多家咖啡店 拒直播世界杯

多家咖啡店 拒直播世界杯

世界杯今晚（6月14日）拉开帷幕，势必掀起追球热，但本地大多数咖啡店业者将不会订配套直播球赛。

不播球赛有4因素

4大因素为：订阅成本太高、球迷占用座位或影响整体生意、球迷太吵会被居民投诉，以及担心球迷触犯禁酒令。

四年一度的世界杯足球赛今天将在本地时间晚上11时在俄罗斯开打，序幕赛是东道主俄罗斯对垒沙特阿拉伯，球迷们都引颈期盼着，但据悉多数本地咖啡店都不打算直播赛事。

往年的世界杯，全岛咖啡店总会聚集大批球迷一同喝酒看球，但随着酒类管制法令在2015年4月1日生效，琼侨咖啡酒餐商公会会长李家赋就说，为了避免触犯法令，旗下200多家会员咖啡店大多数都决定不直播球赛。

法令规定，所有零售商每晚10时30分到隔天早上7时都禁售酒类饮料，公众也不能在公共场所喝酒，这就包括咖啡店。李家赋指出，多数顾客已经习惯到了时间就离开，担心倘若直播球赛，他们会借机继续喝酒，触犯到禁酒令。

有业者则指出，咖啡店订阅配套的成本太高，相对的，球赛虽然带动人潮，但球迷的消费不高，营业额增幅只有5到20％，福州咖啡酒餐商公会会长洪宝兴就指出，今年大部分的球赛将在凌晨之前进行，业者反而担心球迷在用餐时间占据座位，影响熟食摊位的生意。

两人跟金山岭饮食集团主席洪鼎良都提到的另一个问题就是，往年咖啡店播放世界杯，都会有居民投诉球迷太吵，非常麻烦，因为球迷的高昂情绪是业者无法控制的。

40民众俱乐部 今晚播序幕战

人协今晚将在40所民众俱乐部播放俄罗斯对垒沙特阿拉伯的序幕战，淡滨尼新天地（Our Tampines Hub）则会直播每场赛事。

特定俱乐部接下来也将播放部分球赛，像是实乞纳民众俱乐部（Siglap Community Centre）、福春民众俱乐部（Fuchun Community Club）、实龙岗民众俱乐部和静山民众俱乐部就有在面簿分享了他们将会直播的赛事，公众只要搜寻#JioYou2Watch的标签就能看到。

今年的64场球赛中，多数都将在傍晚6时至凌晨之间举行，只有26场会在半夜之后开打，7月15日的大决赛则将在晚上11时举行。

《新明日报》

RTM to show 41 of 64 World Cup matches, 27 live, 14 delayed

Gobind: RTM to show 41 of 64 World Cup matches, 27 live, 14 delayed (updated)

There will be 41 FIFA World Cup matches that will be aired for free on RTM for football fans to enjoy.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said that out of the 64 matches, the national broadcaster will show 41 matches, out of which 27 will be live and 14 delayed.

“From the Cabinet meeting this morning, the Government has agreed to broadcast for free the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament on RTM.

“We know that this is where the world famous players will be in action.

“For me and the Ministry, this is an important international event so we think it is important that it should be broadcast by RTM as it is a government agency,” he said after his Ministry's post-Cabinet press conference on Wednesday (May 30).

Gobind said he had presented a working paper to the Cabinet and has allocated RM40mil as a ceiling cost.

“But the actual cost and so forth will be revealed tomorrow (Thursday) by the Finance Ministry.

“I expect it to be less as there will be negotiations and sponsors. We believe many will take part and so we hope by this way, it can reduce the overall cost,” he said.

~Courtesy of The Star~

Pay-TV fees for 2018 World Cup 'likely same'

Pay-TV fees for 2018 World Cup 'likely same'

Prices of television subscriptions to the next World Cup in 2018 may not come down despite the record low sign-ups for this year's tournament.

SingTel, which secured exclusive rights this year, has deep pockets and may want to shut rival pay-TV operator StarHub out of key sports content, said marketing and media experts.

So despite barely more than 100,000 households paying for the Brazil event, a dip of at least 25 per cent compared with the 2010 World Cup, SingTel may persist with paying big bucks.

