SingTel

[CityFarmer]

M1 nationwide coverage readied around Sept last year, so Singtel is slightly more than 6 months late...

SingTel announces improved 4G network

SINGAPORE - SingTel today announced it has expanded its high speed 4G mobile network to offer nationwide coverage with speeds up to 150mbps.

The improved SingTel 4G network will offer street level coverage for 95 per cent of the island and will be extended to mrt tunnels, reservoirs and national parks soon.

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/sin...4g-network

[yanziyang]

Foolish Face-off: SingTel vs. Starhub
http://www.fool.sg/2013/04/foolish-face-...ocs0070001

[a74henry]

After comparisons, it's a tie. Obviously, he does not want to offend either of the Telco.

[CityFarmer]

Well, not too good a news for Singtel, but probably a good one for Starhub

MDA directs SingNet to Cross-Carry Barclays Premier League 2013 – 2016 Seasons

SINGAPORE — The Media Development Authority (MDA) has directed SingNet to offer the Barclays Premier League (BPL) 2013 – 2016 Seasons to other subscribers through the set-top boxes of qualified pay-TV retailers, in a decision which SingTel said it was "gravely disappointed" with.

SingTel has said in a statement that it will make an appeal, and seek legal recourse if necessary. It noted that existing SingTel customers who are on contracts will not be affected, although those who wish to watch the BPL on its own will "most most likely have to pay significantly higher monthly fees" as it will be "untenable" for SingTel to subsidise the cost of BPL for such customers.

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/mda...16-seasons

[lonewolf]

Oh. Thanks for the Todayonline link. I saw the Singtel announcement but could not find any accompanying details on the MDA ruling.

I'm trying to understand why Singtel should be 'gravely disappointed' with the decision. Because the way I see it, having to cross-carry BPL need not be a losing proposition for Singtel. They can charge 'significantly higher monthly fee' to comply with the ruling and leave it to the Starhub subscribers whether they want to bite or not. If they dun, well its no loss; but if they do, then its extra revenue for them. MDA never ruled that the price has to be the same for both platforms.

Should Singtel be concern that current MioTV subscribers will jump back to SCV and watch BPL from SCV STB? I think those BPL die-hards who has made the switch 3 yrs back is unlikely to do so. I doubt these subscribers will switch back to SCV just because of the cross carriage rules.

So what about those who has not switch the MioTV? If they are currently SCV subscribers, and if the price differential between the 2 platforms is significant enough, it may entice such viewers to switch to MioTV instead. The causal BPL followers who can live without watching live matches probably wont pay 'significantly higher monthly fees' just to watch BPL.

So why is Singtel so upset about the rule? Maybe perhaps they dun have the technical confidence to implement the cross-carriage rule to MDA standards? Who knows?

[UPDATE]
Goodness. Since the news have been filtering through, I've been reading some of the online comments. I may have underestimated the anger MioTV subscribers are with Singtel for screwing them over. And it appears that many will indeed switch to SCV. However, talk is cheap. I believe at the end of the day, cost will be the deciding factor. If Singtel charge $80-$100 for SCV subscribers to watch on Starhub STB, I doubt many will make the switch.

[UPDATE 2]
Just read from Starits Times that Singtel must offer the same content to SCV viewers at the same price and terms as what it charges its MioTV customers. So I guess the issue of price differential becomes a non-issue. Indeed, putting that into prospective, I can understand why Singtel is 'gravely disappointed' and more than that, gravely concern. Becos on top of everything else, they will need to compensate Starhub for distributing BPL contents to SCV subscribers. A double whammy indeed!

[NTL]

Singtel reaps most of it's revenue overseas, so I don't think it will have much impact overall.

Does that means that is M1 wishes to broadcast the Barclays League, they are also able to do so? Just ask for contents from Singtel.

[CityFarmer]

What SingTel and StarHub say

SingTel says:

“We are gravely disappointed with MDA’s decision requiring SingNet to cross carry BPL content as it disadvantages both the consumers and the industry.

“We will ensure that existing SingTel customers who are on contracts will not be affected. However, those who wish to watch BPL on its own will most likely have to pay significantly higher monthly fees. This is because it will become untenable for SingTel to subsidise the cost of BPL for such customers.”

“Importantly, service providers will be disincentivised to act swiftly in future, as it penalises first movers who are keen to secure top quality content at the best possible price for viewers and fans. Consumers will lose out since it may no longer be economically viable for broadcasters to continue investing in quality content for the benefit of consumers and the business.”

StarHub says:

“We welcome the decision of the MDA to make the Barclays Premier League subject to the cross-carriage measure. Singapore viewers are the biggest beneficiaries of this decision and we are excited to be able to bring the BPL to our customers on our reliable network once again.”

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/wha...tarhub-say

[lonewolf]

I just realise that Singtel can probably still practice price differential after all. Those currently on MioTV contract will not be affected and are unlikely to switch back to SCV. The current cost for the BPL + Champion League bundle is S$34.90.

So now that they have to cross-carry BPL, Singtel can probably consider SCV subscribers as 'new' subscribers and charge $80-$100 to those who want to watch BPL matches on Starhub STB. Of cos they will also have to charge their 'new' subscribers the same price.

The interesting thing may be whether Starhub will provide some form of rebate to SCV subscribers for want to subscribe to BPL package. This may be a great way to entice some subscribers back to Starhub platform. I wondered if there are restrictions in place to prevent this.

[CityFarmer]

I just realise that Singtel can probably still practice price differential after all. Those currently on MioTV contract will not be affected and are unlikely to switch back to SCV. The current cost for the BPL + Champion League bundle is S$34.90.

So now that they have to cross-carry BPL, Singtel can probably consider SCV subscribers as 'new' subscribers and charge $80-$100 to those who want to watch BPL matches on Starhub STB. Of cos they will also have to charge their 'new' subscribers the same price.

The interesting thing may be whether Starhub will provide some form of rebate to SCV subscribers for want to subscribe to BPL package. This may be a great way to entice some subscribers back to Starhub platform. I wondered if there are restrictions in place to prevent this.

One of the main objective of BPL is to increase subscriber base of mioTV, rather a one-time gain of fee during BPL session. The recurring income for lock-up period (2 years) is the ultimate target.

Singtel is 'gravely disappointed', may be due to losing an opportunity to capture more marker share of pay-TV business, even it is able to earn more one-time fee from non-mioTV subscribers

[CY09]

In my view, to Singtel it is losing the moat they have in pay TV that is what they are upset about.
Since they are trying to build up their infrastructure here, they need a large subscriber base as well