星和失去英超联赛的独家播映权
MARKET TALK: StarHub May Slip; Loses EPL, Sports Content Bid

0042 GMT [Dow Jones] StarHub (CC3.SG) may head lower after company loses exclusive TV, internet and mobile rights for English Premier League to rival SingTel (Z74.SG). Bids for EPL only submitted Tuesday this week, so rapid decision is something of a surprise to the market. As is SingTel's win, to some extent, as many analysts had tipped StarHub to retain the rights. In further coup for SingTel, ESPN STAR Sports channels will move exclusively to SingTel's mio TV service from mid-2010. News will come as a blow to StarHub as EPL broadcasts and sports package are a popular part of its TV offering. "If it loses, it risks a fairly large defection in its subscriber base, not only in pay TV but also fixed broadband and postpaid mobile," said CIMB in a research note last month. Support tipped at Aug. 20 low of S$2.10; shares closed down 0.5% at S$2.17 yesterday. (KIG)