How World Cup broadcast rights fees, subscriptions have gone up
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Football fans in Singapore will get to watch more free-to-air matches during the 2026 World Cup, after Mediacorp announced that it had secured media rights to the event.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Mediacorp’s announcement that it has secured the rights for the 2026 World Cup
The Straits Times looks at who secured the broadcast rights for the World Cup and subscription prices over the last two decades.
Rights and subscription fees paid by Singapore
2006: $6.2 million as StarHub, the sole pay-TV operator in Singapore, secures broadcast rights. Subscribers paid $15.75 (existing customers of StarHub’s sports group) or $26.25.
2010: Singtel and StarHub paid US$15 million (S$19 million) for the rights, with customers forking out $70 (early bird price) or $94.
The sharpest increase for the World Cup broadcast came in 2010, after a bidding war between Singtel and StarHub to showcase the English Premier League (EPL) from 2010 to 2013. Singtel eventually won the bid for the EPL in October 2009, but the increase in EPL prices also affected those for the World Cup.
Singtel and StarHub, which submitted a joint bid, said FIFA was asking for an “unreasonable amount” for the World Cup. In 2010, the Government implemented the cross-carriage rule as a result of costly exclusive broadcast deals having a negative impact on consumers.
2014: Singtel secured exclusive rights; the exact fee was kept confidential but analysts pegged it higher than 2010. Four key matches were on free-to-air and the telco’s customers paid $94 or $112.
2018: Around $25 million as Singtel, StarHub and Mediacorp announced a historic three-way partnership to beam the World Cup. Nine key matches on free-to-air television. Subscription to the package cost $94 or $112.
2022: Estimated rights fee in excess of $25 million. The joint announcement of rights secured by StarHub, Singtel and Mediacorp came just 21 days before Qatar 2022 kicked off. Four key matches on free-to-air television. Customers paid $98 or $118.
2026: Fee not disclosed. More details on cross-carriage partners, subscription plans and prices will be announced later, said Mediacorp. 28 matches on free-to-air television. Subscription fees have not been announced.
