this. In Starhub time, sport package and everything in. Then now the CEO complained may have to raise price cos cannot 'subsidise' rival company's customers. But Starhub just kept quiet when they have to offer euro 12 to Singtel customers. I say Singtel shouldn't bother with football right from the start.