StarHub to launch two new sports channels

Move comes after loss of EPL for next three seasons

By Patrick Frater

Nov 6, 2009, 06:17 AM ET

HONG KONG – Singapore cable TV group StarHub is to create two new sports channels, which it will add to its basic tier and cut the price of its made-for sports channel bundle.
 
The moves appear to be defensive responses to StarHub's recent loss of English Premier League soccer rights to its IPTV-based rival mioTV.
 
StarHub will launch a general sports channel from January which will carry wrestling, tennis and local sports and at least one football match per week. From July it will launch a 24-hour sports news channel.
 
The company said that it will slash the fees of its sports bundle (Football Channel, SuperSports, SuperSports Plus, Sports HD, Goal TV 1, Goal TV 2, Golf Channel, Eurosport, La Liga On Demand and WWE On Demand) by at least 50% from its current S$25 (US$15) per month with effect from July 2010.
 
Last month StarHub was outbid by Singapore Telecommunications and its mioTV subsidiary for the next three years of English soccer. MioTV, which has the EPL from July, also persuaded a trio of ESPN STAR Sports channels to switch platform.
        
The deals have the potential to change the course of pay-TV development in Singapore as tens of thousands of pay-TV subscribers are expected to switch pay-TV supplier in order to keep watching soccer.

StarHub to launch two new sports channels

Move comes after loss of EPL for next three seasons

By Patrick Frater

Nov 6, 2009, 06:17 AM ET