TR EMERITUS

By Bhaskaran Kunju After months of promotions in the media and a press release telling viewers to look out for a new free to air sports channel in January 2010, Starhub has backtracked on this promise. Starhub had announced in November 2009 that two new free sports channels would be made available to all its subscribers. One of the channels, a ‘self-packaged 24-hour sports channel’ was to be launched in January 2010, and would have been followed by Eurosports, a 24-hour sports news channel, in July 2010. Both channels will now be released in July 2010 and customers will only be updated closer to the date of launch. The reasons for the delay have not been announced. The self-packaged sports channel was to have carried a wide variety of sports content including football, wrestling, tennis and local sports. Viewers were also told to look forward to at least one football match and one wrestling match each week. Starhub’s latest stumble follows it’s setback from last year when it lost its coveted rights to the Barclays Premier League (BPL) for the next three years to competitor SingTel. The rights to broadcast the BPL had been Starhub’s prized asset and is expected to cause a considerable loss to the cable giant. As part of the fallout from the bidding wars by SingTel and Starhub, football fans in Singapore could expect to miss the upcoming World Cup in June as the two telcos and FIFA are still in a deadlock over the price for the broadcast rights. Despite insiders putting the figure at around $40million - in line with other territories in the region - there has been an impasse as both SingTel and Starhub have claimed the price to be too high. After winning the rights in 2006 for an estimated $250 million, and in the process outbidding SingTel, Starhub announced a price hike across the board in 2007. It was the first such increase in subscription rates since the cable service’s inception in 1995. Basic subscription fee for everyone was increased by $4 and sports fans had to fork out an additional $10 to watch the sports channels. The high price of subscription has been an issue of much dismay and displeasure for subscribers over the years. The two free sports channels had been promised by Starhub almost immediately after SingTel announced its winning bid and was supposed to have been a frantic exercise to retain customers and prevent a total fallout in confidence. Now, it will only likely be seen as a desperate fumble as the once sole cable operator faces a massive market battle with SingTel. The latest winning bid by SingTel is estimated to be around $400 million and gives the broadcasting rights to SingTel for the next three years. SingTel has already capitalized on its acquisition of the rights by announcing its pricing plans. Fans will have to pay to just $23 to watch the BPL on SingTel’s mio TV platform next season, with no additional costs for basic subscription. It is a 60% comparative drop from Starhub’s minimum $53 fee, which includes a basic subscription fee of $24 and set-top box rental fee of $4 in addition to the $25 subscription fee for the sports group package. SingTel will also offer ESPN and its sister channel Star Sports in its sports package. The loss of two of the biggest sports channels in the region together with the rights to the BPL is a major blow for Starhub and is expected to see an exodus of subscribers when SingTel starts broadcasting the BPL next season. Copyright © The Temasek Review, 2009 Other articles by Bhaskaran Kunju: >> How much immunity for a diplomat >> The saga of (dethroned) beauty queen Ris Low >> Is there room for more foreigners in Singapore? >> Why social cohesion is at the forefront of the Prime Minister’s National Day Rally >> Changes in political system to allow more alternative voices >> The untimely departure of Chip Goodyear >> Should universities be re-politicized? About Author: Bhaskaran Kunju is a political science undergraduate in a local varsity. He is a regular contributor to the Straits Times Forum and TODAY Voices.  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent A discussion thread on Lighthouse Evangelism Pastor Rony Tan's comments on Buddhism in the Hardwarezone Forum started on 3 February 2010 had attracted more than 8,000 comments so far. Two video clips of Pastor Tan's speech to his congregation were initially posted on his website with the title "Confession of An Ex-Temple Assistant Part 1 & 2", but has since been removed. A netizen had recorded them and uploaded to Youtube. He was heard during his speech criticizing the central tenets of Buddhism such as reincarnation and meditation. Many netizens appeared to be offended by his remarks and lampooned him for "ridiculing" Buddhism. arturuz felt Pastor Tan had "misinterpreted" Buddhism: "Making fun of buddhism....and what that guy is describing is not buddhism at all, anyway to ask the ISD to investigate this church. Watch part 2 where the pastor made fun of buddhist chanting 'ting tang tong tong' and 'blind leading the blind' totally wtf man....?" Nerakhoon shared his views: "This a$$hole is using a simpleton's misguided experience to make a mockery of Buddhism which most of us know is nothing as described. Isn't it weird that this is allowed? It's a blatant attempt to ridicule Buddhism. Needless to say, it was staged." Haoki found the clips distasteful: "Religion is a faith where one seek solace spiritually. If u dont believe in other religions, that's your view point and i think everyone is fine with that. I dont understand why certain people have to stoop to this level by blasting and ridiculing other religions." 168168 added: "he make fun of buddhism cause buddhism teaching is to live in harmony so most buddhists will not do anything. if he dare make fun of islam, post in YouTube and if some members of Al Qaeda see, he can prepare to up lorry." kal127 wondered why the authorities have not take action against Pastor Tan: "Rational arguments don't usually work on religious nutters. Oherwise there'll be no religious people. I'm curious why the police haven't crash the party and charge him for sedition." On Wednesday, police arrested three Chinese youths aged between 17 and 18 for sedition.  Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Teo Chun Ching warned that the authorities took a stern view of ‘acts that could threaten the social harmony in Singapore’. Under the Sedition Act, those convicted of promoting feelings of ill will and hostility between different races or classes face fines of up to $5,000 and three years’ jail. Comment source: Hardwarezone  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent An angry reader emailed us video clips of a speech made by Pastor Rony Tan from Lighthouse Evangelism in Singapore which appeared to have ridiculed Buddhism: "This info was posted in hardwarezone forum. It is about two youtube video clips showing this Pastor Rony of a church called Lighthouse Evangelism in Singapore ridiculing the Buddhism religious. The video were posted on 01 Feb 2010. The news is spreading in the forum. Unfortunately, the religious disharmony in Malaysia could be spreading to Singapore by foolish and irresponsible people." They were initially posted on his website, but has since been removed. A netizen draven02000 had recorded them and uploaded to Youtube:   EDITORS' NOTE: Pastor Rony Tan has issued a public apology for his remarks on his website. (read his apology here). The Temasek Review welcomes Pastor Rony Tan's apology and we urge netizens to forgive him and let the matter rest. We shall respect his wishes and remove the video clips from our website.  Read More →