FIVE months, 64 matches, three bidders, 209 territories, $100 million, zero (signals from Malaysian national broadcaster) RTM 1.
From June 11 to July 11, these numbers will determine if Singaporeans get to view the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa on their TV screens.
Yet, none figure in their favour.
With commercialism standing between man and his sport, how far are local soccer enthusiasts willing to go for a slice of the action?
A poll conducted amongst 25 Fifa World Cup fans shows most will take it to the endline.
Would you pay your share of the $100 million?
Because the World Cup is “the biggest soccer event” for many of them, eighty-four per cent are willing to pay the $85 million price hike from the 2006 World Cup for the tournament to be broadcasted in Singapore.
Said IT executive Mr Goh Hoon Tat, 35, “It’s like in the Heineken commercial where guys go girly over a walk-in fridge of beer. We are as crazy about soccer. Of course we’ll pay.”
Some even go so far as to say that “price will never stand in the way.”
A Kayse in Point: Businessman Mr Tan C P, 45, who has watched nine World Cups as a loyal fan since the 1974 World Cup in West Germany.
“It’s like women and their handbags. Look at how much they fork out for a Hermes,” he said.
“It’s ridiculous, but they (Fifa) know how strong their product is.”
If Singapore faces a TV blackout, will you travel out of the country (e.g. to Malaysia) to watch the tournament?
And it seems the World Cup boasts strength enough to pull fans like Mr Tan across the Causeway should the joint bid eventually fail.
Sixty per cent of those polled will travel out of the country to watch the World Cup in coffee shops or at the homes of relatives and friends in Malaysia.
Said Mr Fredrick Teo, 24, a university undergraduate, “The World Cup is an event no true soccer fan would miss – especially the four key matches.”
Mr Teo plans on getting together his fellow England and Spain supporters on a few trips to Johor Bahru to watch their teams play if Singapore does not secure broadcasting rights.
Others who will stay put are counting on carrying the ball – locking on to signals of Indonesian broadcasts or catching live video streaming and video compilations of match highlights.
Do you expect the telcos will overcome the impasse and bring the 19th Fifa World Cup to Singapore?
However, 92 per cent of poll participants expect the joint bid of Singtel and StarHub as well as MediaCorp’s bid for the four critical games to come through.
While some like Daniel Ong, 20, a polytechnic student, worry that they may face a fate similar to Israeli TV stations that were denied broadcasting rights, majority think it is “impossible.”
Said Jason Wong, 33, “Not broadcasting the World Cup would be monumental. It is equivalent to Singapore not airing the National Day Parade.
“If Singtel can secure the English Premier League broadcast rights for $400 million, they can surely pay for the World Cup.”
Businessman Mr Tan C P, 45, will go across the Causeway to catch the Fifa action should the joint bid eventually fail.
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