"SingTel 'spoilt' the prices for sports broadcasts in Singapore. Unless SingTel and StarHub work together, prices won't come down," said marketing consultant Lars Voedisch.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

World Cup Live on Okto

9 July Wednesday

Brazil vs Germany - 3:45am ‘LIVE’ (Match repeat on 9 July, 11pm)

10 July Thursday

Netherlands vs Argentina - 3:45am ‘LIVE’ (Match repeat on 10 July, 11pm)

14 July Monday

Final – 2:45am ‘LIVE’ (Match repeat on 14 July, 10pm)

Geylang, bookie central

Geylang, bookie central


'OLD-SCHOOL' BETTING: Money changing hands at a coffee shop in Geylang prior to kick-off as World Cup fever hits the red-light district, leaving the normally bustling streets deserted. (PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER)

The streets of Geylang were almost like a ghost town after midnight on Friday and Saturday. Except at some coffee shops, where the crowds were spilling into the lorongs.

World Cup fever has come to Geylang.

And where there's football, there's money to be made - and lost. It's a temptation that bookies and punters alike cannot resist.

When The New Paper (TNP) checked out a coffee shop showing the quarter-final match between Germany and France, it was initially not obvious that illegal betting was going on.

We approached a man and discreetly asked if he knew where we could place a bet. He looked at us, shook his head and said: "I'm here to watch."

Then, with his arms folded, he tilted his head in the direction of a table occupied by five middle-aged men.

After several minutes of observing them, it became obvious that we had hit the jackpot. Other people, nearly all men, kept popping by their table. They were seen whispering into one particular man's ear.

They then passed him money and he scribbled something on pieces of paper and handed them to his visitors.

Some distance away were two men who kept looking around the lorong, as if they were looking out for something, such as an approaching police patrol car.

Their attention was diverted briefly when a beer "auntie" shouted at some men who were watching the match without buying drinks from the coffee shop. The men seemed to be foreign workers.

Most men in the coffee shop looked like Singaporeans. Not even pretty women in figure-hugging outfits walking past the coffee shop could get their attention. Their eyes were glued to the TV.

But some men occasionally fiddled with their mobile phones or tablets. Were they placing bets online?

We then noticed another table closer to the road that was occupied by a group of younger men. They, too, were receiving money from people who went up to them.

After the match ended with a 1-0 win for Germany, most of the customers dispersed, some cursing under their breath.

A few of them were seen heading to the two tables where money changed hands again, except that it was now the visitors receiving the cash, probably their winnings.

TNP's check on another coffee shop screening World Cup matches showed similar scenarios taking place there.

However, a regular in Geylang said that only "old school" punters placed bets at coffee shops.

Giving his name as Ah Ken, the 35-year-old said: "The heavy punters use illegal-betting runners or stay at home in front of their laptops to lock in bets. The ones who bet at coffee shops are ah peks (Hokkien for "older men") or foreign workers who don't use technology.

"These people bet small, in the hundreds. Or maybe at most a few thousand," he said.

Responding to queries from TNP, a spokesman for police said that they take a serious view of all forms of illegal betting and will prosecute bookmakers and bettors alike to the fullest extent of the law.

~THE NEW PAPER~

德报章指“狮城假球王” 神准测中世杯赛

德报章指“狮城假球王”　神准测中世杯赛


佩鲁马尔事后矢口否认，表示自己已改过自新，并没有作出预测。（图／档案照）

狮城“假球王”的佩鲁马尔，精准预测世界杯克罗地亚对垒喀麦隆的比数，甚至还说中有一名球员吃红卡，引起哗然！

据报道，佩鲁马尔与德国《明镜周刊》记者对话时，预测了6月19日，克罗地亚对垒喀麦隆的4比0比数，还说中了一名喀麦隆球员会被罚下。

结果，在那场比赛中，喀麦隆队的中场大将亚历山大·宋（Alex Song），因突然从背后出拳击倒克罗地亚前锋曼季茹基奇（Mandzukic），结果吃了一张红卡，被罚下场。随后超过50分钟时间里，喀麦隆队都是少一人作战。

另外，佩鲁马尔还指出，喀麦隆队中有七粒‘烂苹果’，因此三场世界杯比赛，其实都涉嫌丑闻。

《新明日报》

RTM World Cup Schedule

RTM World Cup Schedule (17-22 Jun)

