The long awaited free Sports channel (Ch 122) Goes Live on Chinese New Year on Starhub Cable TV.
StarHub Kicks Off New Free Sports Channel With Exciting International And Local Sports
New channel SuperSports Arena offers exciting local sports content and selection of international sports
‘Live’ S.League action twice weekly on SuperSports Arena
Strategic partnership between SSC and StarHub to develop local sports content and applications
Singapore, 12 February 2010 – StarHub today announced the launch of a new free 24-hour sports channel – SuperSports Arena (Channel 122), made available to all StarHub TV customers from 12 February 2010.
The channel offers exciting local sports programming as well as a plethora of international sports including football, tennis and golf tournaments, and wrestling.
SuperSports Arena will kick off this afternoon at 2pm with a series of compelling sports programming – the popular sports magazine programme OMNISPORT.TV, 6 Nations Rugby: England Vs Wales, wrestling shows WWE Raw and ECW, and the ‘live’ telecast of the S.League match between Beijing Guoan Talent and Etoile FC at 7.25pm.
StarHub TV customers may look forward to their favourite local football action and other popular local sports programming on SuperSports Arena following a contract signing between Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and StarHub to broadcast S.League matches twice weekly, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Singapore Sports Council (SSC) and StarHub with intent for content collaboration on selected local sporting events production. The signings took place this afternoon at Toa Payoh Swimming Complex.
The contract between FAS and StarHub was signed by Mayor Zainudin Nordin, President of FAS and Mr Tan Tong Hai, Chief Operating Officer of StarHub, while the MOU between SSC and StarHub was signed by Mr Oon Jin Teik, Chief Executive Officer of SSC and Mr Tan. Mayor Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports and Ministry of Transport witnessed the official signing ceremonies.
Raising the profile of S.League through StarHub’s dedicated sports channels
Under the contract signed by FAS and StarHub, StarHub will air two S.League matches ‘live’ weekly on SuperSports Arena, on Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.25pm. A total of 54 S.League matches will be aired ‘live’ over the course of the season, almost double the 28 games broadcast over free-to-air last year. The matches will concurrently be aired on Football Channel (Channel 27).
SSC and StarHub collaboration to heighten exposure of local sports events
Having successfully partnered to offer the inaugural Asian Youth Games and the Standard Chartered Marathon last year to television viewers in Singapore, SSC and StarHub signalled their intention to collaborate further on original local sports content through the MOU signing. This includes the production of programmes on sports in schools, and the development of sports-related applications that will enable users to book facilities at Sports and Recreation Centres or view SSC’s sporting calendar of events on StarHub’s TV and mobile platforms.
An example of a local sports programme currently being developed under the umbrella partnership is a youth-oriented sports reality programme centred on the core values of the Olympic Movement – Excellence, Friendship and Respect. The programme is supported by the Singapore Sports Council–Media Development Authority Sports Media Fund, and will be aired on SuperSports Arena ahead of the inaugural Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (SYOG) in August this year. Produced by Active TV (the team who helmed the production of Amazing Race Asia) and hosted by FLY Entertainment Artiste Allan Wu, the sports reality show has also received a healthy endorsement by sponsor Milo, a strong supporter of local sports and sports development among the young.
The collaborations between the FAS, SSC and StarHub aim to build a strong sporting culture by extending the exposure of local sporting events to over half a million households1, giving Singapore’s football league and budding sports talents a bigger platform to shine.
International sporting events on SuperSports Arena
SuperSports Arena will also serve up a mix of international sports events. Sports fans can look forward to selected matches of premium football leagues that will be aired on a delayed basis, including football matches from the Spanish La Liga and German Bundesliga; ‘live’ telecasts of selected tennis and hockey tournaments such as the ATP World Tour 250 series and International Hockey Federation events; other exciting sporting genres like golf – Asian Tour and PGA Europro Tour, wrestling – WWE Superstars, Bowling – Ten Pin Bowl: Weber Cup Highlights; and special interest sports such as US Bass Fishing and Pro Bull Riding – Built Ford Tough Series.
All StarHub’s cable TV customers are presently enjoying six international and regional complimentary channels. These are Arirang TV, Australia Network, Deutsche Welle, KBS World, Russia Today and TVRI. They also have access to Interactive TV – a channel that enable viewers to chat with one another and retrieve information such as stock prices, 4D and TOTO results, and cinema showtimes.
StarHub announced its intention to offer the free sports channel in November last year, and had also pledged to reduce its pricing for the Sports Group by more than 50 percent from July this year. Currently, StarHub TV customers can add the Sports Group for a monthly subscription fee of $25.
Viewers can refer to the On-screen TV Guide or StarHub’s Online Programme Guide at www.starhub.com/beentertainedfor the updated schedule of SuperSports Arena.