Singapore fans of cricket's Indian Premier League (IPL) can now catch the world's best players without needing a long-term contract.
For a one-off fee of $33.90, they can watch the April 5-May 21 tournament on Eleven Sports' digital platform elevensports.sg. This works out to about 55 cents for each of the 60 matches. A daily pass is also available for $2.99. After April 9, the package will cost $41.90.
In contrast, cable TV operator SingTel is offering IPL along with a variety of Tamil and Hindi films and shows for $98.34 a month.
Last year, SingTel offered an IPL subscription via a 12- or 24-month contract of the Cricket Starter pack at $19.90 a month, which amounted to a minimum outlay of $238.80. StarHub has a monthly cricket pack available at $32.10, which for the duration of the IPL will mean a spending of $64.20.
Eleven Sports Singapore managing director Shalu Wasu said: "We are committed to our core strategy to reach all fans with the biggest and best sports content at an affordable price with any time, anywhere viewing options."
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Cricket package up for grabs
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Win a subscription worth $33.90 to watch the Indian Premier League 2017 cricket matches on Eleven Sports' digital platform elevensports.sg
All The Straits Times readers have to do is answer the following questions:
• Which player fetched the highest contract in the IPL auction this year?
• With which sports broadcaster can you sign up to view the IPL matches without a long-term contract?
E-mail your answers with your full name, NRIC number, address and mobile number to STSportsContest@sph.com.sg
Ten winners will be selected and notified. The judges' decision is final. Terms and conditions apply.
Closing date: 2pm, March 31.
The IPL (averaging 31,750 spectators at matches) ranked sixth last year among the most-watched sports leagues in the world, after the United States' National Football League (68,278), German football's Bundesliga (43,331), US College Football Division I (43,288), English Premier League football (36,464) and the Australian Football League (33,428).
After its ninth edition last year, the IPL's brand value was pegged at US$4.16 billion (S$5.83 billion) by global valuation and corporate finance adviser Duff & Phelps.
According to India's The Economic Times, last season's IPL 9 amassed about 25 billion rupees (S$535.6 million) in overall revenue, growing at a double-digit clip from the year before.
This year's IPL will see many top cricketers like Indian captain Virat Kohli, South African hard-hitter A.B. de Villiers, explosive West Indies opener Chris Gayle and the new English fast-bowling sensation Tymal Mills.
It will also have England all-rounder Ben Stokes, who was bought for a league record £1.7 million (S$2.96 million) by Rising Pune Supergiants in last month's players' auction.
