Liberalisation of the cable TV market is supposed to mean competitive prices and more choices for subscribers. Instead, it has led to a bidding war to secure rights to screen major sports contests, with the cost passed on to the consumer. I wonder if this outcome was because StarHub's ESPN Star Sports (ESS) did not do enough to secure the rights for its viewers, or because SingTel bid high to seize the rights from ESS. Either way, it works against the theory of opening up the market.

I am further upset by the response in the report that 'ESS is under no obligations to lower its charges... although ESS did not retain the rights'. Last year, subscribers had to pay more to get the Football Channel which screens English Premier League (EPL) after ESS lost the rights to screen EPL here. Now, football fans must still subscribe to ESS despite loss of coverage of Uefa Champions League and EPL. We are at the losing end.

On top of the minimum $16 more per month in subscription for SingTel's mio TV, current StarHub subscribers must fork out $117.70 in activation fees. I am not prepared to bite that bullet.

Leonard Chew Jia Xi