Singapore, 7 May, 2010 – StarHub today announced that it has secured the broadcast rights to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ to be held in South Africa and will offer all 64 matches ‘live’ across all three of its platforms – cable TV, online and mobile. StarHub will also make available all matches in high-definition. Viewers in Singapore can catch all the action with StarHub’s 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Package (the “Package”), available for purchase from 7 May 2010.

Mr Tan Tong Hai, COO, StarHub, said, “We negotiated hard for the World Cup rights for over a year, with the best interests of the nation at heart. We are thrilled to be able to bring viewers in Singapore to the heart of the sporting action in South Africa, and look forward to showcasing all the spectacular moments of the tournament on StarHub TV.”

“We are very pleased to confirm the successful conclusion of negotiations with StarHub, and that viewers throughout Singapore will be able to celebrate the best that football has to offer at this year’s 2010 FIFA World Cup™,” said Mr Niclas Ericson, FIFA Director of TV.  

Immersive World Cup action with two dedicated channels and HD broadcast

The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Package will comprise two dedicated channels, FIFA World Cup Channel 1 (Channel 261) and FIFA World Cup Channel 2 (Channel 262).  The main World Cup channel, FIFA World Cup Channel 1, will air the ‘live’ telecast of 56 matches, primetime repeats of the matches, delayed telecast of eight simulcast matches, as well as pre- and post-match features and daily match highlights, while FIFA World Cup Channel 2 will offer the ‘live’ telecast of eight simulcast matches. StarHub TV customers with HubStation HD, HD Interactive or HD set-top box who have purchased the Package will be able to enjoy the matches in high-definition at no additional cost via FIFA World Cup HD 1 (Channel 263) and FIFA World Cup HD 2 (Channel 264).

Special early bird discounted price

StarHub TV customers who purchase the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Package on or before 31 May 2010 will enjoy the early-bird price of $66 ($70.62 with GST). The Package is priced at $88 ($94.16 with GST) after 31 May [1]. To purchase the Package, customers can call 1630 or visit www.starhub.com/worldcup from 7 May to purchase online by logging on with their Account Number and NRIC/FIN. Customers with HubStation or HubStation HD may add the Package to their subscription plans with StarHub’s ‘Instant Buy’ feature from 14 May by tuning in to FIFA World Cup Channel 1 and clicking on the blue button on their remote controls to subscribe.

Instant access to World Cup action on-the-go

StarHub MaxOnline broadband customers and Mobile post-paid customers with the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Package may view these channels on-the-go on their mobile handsets and online via StarHub TV Online and StarHub TV on Mobile respectively at no additional cost [2]. MaxOnline Express, MaxOnline Premium and MaxOnline Ultimate customers simply need to visit www.starhub.com/tvonline to access the ‘live’ feed of the games on their computers, while StarHub Mobile post-paid customers with any 3G or 3.5G (i.e. HSPA-capable) handset can view a ‘live’ stream of the channels via StarHub TV on Mobile through the Gee! portal. For a more enhanced viewing experience, they may also download the StarHub TV on Mobile App from the Gee! portal. Users will not incur local GPRS charges when viewing the ‘live’ streaming of 2010 FIFA World Cup™ matches on their mobile phones.

StarHub is in discussions with MediaCorp to offer the ‘live’ broadcast of FIFA World Cup™ matches via MediaCorp’s free-to-air channels.

The FIFA World Cup™ is the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world, with a cumulative global audience of over 715 million watching the final match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ held in Germany. To be played from 11 June to 11 July, 2010, the first match between South Africa and Mexico kicks off at 10pm (Singapore Time).

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[1] Customers must have an existing StarHub TV subscription plan with a minimum of three Basic Groups before they can purchase the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Package. From 15 May 2010, customers will be able to enjoy the StarHub TV 2010 FIFA World Cup Package without subscribing to Basic Groups. They simply need to rent a StarHub TV set-top box and purchase the Package.

[2] HD broadcast is only applicable for StarHub’s cable TV platform.