赛巴西对垒克罗地亚 双鱼测球唱反调

赛巴西对垒克罗地亚　双鱼测球唱反调


“大发”花了8分钟，预测两国将踢和。（摄影／曾宪隆）

巴西世界杯即将在后天开打，开幕赛究竟将由谁夺得首胜，本地测球金龙鱼“大发”和“小发”唱反调，放弃大热巴西，“大发”预测踢和，“小发”则测克罗地亚胜出。

本届世界杯开幕赛将在本地时间星期五（6月13日）凌晨4时举行，由东道主巴西对垒克罗地亚，究竟谁将率先赢得开门红？

《新明日报》昨日报道，上届世界杯测球神准的神鸟玛尼已被老主人以500元卖掉，目前不知所踪，玛尼当时虽测错大决赛的赢家，但8强赛与半决赛的预测都神准。

虽然没了神鸟玛尼，本地两条金龙鱼“大发”和“小发”因在2012年欧锦赛分别测中至少3场比赛，名声大噪，因此金龙鱼如今也首次加入世界杯测球行列。

300条金龙鱼中挑出2条‘神鱼’测球。

《新明日报》

联络所看世杯 又多10好去处

联络所看世杯　又多10好去处

国人反应热烈，多10所民众俱乐部将现场转播世界杯足球赛，意味着全岛已有共40所民众俱乐部可观看赛事。

人民协会日前宣布与新加坡博彩公司和新电信合作，从6月13日至7月14日，在全岛30所民众俱乐部直播世界杯足球赛的64场比赛，好让国人感受世界杯的热潮。

如今为了响应居民的要求，人协将在另外10所民众俱乐部播放现场转播足球赛。

所有40所民众俱乐部将播放下周五清晨4时的首场比赛。

公众可到人协网站www.pa.gov.sg查询赛事直播详情。

《新明日报》

Malaysia RTM World Cup Schedule

Online live stream for Malaysia (World Cup)

Online live stream for Malaysia TV1, TV2 and TVi (World Cup)
http://mystream.rtm.gov.my/

CCs screening live 2014 FIFA World Cup matches

Why World Cup is not free here

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~

World Cup comes to both SingTel, StarHub viewers

World Cup comes to both SingTel, StarHub viewers

Both SingTel and StarHub pay-TV viewers will get to watch this year's World Cup in Brazil which kicks off on June 12.

SingTel announced Wednesday that it has inked an exclusive deal with Fifa, the event's rights holder. Under the Media Development Authority's cross-carriage rule, SingTel has to share the content with StarHub in the same way that it is sharing its English Premier League (EPL) content.

To watch the month-long World Cup tournament, customers pay a one-time price of $105 excluding GST. But those who sign up for or extend SingTel's Gold Pack or mio Stadium+ contracts for 24 months will get to watch the World Cup matches for free.

SingTel's Gold Pack costs about $65 a month and has over 80 channels including EPL content.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Telcos still battling to air World Cup

Telcos still battling to air World Cup

Cable-TV providers SingTel and StarHub told MyPaper that they are still locked in negotiations with Fifa, the sport's world governing body. (FILE PHOTO)

WITH less than five months to go before the World Cup kicks off in Brazil, Singapore's race to bag television rights for the tournament could head into extra time.

At least 208 territories worldwide have already secured the rights, but cable-TV providers SingTel and StarHub told MyPaper that they are still locked in negotiations with Fifa, the sport's world governing body.

Experts and fans are fearing a replay of the 2010 World Cup fiasco, when Singapore's TV deal was reached just 35 days before the first match in South Africa.

Then, Singapore subscribers paid $70 (early-bird price, with GST) each to watch all 64 matches - a four-fold increase from 2006.

The signs are ominous this year.

StarHub has been in talks with Fifa since 2012, and Ms Lee Soo Hui, head of the telco's media-business unit, said several factors have made negotiations "very challenging".

Cost is an obvious stumbling block, and Ms Lee noted that prices for sports content are soaring worldwide.

Time is not on Singapore's side either. Due to the time difference in Brazil, most of the matches for the June 12-July 13 tournament will be played in the wee hours of the morning, making it difficult to attract viewers.

As a result, StarHub "does not expect a strong response from sponsors and advertisers", who can help to defray the cost of the TV rights.

The telco has promised to "acquire the content at a sensible rate, so as to keep the World Cup affordable for the majority of Singapore viewers".

But market forces are at work.

In 2010, SingTel and StarHub reportedly paid about $20 million for the rights, about half of what Fifa was asking for.

