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EPL app trial signals final whistle for telco middleman model. A plus or minus for football fans?
Exclusive sports rights gave telcos a strong advantage. That game is changing.
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EPL’s direct-to-consumer app trial in Singapore is a telling sign that the telco’s middleman model is beginning to unravel, says ther writer.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Tiffany Tsai
For years, if you wanted to watch English Premier League (EPL) football in Singapore, you had to pay a telco – either Starhub or Singtel – for a package which included many channels, a broadband plan and a set-top box.
Telcos eventually loosened their grip, introducing cross-carriage arrangements and allowing fans to subscribe to just EPL content. That itself was a sign that Premier League football was a very significant part of the business.
