' Thanks ... But NO Thanks . Starhub & SingTel ' ! ... Says Most Singapore Soccer Fans

9 May 2010

Singapore soccer fans are not exactly very happy and celebrating after news of Starhub & SingTel having finalised the long running World Cup Broadcast deal with FIFA , all because of the high price that they had to pay . Local soccer fans were quick to make their feelings known about the high price being charged to enjoy all 64 World Cup Matches LIVE via our two Pay TV platforms - Starhub TV and SingTel miotv . Most soccer fans were put off by the high subscription price that some had already considered turning to other alternatives such as watching the LIVE Matches from neighbouring Free To Air TV Channels such as Malaysia RTM 1 & RTM 2 and Indonesia RCTI Channel , or even to catch it Online via Free Live Streaming sites .

Many had expressed their unhappiness online via Facebook and on various Internet Forums . Some had even gone to the extent of setting up a Facebook Group - ' I Will Not Subscribe To SingTel and Starhub FIFA World Cup Coverage ' to voice their unhappiness . On the day that the news broke out that the two telecos had clinched the deal , along with their pricing plans , this Facebook Site had already attracted 91 Fans . Today , this number has already grown to a whopping 920 people , while others simply went to Starhub Official Facebook Page and made their voices heard on how they really feel about the World Cup Package .

Some of the comments made by local soccer fans on Facebook :

" even though they calculated that it's only 1 dollar a match but who the hell watch all the matches ? I have given up on BPL . Giving up the WC is alright too . Can always watch it on the internet . "

" Not worth . We are only interested in watching the big teams plays . No one will be watching all the 64 matches . Don't be a fool . We are not paying $1 per match . You should introduce a pay per view option and charge us $1 per match . "

" Hands up on who wants to watch Algeria vs Slovenia , Paraguay vs Slovakia , New Zealand vs Slovakia , Paraguay vs New Zealand , Honduras vs Chile , Switzerland vs Honduras and Chile vs Switzerland ? I wonder if South Korea vs Greece would have people rushing to the coffeeshops to catch those matches ? "

" Watch 1 match = $1 = cheaper than 1 cuppa coffee = Singaporeans biggest losers . Other countries are watching it for FREE !!! "

" this is not about money and affordability . Both the telco company has make Singapore a laughing joke . They have now showed the world that when Singapore need to buy anything/services , anyone can just simply jackup the price and hold us to ransom . Because they know we will give in and simply pay up. Singapore has show the world we are a joke . Give the mouse a cookie, and it'll ask for a glass of milk . This will keep coming and coming as both stupid teleco has kick start it ! "

" In HK , pay tv , world cup HD is S$50 and that includes their sports package too . Not simply world cup only . "

" Some countries get free coverage from their national TVs . That doesn't mean that us whom are world class country have to pay a "world class" price over the others . Because some other world class countries pay lesser than us . Competition is meant to create a lower cost but exclusivity would lead to a higher cost . I will not sign up . Period ! "

" we can catch it on RTM 1 , but the concern is the quality of the signal . "

" i will definitely not subscribe ! From $15 to $66? "

" sorry too expensive , will not sign up . "

" I would rather also watch via RCTI or RTM 1 & RTM 2 .. Don't be surprised if signals are mysteriously "disrupted" during WC period "

" with my monthly subscription I will end up paying over $150 dollars just to watch world cup ... OMG ! I will not even consider this .. I rather boycott this world cup match , the price tag is completely un-reasonable . I would rather watch via RCTI or RTM 1 & RTM 2 .. "

" I would probably be able to catch the tournament on RCTI Indonesia without even having to fork a single cent for it . "

" stop making us pay so much to watch and enjoy this beautiful game . The pricing offer is too much for the masses . Besides even existing sport group customers pay the same amount . Alternative method to catch the live games on TV is through RTM Malaysia or RCTI Indonesia ... "

" Malaysia's channel tv1 n tv2 shows free live matches .. furthermore , not all matches we Singaporeans watch . It'll be a waste of $ to just watch 1 match . "

" Get a cheap antenna and watch for free . "

Good that SG has telecast rights to World Cup 2010 . But , I won't be one of the subscribers or a carrothead . "

" others so called 3rd world country is showing it to their population for FREE . We , the so called 1st world country can't even do the same ? Shame .. Shame .. Shame ... "

" is too expensive to watch world cup nowadays I will not subscribe !!!! "

" Offer pay per view ... I will pay $10 to watch Brazil vs Spain ..... I wouldn't pay 50 cents to watch New Zealand play Slovakia . $1 a game ? Ha ha ha . "

" While I understand the reason behind the package , I think it is time for the consumers to exercise their rights . For whatever reason , sorry guys I won't be taking up your package . As a die hard soccer fan , I think missing the World Cup is not the end of world ... "

" Don't plead to us . We wanna know answers . Why then can our neighbouring countries offer the WC on their free-to-air channels then ? Isn't the emergence of competition of 2 telcos supposed to bring down prices ? What happened to all the advertising dollars that I'm sure companies have put in prior to this WC announcement ? Singaporeans are no longer stupid . We refuse to be hoodwinked !! "

" Heard that Hong Kong's pay tv is charging S$50 for the World Cup 64 matches too . but their S$50 includes the normal sports packages too . Are we paying too much than HK ? "