In contrast, Singapore's World Cup TV rights were reportedly purchased for around US$5 million (about S$6 million) in 2006.

The price hike is down to the stiff competition between SingTel and StarHub in recent years, said Mr Vivek Couto, executive director at Media Partners Asia.

The wildcard this year will be the Republic's cross-carriage law, which states that pay-TV operators must share exclusive content with one another. This law will further complicate negotiations, said Mr Couto.

A case in point was last year's wrangle over TV rights for the English Premier League. SingTel insisted it did not sign an exclusive deal for the rights, but was still ordered by the Media Development Authority of Singapore to share its 2013-2016 Premier League content with StarHub.

Singapore's other telco, M1, which also has a pay-TV service, said it will not bid for this year's World Cup rights, but is exploring the option of cross-carrying the content.

Meanwhile, tech blogger Alfred Siew believes it is in the telcos' interests to sew up a deal as soon as possible. This will give them more lead time to secure sponsors and come up with more attractive packages for fans.

Said football fan and undergraduate Wei De Wong, 21: "If the rumours are true and if they are going to increase the price again, it will be unacceptable.

"I will just watch it at a friend's house or at a pub. I might even share the subscription costs with my friend."

~News courtesy of My Paper~

Tampines Rovers win S.League Cup

Football: Tampines Rovers win S.League Cup

Tampines Rovers won their second successive S.League title after beating Malaysia's Harimau Muda 1-0 at Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night.

The breakthrough came before half-time when Aleksandar Duric was awarded a controversial penalty.

Mustafic Fahrudin slotted home the spot kick.

The penalty was enough to give Tampines their fourth league title as they finished the season with 52 points.

～News courtesy of Channel Newsasia～

Lions up against it in China

Lions up against it in China

The Lions' first match of the group stage of the Asian Zone World Cup qualifiers will be in China on September 2, and Radojko Avramovic's men have already been put on the back foot.

Singapore will open their Group A campaign against the Chinese in the south-western city of Kunming, which is located 1,900m above sea level.

Not only will they have to struggle in the thin air, they could go into the game without midfield inspiration Hariss Harun and central defender Safuwan Baharudin, who were both outstanding in the 1-1 draw with Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur last Thursday.

Hariss, 20, is set to begin his National Service (NS) on August 10 with the Singapore Police Force, while 19-year-old Safuwan is midway through his stint with the men in blue and has yet to be given the green light to play.

TODAY understands that three players who were on the bench in KL - defender Afiq Yunos and midfielders Zulfahmi Arifin and Nazrul Nazari - are also expected to be called up for NS within the month.

To compound matters, the Lions will go into the game three days after the fasting month of Ramadan ends.

Besides China, the other teams in Group A are Iraq and Jordan.

China have arranged for all their home fixtures to be played in the high altitude of Kunming and Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Zainudin Nordin said on Monday there are no grounds to appeal to FIFA.

Said Zainudin: "Any country can host a match in any city within their territory. They may want to take such an important match to people in cities that have never had the opportunity to see their national team play in a stadium.

"We are doing all we can to make sure our boys are well prepared to face the conditions in Kunming.

"How much time we can get to help them acclimatise will depend on everyone's schedules, time off from S-League clubs and other employers."

The Lions' second game in the group will be against Iraq at the Jalan Besar Stadium on September 6 and the FAS are trying to see if at least Hariss and Safuwan can be included in the squad.

Said team manager Eugene Loo: "We are talking to both players and their parents, and are making enquiries with the Police if this is possible. We hope to be able to get an answer from the authorities very soon."

"Oxygen levels are lower at that altitude and you need two to three weeks to get acclimatised to the environment," said Dr Kelvin Chew, consultant physician at the Changi General Hospital's sports medicine centre.

"In that period they will gain more red blood cells to carry more oxygen for the body."

Former Singapore striker Fandi Ahmad has not played in any matches at high altitude. Yet he feels professional footballers have to be ready to play in any conditions.

"We can't be good in one condition and then say we don't want to play in another kind of environment. This is football and the game is supposed to be played anywhere," said the former star striker.

Group A third round fixtures:

Sept 2: China vs Singapore (away)
Sept 6: Singapore vs Iraq (home)

Oct 11: Singapore vs Jordan (home)
Nov 11: Jordan vs Singapore (away)

Nov 15: Singapore vs China (home)
Feb 29: Iraq vs Singapore (away)

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~