StarHub unveils prices for English Premier League broadcast package starting from S$19.99 a month

SINGAPORE — English Premier League (EPL) fans who sign up early will be able to watch all 380 matches in the upcoming season for S$19.99 a month, across StarHub’s television, mobile and broadband platforms, if they are subscribers to its over-the-top media services. 

The telecommunications company added that non-subscribers may also catch the matches without having to sign up for any of its mobile, fibre broadband or pay-TV services for S$34.99 as part of an early bird promotion.

StarHub, which is taking over broadcast rights from Singtel for the next six years, unveiled the pricing details of its EPL plans on Wednesday (June 8). 

The special pricing is for over-the-top media services that are offered directly via the internet, bypassing traditional platforms such as cable or broadcast. 

StarHub said that this will be available for the first 25,000 subscribers who sign up between Thursday and June 30. 

After the promotion period or once the plans are fully subscribed, the standard pricing of S$24.99 a month for StarHub subscribers and S$39.99 a month for non-subscribers will be applied. 

Earlier this year, StarHub announced that it won the broadcast rights in Singapore for the EPL for the next six years, breaking a 12-year streak by industry rival Singtel.

StarHub said that it will also roll out “immersive market-first” features progressively until the first quarter next year, including Party Watch, which allows users to virtually invite friends to watch and chat about the game in real time, to have split-screen viewing and to access performance statistics during games.

Timed with the Standard Chartered Singapore Trophy 2022 featuring football clubs Liverpool and Crystal Palace, StarHub customers will get an early look at some of these features with the premier channels going live on July 15, the telco said on Wednesday. 

EPL fans could previously subscribe to Singtel TV's mio Stadium+ pack (EPL only) at $64.90 a month or value packs from $69.90 a month to watch matches live. 

Singtel has also unbundled its EPL offering over the years. Previously, users get full access to not just the EPL matches but also the Champions League and FA Cup matches for S$49.90 without having to sign up for any of its mobile, fibre broadband or pay-TV services. 

Singtel had earlier expressed its disappointment that it would no longer have broadcast rights to the league after this season.

However, on its website, customers may still watch the new season on their Singtel TV set-top box with cross-carriage arrangements in place.

Cross-carriage arrangements means that viewers will be able to watch StarHub's Hub Premier channels on the Singtel TV set-top box if they sign up for the cross-carriage pack.

Cross-carriage rules were implemented here in 2011 to ensure that the content is carried in its entirety and made available to consumers at the same price as the other telco. This is so that the telcos are not incentivised to outbid each other and then pass on the costs to viewers.

Singtel said that under this arrangement, existing cable TV subscribers may watch the new season of the EPL at the same price of S$64.90 a month. StarHub cable TV subscribers, who can watch the matches live and do not have access to the new features, will also pay this price.

This is different from the pricing model announced on Wednesday, which is primarily for its over-the-top media services.

"As in previous years, our customers will continue to enjoy the live matches and a superior TV experience seamlessly via their Singtel set-top boxes," Singtel said.

"For our loyal Premier League customers, we would like to thank them for their continued support and will be offering bill rebates as they continue enjoying our wide content line-up. Customers will be notified about these rebates within the fortnight."