Singapore Broadcast Rights For World Cup Remain Unsettled; Price Tag A Factor

SingTel and StarHub have "still not secured a deal to broadcast the World Cup in Brazil, risking a replay of the fiasco in 2010 when a last-minute deal jacked up prices for fans," according to Irene Tham of the STRAITS TIMES. Although the World Cup "kicks off in less than four months on June 12," both firms said on Saturday that they are "still in discussions" with FIFA. More than 200 territories including Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia have secured rights. In Singapore, however, telecoms "have been in talks" with FIFA for more than a year. The issues are "over the cost of the rights, unfavourable match timings and the cross-carriage rule." StarHub, which has been in discussions with FIFA since '12, said that the "cost of sports content has continued to soar" (STRAITS TIMES, 2/16).