By Joy Fang

IF STARHUB were to carry SingTel's football programming on its channels, SingTel would ask why its mio TV could not carry StarHub's exclusive programmes too, said Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew.

So, if the Government were to step in to support such an option, it would work towards something "fair and equitable, and must not be so specific to a certain genre in that it is just soccer", he said.

Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui was responding to a question at a dialogue session with residents and grassroots leaders at Xinmin Primary School yesterday, by a resident in favour of StarHub carrying mio TV football content.

He said: "If we are to change any ground rules and the overall landscape, we ought to make sure that we take a more comprehensive look across the different genre types and (also)...give extended notice to service providers so that they can factor this into their bidding process for programmes."

His comments come in the wake of a furore which began last month when SingTel outbid StarHub for Barclays Premier League telecast rights.

Earlier this month, StarHub offered to host SingTel's pay-TV content on its set-top box for free. SingTel declined.

The Government is reviewing regulations governing competition in the pay-TV market. "Ultimately, the consumers will have to decide for themselves whether they want either StarHub or SingTel, or whether they are prepared to have both," said RADM Lui.

During the dialogue, he also addressed residents' concerns about the recent Housing Board property-tax hike, noting that - despite the economic downturn - HDB prices have been increasing.

The longer the delay in raising the tax, he said, the larger the hike would be if HDB prices continue to rise.

"So what the Ministry of National Development has decided to do is to increase the property tax to reflect prevailing HDB property prices, but also give additional rebates," he said.

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore will also be setting up 100 Internet hot spots for senior citizens, which will make computers and Internet services available for free, announced RADM Lui.

To be completed by 2012, this is in line with the Silver Infocomm Initiative, which aims to train 30,000 elderly in infocomm skills by next year.

The hot spots will be located at accessible locations where senior citizens can congregate, such as at community centres and Senior Citizen Connect areas.

joyfang@sph.com.sg

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