Players.bio is a large online platform sharing the best live coverage of your favourite sports: Football, Golf, Rugby, Cricket, F1, Boxing, NFL, NBA, plus the latest sports news, transfers & scores. Exclusive interviews, fresh photos and videos, breaking news. Stay tuned to know everything you wish about your favorite stars 24/7. Check our daily updates and make sure you don't miss anything about celebrities' lives.

Contacts

  • Owner: SNOWLAND s.r.o.
  • Registration certificate 06691200
  • 16200, Na okraji 381/41, Veleslavín, 162 00 Praha 6
  • Czech Republic

Singtel, StarHub in talks with rights owner FIFA over 2022 World Cup broadcasting rights

SINGAPORE: Singtel and StarHub are in negotiations with FIFA over broadcast rights for the 2022 World Cup, said the two pay-TV operators. They confirmed this in response to CNA's queries on Thursday (Aug 18), but said they are unable to comment further on the matter.

The 2022 World Cup kicks off in Qatar on Nov 20, with the opening match pitting the host against Ecuador.

It will be the first time a World Cup is staged in the Middle East. To avoid the region's punishing summer heat, the tournament has been pushed back to later in the year than its typical June to July schedule.

Providing CNA with his analysis, Deloitte Southeast Asia's Sports Business Group leader James Walton said he expects that "the deal should be sealed and formally announced by the last week of September".

"With the World Cup, broadcasters need people to sign up and buy packages, and they would need a two-month runway at least," he said.

"The longer runway means that they can offer price differentiation and early bird packages, allowing the broadcasters to market the packages at lower prices even if the ultimate price may be a little bit higher.

"So, it is unlikely they would want to go past the first week of October to start promoting these packages."

During the last World Cup in 2018, Singtel, StarHub and Mediacorp collaborated for the first time to offer complete coverage of the tournament, with all three broadcasters showing all 64 games.

The World Cup package was priced at S$94.16 in an early bird promotion, and thereafter cost S$112.35  - unchanged from the rates during the 2014 World Cup.

Mr Walton said that he expects package prices to remain in the same ballpark, amid concerns in Singapore about inflation and the rising cost of living.

"We can expect

Read more on channelnewsasia.com