Many a times, I find it so hard to explain to expat friends on why we have so little NBA telecasts here, and why Singaporeans love to slap themselves.
It was a twinge of joy when I hear that Singtel won the EPL bid from Starhub. Some years back, myself and several friends cancelled ESPN subscriptions to show some fortitude in disapprovals to Sports channel price increase due to crazy price war between Singtel and Starhub to score exclusive rights to showcase EPL soccer, whom we being avid basketball fans somehow were penalised with no increased coverage of live games from NBA. Believe me that we tried to raise hell calling up or emailing ESPN prior to cancelling the channel, especially when my family are throwing arms about not being able to watch tennis/F1, so occasionally we turn it on for a month during US or French Open.
But my joy was shortlived when Singtel announced the price packages. $23 for soccer and $2 for ESPN...woohoo so cheap..but wait - You cannot get ESPN without soccer. Damn it, price is similar to Starhub's price plan but of course no need to pay $4 for setup box and no need basic package lar. But already used to watching Nat Geo, Discovery, CNN and AXN leh.. What if I don't enjoy watching soccer? Why do I still have to pay $23 to turn on something I do not watch? So looks like I have to contemplate paying $99 for NBA Broadband access for all the games; or wait for Starhub to pull a rabbit out of the top hat with maybe NBA TV?
Now even in digital phone services, there seems to be an issue over at Singtel - seriously when will our seemingly oligopoly competitive GLCs learn that primarily, consumers' interests have to be taken care of? What's the point of creating competition for the WTO's criticisms of government's monopoly stranglehold on telecommunication services, if in the end, consumers still lose? Now instead of a win-win situation, to the outside world, we look like idiots slapping/out-bidding each other from the deep pockets of GLCs whose paymaster is eventually the government.
Starhub is 56.9% owned by Temasek Holdings. Source
Singtel is 54.1% owned by Temasek Holdings. Source
