By Rachel Chan

HYPOTHETICALLY, the Government could tell a service provider hoping to offer Barclays Premier League (BPL) programming how much it could charge subscribers - then let the provider work out how much it could afford to bid for the broadcast rights.

But a move like this, even if intended to keep prices low for viewers, may backfire and deprive them of programming altogether, said Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, in Parliament yesterday.

"Bear in mind...the content owner (such as the Football Association Premier League) might very well say that 'I will not sell to Singapore' (because of low bids), and we would be at a greater loss, particularly for the consumers who feel that they are prepared to pay the price for the package," he added.

SingTel's success in outbidding StarHub CableTV for the BPL broadcast rights had initially caused nationwide debate.

Consumers voiced concerns that they might have to pay a lot more to get their football fix, apart from the hassle of switching pay-TV providers.

StarHub has since reassured its sports-package subscribers that those cancelling contracts signed before Oct 1 would not be charged earlytermination fees. SingTel has also announced prices comparable to those of StarHub's current sports packages.

StarHub had a 13-year hold on the BPL before Sing- Tel seized a three-year deal.

For those worried that key sporting events may one day be carried only on pay TV, RADM Lui affirmed that the Media Development Authority requires events like the Olympic Games and SEA Games to be made available on free-to-air TV.

For World Cup football, meanwhile, the biggest games will also be available on free-to-air.

rachchan@sph.com.sg

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