23 SGD to watch EPL on Singtel Mio TV from Aug 2010

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From Aug next year, Singapore viewers can now watch the 380 matches on Singtel mio tv for SGD 23 (SGD24.61 w/7% GST). Add another SGD2 for sports channels like ESPN and Star Sports to get your dose of tennis and Formula One.

This came as a surprise as existing subscribers to Starhub Cable TV are paying nearly S$54 (S$24 for 3 basic groups and S$25 for Sports Group) to catch 12 channels of Sports channels. On top of that, another S$4 for the digital set top box.

According to the press release, the price will remain and will get reviewed again in 2011. The hidden costs is that it will costs you an additional S$8.33 per month for a Fix phone line which is hardly used for making calls.

Thus, to catch just the 4 sports channels, be ready to fork out approximately S$8 + S$25 + S$2 = $35. If you were to add the Chinese pack or English pack which costs S$19.00, that would amount to S$54.

For S$54, you would be not getting the quality programmes but you get your EPL/ESPN. The savings is actually S$6 but you have to have 2 seperate boxes to view different programmes.

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SingTel cuts the cost of watching Barclays Premier League games by more than half


Singapore, 10 October 2009 – SingTel today unveiled its price plans for the Barclays Premier League, which it won the rights to for three years commencing August 2010.

The Barclays Premier League will cost $23 (excluding GST) per month and will include all 380 Premier League matches. This includes one high-definition set-top box. As an added bonus, customers who sign a one-year plan to watch these matches will also enjoy the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League at no additional cost till May 2011.

Mr Allen Lew, SingTel's CEO Singapore, said: “For years, football lovers have been forced to take up a basic package before they are able to watch the Barclays Premier League matches on cable TV for an additional fee. We empathise with their lack of choice and unnecessary expenses all these years.”

"We have promised football fans that they will not be charged more than what they have been paying their cable operator. And we are delivering on our promise – in fact, watching the Barclays Premier League matches will cost them almost 60 per cent less,” Mr Lew added.

“With our attractive price plan, we believe that we are able to bring these matches to even more Singaporeans who previously did not subscribe to a sports package on cable TV due to the high cost barrier,” he said.

SingTel's pricing philosophy for mio TV is based on customers paying for programmes that they want to watch. The service gives customers access to true video-on-demand programming, offering flexibility and choice which they were not able to enjoy as the pay TV market was dominated by a single player until SingTel entered the market in July 2007.

“We are committed to creating a whole new entertainment product with this iconic sporting content for our customers, backed by SingTel’s excellent customer service and track record of delivering on its promises,” Mr Lew said. “SingTel mio TV is going to be the new home for sports. We look forward to making our services available to all Singaporeans and football fans island-wide by the start of the new Barclays Premier League season next year."

Customers who enjoy other sports will also have the option to subscribe to a wider range of sports programmes at $25 (excluding GST) on mio TV. Besides the Barclays Premier League, this will include other content which will be revealed once the composition of the additional channels is confirmed.

More pricing and promotional information as well as sign-up details will be announced shortly.