Mediacorp’s announcement that it has secured the

is a move away from previous editions in 2018 and 2022, when there was a three-way partnership between the national broadcaster and local telcos StarHub and Singtel.

The Straits Times looks at who secured the broadcast rights for the World Cup and subscription prices over the last two decades.

Rights and subscription fees paid by Singapore

2006: $6.2 million as StarHub, the sole pay-TV operator in Singapore, secures broadcast rights. Subscribers paid $15.75 (existing customers of StarHub’s sports group) or $26.25.

2010: Singtel and StarHub paid US$15 million (S$19 million) for the rights, with customers forking out $70 (early bird price) or $94.

The sharpest increase for the World Cup broadcast came in 2010, after a bidding war between Singtel and StarHub to showcase the English Premier League (EPL) from 2010 to 2013. Singtel eventually won the bid for the EPL in October 2009, but the increase in EPL prices also affected those for the World Cup.

Singtel and StarHub, which submitted a joint bid, said FIFA was asking for an “unreasonable amount” for the World Cup. In 2010, the Government implemented the cross-carriage rule as a result of costly exclusive broadcast deals having a negative impact on consumers.