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 ...

UPDATE (Jan 8, 12.49pm):   Sports are a nation builder and unifying factor. Sports should not be tainted with politically motivated agendas.  To politicians of both divides, don't use sports as a gimmick to win votes. Read the full article here .  --- ORIGINAL POST To whom it may concern, This is in reference to a pledge made by the youth wing of a political coalition, claiming it will broadcast all international sport matches including the English Premier League on state-owned Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) should it win the upcoming general elections. The full report "We'll show the Premier League on RTM if we win GE14, Pakatan Youth offers"  can be read here . I responded through a series of tweets as seen below: I believe my tweets are self-explanatory. For the uninitiated (and those who clearly failed to do their homework before making the pledge), I had touched on this subject in 2015 through my column Haresh Says: Who should Serie A...

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol IT started with an email from a long-time Juventus fan, Jason Ong. Ong, had in his Aug 13 email, said Serie A fans were disappointed upon learning Astro would not be airing the Italian league. “I would like to ask if there is anything you or Malay Mail can do to help us voice our disappointment,” he said. A Juve supporter for 20 years and committee member of Juventus Club Malaysia, Ong’s frustration is understandable. It mirrored the disappointment M-League fans suffered earlier this year as only selected matches were aired live. It remains unclear if there will be any live matches when the Malaysia Cup kicks-off next month. Upon obtaining clarification, I had on Aug 14, tweeted: “Astro is in the midst of negotiating broadcasting rights for Serie A. Sports ain’t cheap these days.” Yes, sports is not cheap. It was reported on July 10 that Telefonica had bought the La Liga rights for the 2015-2...