Coming Soon In August
LIVE & EXCLUSIVE
ON
21 July 2010
In just a month's time , soccer fans here will have to get used to watching their favourite EPL clubs in Action on a weekly basis on a brand new platform , that comes with a whole lot of new viewing experience , as beginning from this Season onwards , LIVE EPL Matches will be shown on SingTel miotv , instead of on Starhub Football Channel . Under the broadcasting rights , this will remain so for the next three years till Year 2013 ( 2012 / 2013 Season ) , for which the teleco company paid an estimated price of 400 million for it . But the question is , is it really worth that much money , now especially with the World Cup that has just concluded ?
Also , is it still worth making the switch over too , if u were previously a Starhub Cable TV Subscriber , just for the sake of nine months of EPL ? A number of soccer fans here are beginning to have their doubts too . And some are not about to make the switch just yet , and are adopting a wait and see approach . And they sure have their reasons for doing so .
The England national team crashed out of the World Cup at the Round of 16 Stage to Germany , and by a big margin too ( 4 - 1 ) . Secondly , the big name stars who ply their trade in the EPL , and who were expected to perform on this big stage all failed miserably . Wayne Rooney who have been firing all season for Man United did not manage to register a single goal to his name . Steven Gerrard , besides scoring the opening goal in the opening group match against the USA , fired blanks for the Three Lions for the rest of their matches . Jermaine Defoe only scored in England's last World Cup match ( in the Round of 16 Clash against Germany) . Frank Lampard could have his name on the scoresheet too in the same match , but it was to be a case of ' the goal that wasn't ' as all the referees unbelievably did not see the ball having crossed the goalline , and denying them the equaliser , which would have put them level at 2 - 2 going into the halftime break . Other that that , the England team were simply woeful and disappointing , to say the least .
Compare this to say , the Spanish League - the League which very often was being rated second best by many fans here in Singapore behind the EPL , now boost a team we can all proudly call world champions - Barcelona , with seven first team starters playing for that club . And that figure could very soon increase to eight or even nine , if rumours of Cesc Fabergas and Fernando Torres joining them from Arsenal and Liverpool respectively turns out to be true .
Even their catalan rivals - Real Madrid now have a big name Manager in Jose Mourinho this Season , a man who never fails to create miracles and making the impossible happen wherever he goes ! They also had a golden glove winner in goalkeeper Iker Casillas , and not forgetting Diego Forlan , whose superb goals saw Uruguay make it to the semifinals and eventually finishing fourth . He was joint top scorers with five goals and also won himself the Golden Ball Award . He had really continued with his impressive club form onto the world national stage , helping Atletico Madrid to the Europa League throphy and now to international honour for his country .
Even the German League suddenly becomes a much more interesting League to follow this season thanks to the German national team outstanding performance in the World Cup . And so , it is also of no surprise that very often Starhub Cable TV in their promo for the two Leagues that they will be carrying on their platform this year are constantly raving and seemed really proud of the achievements by the Spanish and the German national team in South Africa .
Now it seems that Starhub TV is indeed having the last laugh with what they are left with , hoping that with such great showing at the World Cup , they will be able to attract new fans , more viewers to follow the German and Spanish League this season for a change .
What about the EPL then where it was seen as really value for money when SingTel miotv paid a whopping 400 million for their three Seasons of broadcasting rights ? Now fans seems to be lukewarm and don't really feel very excited or are actually looking forward to the start of this new EPL Season which will kick off on 14 August 2010 , as compared to previous Seasons in the past .
The Community Shield - EPL traditional curtain raiser , usually held exactly one week before the commencement of the new EPL Season , will pit Chelsea - last Season's EPL & FA Cup Double Champions against League Runners up Man United at Wembley Stadium on the eve of National Day this year . The opening day Fixtures a week later also throws up some very exciting and mouth watering clashes too - Liverpool vs Arsenal , Man City vs Tottenham , Man United vs Newcastle United etc ...
So , will the England national team poor performance really have an adverse effect in the interests of local fans here towards the new EPL Season this year , as they opt for a switch to watching and following the Spanish League and German League instead ? This will be a time to see how loyal and faithful Singapore fans are towards their favourite EPL clubs that they have been supporting for a long time . Calling all Man United , Liverpool , Chelsea , Arsenal fans out there , are / will u still be with them this season ?
The new German League Season kicks off on 22 August 2010 onwards , while the Spanish League begins at the last weekend of this month on 29 August 2010 .
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