Nov 23, 2009
1 set-top box for all pay-TV?
Possibility clearer after next June, says acting information minister
<!-- by line --> By Sue-Ann Chia
<!-- end by line -->
THE Government is looking at whether people can have a common set-top box to watch pay-TV channels from different providers, a possibility that will be made clearer after June next year. Acting Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew disclosed this time-frame for the first time on Sunday. 'By say, the third quarter of next year, it should be far, far clearer what is the possibility of that,' he told reporters after a community event. His remarks follow the recent controversy when SingTel outbid StarHub for the rights to broadcast the popular English Premier League (EPL) matches, leading to many soccer fans fuming over the need to switch provider and get another set-top box to watch the soccer series. Most could end up with two boxes as they also intend to stay on with StarHub for its other programmes. While it is not known if the new plan of having just one set-top box will come in time for the EPL matches starting next August, Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui did give some hope to viewers. 'The suggestion by Mr Terry Clontz to carry the EPL, that is won by SingTel, on StarHub is something that is worth looking into,' he said.
Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.
[email protected]
1 set-top box for all pay-TV?
Possibility clearer after next June, says acting information minister
<!-- by line --> By Sue-Ann Chia
<!-- end by line -->
THE Government is looking at whether people can have a common set-top box to watch pay-TV channels from different providers, a possibility that will be made clearer after June next year. Acting Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew disclosed this time-frame for the first time on Sunday. 'By say, the third quarter of next year, it should be far, far clearer what is the possibility of that,' he told reporters after a community event. His remarks follow the recent controversy when SingTel outbid StarHub for the rights to broadcast the popular English Premier League (EPL) matches, leading to many soccer fans fuming over the need to switch provider and get another set-top box to watch the soccer series. Most could end up with two boxes as they also intend to stay on with StarHub for its other programmes. While it is not known if the new plan of having just one set-top box will come in time for the EPL matches starting next August, Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui did give some hope to viewers. 'The suggestion by Mr Terry Clontz to carry the EPL, that is won by SingTel, on StarHub is something that is worth looking into,' he said.
Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.
[email protected]
