Foul!

BURDENING consumers with price hikes is not the solution, as Singtel, StarHub and Mediacorp announced an unprecedented partnership to broadcast in Singapore the upcoming World Cup. Collaborating for the first time ever, the three entities had in their joint release today (April 25), said fans will pay the same prices as they did to watch the 2014 edition.  Packages for all 64 matches will be made available on Singtel TV, Singtel TV GO, CAST, StarHub TV, StarHub Go, Mediacorp's Toggle. Singaporeans will pay S$94.16 (RM277.50) for the early bird price which will last till May 22. Those who sign up after that date will have to fork out S$112.35 (RM331.11). Nine matches will be aired on free-to-air television. According to Straits Times , the three companies started discussions last year and paid some S$25 million (RM73 million) to secure the broadcasting rights – a slight increase from 2014. ST quoted Deloitte Singapore and Southeast Asia sports business group leader Ja...

Screen grab from http://singaporenewsalternative.blogspot.my/2014/06/snapshot-starhub-blocks-rtms-tv1-to.html THE 2018 World Cup is about two months away. It, however, remains unclear if RTM will air any of the matches live from Russia. Those in the thick of negotiations revealed RTM was offered 42 matches, including the opening match between Russia and Saudi Arabia, selected matches in the knockout stages and the final, for “a sum close to RM31 million”. The matter has been brought up to RTM’s “top management” but no decision has been made as yet. It is believed the top guns have not committed to the large sum due to the looming 14th general election. “The team is waiting for the top management to give the green light. I must admit it’s not cheap,” said a source. “It is some RM10 million more than what RTM paid for the last World Cup in Brazil.” RTM screened 35 matches during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil - 24 live telecasts and 11 delayed telecasts on its TV1, TV2 and ...

I JUST don't understand the hype over Despacito . I really don't. I first heard the song after it made it No. 1 in the US and quickly became a global hit. Despacito , which means 'slowly', has set a new global streaming record of 4.6 billion streams in only six months and has been declared the official song of the summer. To me, it sounds like any other Latin American song. Ok, to give it a little more credit, it's a perfect Zumba song. That's it. Then again, music is subjective. RTM has banned Despacito from its radio and television stations. It's not like their radio and television stations enjoy great ratings compared to their privately-owned counterparts. Some quarters, such as the women's wing of Parti Amanah Negara (Awan), have called for the broadcast of the song to be stopped, alleging obscene lyrics. Ban an afterthought? Didn't anyone check the lyrics before they started singing or airing it? Also, how many people ou...

As published in Malay Mail today Haresh Says By Haresh Deol THE inability to plan ahead continues to plague the M-League. The new season kicks off in nine days — Premier League starts a day before the Super League – yet the guardians of the domestic league are struggling to tackle many issues — from broadcasting rights to deciding on the official match ball. This year is supposed to be the start of the “professional era”, a term observers have heard on numerous occasions. But beyond the ties and suits donned by officials, Malaysian football is still amateur in so many ways. Football Limited Liability Partnership Malaysia (FMLLP), the newly-formed body tasked with injecting professionalism into the scene, has yet to secure the broadcasting rights. Its chief executive officer, Kevin Ramalingam, the man who was once part of Kelantan FA, was quoted in Sunday Mail as saying the delay is because MP & Silva is still locked in discussions with pot...

As published in Sunday Mail today Malaysian badminton fans have been left disappointed for far too long and only by winning the Thomas Cup would renew their faith into the sport, says Tan Sri Elyas Omar. Elyas, who was the Badminton Association of Malaysia president when the nation last won the prestigious tournament in 1992, hoped the national shuttlers would remain composed as they take on Japan in the final at the Siri Fort Stadium in New Delhi, India, at 3pm local time (5.30pm in Malaysia). “Yes, of course (fans have been left disappointed) ... for the past 22 years,” said Elyas, who was also former mayor of Kuala Lumpur. “This is the best chance and I believe they did not even expect to play in the final given the line-up but let’s not put pressure on them, let’s motivate them instead.” Elyas said the players must overcome the pressure and maintain their fighting spirit instead of being jittery on the court. He recalled the motivational words he uttered to former ...

I just cannot understand how RTM has been asked to only send only ONE broadcast journalist to cover the 26th Sea Games in Indonesia. I am equally "amazed" to the contents of the report compiled by the University of Sterling about the National Sports Council's (NSC) interference in National Sports Associations. Now we know why the poor Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek is struggling to promote his Sports Industry notion. His friends from the Information Ministry don't seem to give a damn about sports while the NSC, oh well...you all know best. RTM staff are disgruntled while NSAs were finally able to revealed their true feelings about NSC. All this and more in From the Sidelines today - a First class joke . HD says: Is hooked Let's Roll by The Darlings.