Why World Cup is not free here
For Singapore fans, the price for watching the World Cup here is downright ugly. (Photo: File Photo)
FOOTBALL is the beautiful game. Unfortunately for Singapore fans, the price for watching the World Cup here is downright ugly.
And it appears that there might be little relief in sight despite calls from members of Parliament for the Government to make the month-long event more accessible to Singaporeans.
Yesterday, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Lawrence Wong told Parliament that "we are going to review our anti-siphoning list, we're going to review our cross-carriage measures as well, but I'm not sure that these would inherently change the dynamics of the game".
He explained that as world football body Fifa owns the rights to the event, Singapore is "a price taker and not a price setter". He also said that globally, the price of sports content has been rising.
And unlike neighbouring countries, it is difficult to offset the high price of acquiring the rights to the quadrennial event through a subscription base or advertising revenue because Singapore is "a small market with a high interest in football".
Responding to questions on the topic of subscription costs, he told the House that the Government has arranged for the four key matches - the opening, semi-finals and final - to be made available for free-to-air TV broadcasters to acquire.
This anti-siphoning rule means that pay-TV operators cannot acquire the content rights exclusively. In this case, there will be some "cost apportionment" between SingTel and MediaCorp for the four matches, said Mr Wong.
However, he said that it will not be possible for the Media Development Authority to mandate that all 64 matches be on the list, as it would lead to "unintended consequences".
Pay-TV operators will have little incentive to acquire the broadcast rights and the "cost burden will have to be borne largely by the free-to-air broadcaster", he added.
This may take up a significant amount of Public Service Broadcast funds, which are also used to support other TV programming, such as minority channels and shows which promote Singapore's culture and heritage.
Mr Wong said: "The MDA has to achieve a delicate balance. It should not be hasty to adopt populist measures that ultimately backfire, leaving consumers even worse off."
Last month, SingTel announced that it had secured the exclusive broadcast rights to World Cup 2014.
Fans here will have to pay $112.35 (with GST) to catch all 64 matches, with an early bird price of $94.16 (with GST) until Thursday.
That led to a hue and cry among football fans, especially since some of their counterparts in neighbouring countries - such as Thailand and Indonesia - will get to watch it for free.
In others, such as Malaysia, it costs just RM100 (S$38.60) for all the World Cup matches, and in Hong Kong, HK$128 (S$21).
~News courtesy of Omy~
For Singapore fans, the price for watching the World Cup here is downright ugly. (Photo: File Photo)
FOOTBALL is the beautiful game. Unfortunately for Singapore fans, the price for watching the World Cup here is downright ugly.
And it appears that there might be little relief in sight despite calls from members of Parliament for the Government to make the month-long event more accessible to Singaporeans.
Yesterday, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Lawrence Wong told Parliament that "we are going to review our anti-siphoning list, we're going to review our cross-carriage measures as well, but I'm not sure that these would inherently change the dynamics of the game".
He explained that as world football body Fifa owns the rights to the event, Singapore is "a price taker and not a price setter". He also said that globally, the price of sports content has been rising.
And unlike neighbouring countries, it is difficult to offset the high price of acquiring the rights to the quadrennial event through a subscription base or advertising revenue because Singapore is "a small market with a high interest in football".
Responding to questions on the topic of subscription costs, he told the House that the Government has arranged for the four key matches - the opening, semi-finals and final - to be made available for free-to-air TV broadcasters to acquire.
This anti-siphoning rule means that pay-TV operators cannot acquire the content rights exclusively. In this case, there will be some "cost apportionment" between SingTel and MediaCorp for the four matches, said Mr Wong.
However, he said that it will not be possible for the Media Development Authority to mandate that all 64 matches be on the list, as it would lead to "unintended consequences".
Pay-TV operators will have little incentive to acquire the broadcast rights and the "cost burden will have to be borne largely by the free-to-air broadcaster", he added.
This may take up a significant amount of Public Service Broadcast funds, which are also used to support other TV programming, such as minority channels and shows which promote Singapore's culture and heritage.
Mr Wong said: "The MDA has to achieve a delicate balance. It should not be hasty to adopt populist measures that ultimately backfire, leaving consumers even worse off."
Last month, SingTel announced that it had secured the exclusive broadcast rights to World Cup 2014.
Fans here will have to pay $112.35 (with GST) to catch all 64 matches, with an early bird price of $94.16 (with GST) until Thursday.
That led to a hue and cry among football fans, especially since some of their counterparts in neighbouring countries - such as Thailand and Indonesia - will get to watch it for free.
In others, such as Malaysia, it costs just RM100 (S$38.60) for all the World Cup matches, and in Hong Kong, HK$128 (S$21).
~News courtesy of Omy~
WATER BAPTISM, DO INFANTS QUALIFY?
回复删除Are infants proper candidates for baptism? Do babies meet the requirements to be baptized? The short answer is no.
Acts 8:26-40 ....36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized? 37 [And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."]
Unlike the Ethiopian eunuch; babies cannot believe with all their heart. Infants cannot make the confession, that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God. Babies do meet the requirements for water baptism.
DAY OF PENTECOST
Acts 2:22-37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"
There were no infants baptized on the Day of Pentecost. Why not?
1. They could not believe in Jesus the Nazarene.
2. Infants could not believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
3. Babies could not realize that God made Jesus both Lord and Christ.
4. Infants could not be pierced to the heart, nor could they ask, " Brethren, what shall we do?"
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them,"Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Infants do not need to repent; because they have no sin to repent from. Repentance means to turn from sin and turn toward God. Infants are not candidates for water baptism.
Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
There were no infants added to the church that day. Why not? Because babies could not receive Peter's word. Infants are not capable of understanding the gospel. Infants are not qualified to be baptized in water.
THE JAILER AND HIS HOUSEHOLD SAVED
Acts 16:31-34 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.....33.....and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 ....having believed in God with his whole household.
The jailer and his whole household believed before they were baptized. There were no babies baptized. Infants are not capable of believing. Infants are not qualified to be baptized.
THERE IS NO BIBLICAL RECORD OF ANY CHRISTIAN THAT WAS BAPTIZED BEFORE THEY BELIEVED.
INFANTS CANNOT BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST. THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO BE IMMERSED IN WATER.
You are invited to follow my blog. http://steve-finnell.blog.spot.com