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| Nov 23, 2007 | |
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SOCCER
EPL in high-definition kicks off
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| New technology will take fans closer to stadium, but it comes at a price | |
| By Terrence Voon | |
| FROM tomorrow, football fans will get to watch English Premier League (EPL) games in high-definition (HD).
At least two matches - starting with Newcastle United v Liverpool - will be shown on HD. Up to 92 matches this season will be in high-definition. Cable TV provider StarHub claims the technology will take fans closer to the stadium than ever before - with images that are four times sharper and greater sound clarity. Viewers will also get to see more of the pitch. The matches are filmed on a widescreen format, which offers up to 33 per cent more screen-view compared to standard TV screens. But, unless they have already subscribed to StarHub's HDTV package, fans will have to pay for watching HD matches. These will be shown on HD Showcase, which is part of StarHub's HD Plus Package. The package includes two other channels - Discovery HD and National Geographic HD. Football fans currently pay $26.05 a month for StarHub's sports package. But, to watch HD Plus, they will need to pay an extra $16.05 monthly. They must also own a StarHub HD set-top box ($101.65 with a 12-month digital cable contract) and a HD-ready TV set. The good news is, existing subscribers of HD Plus will get EPL action at no extra charge. Said Patrick Lim, StarHub's vice-president of Cable TV services: 'Based on the very positive feedback we received regarding our trial HD broadcast of the 2006 Fifa World Cup, we are confident that HD Showcase will be popular among soccer buffs who want an even more immersive experience of the Premier League.' The move to screen EPL matches in HD had some fans cheering. Said IT engineer Andres Ho, 36: 'It will be realistic. 'I would able to hear all the stadium chants clearly - and even see the expressions on the crowd's faces.' But the extra cost has turned off some enthusiasts. Said Liverpool fan David Tan, 29: 'I think the quality of the normal channels is okay. 'The high price for HD doesn't justify the need for sharper images.' Cost is also a consideration for commercial subscribers like mega-nightspot St James Power Station. Said its chief executive Dennis Foo: 'I think watching on LCD screens and plasma TVs is good enough for most people. 'If HD costs more, we won't be subscribing to it.' | |
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