21st Jan 2008
The Straits Times
Monday, January 21, 2008
By Alfred Siew
The march towards a new era in television viewing here has hit a stumbling block.
A disagreement between broadcast heavyweights StarHub and MediaCorp has prevented some viewers from tuning in to the full spectrum of crystal clear programmes on their high definition (HD) TV sets.
More than 499,000 StarHub subscribers now receive MediaCorp's regular free-to-air channels, like Channel 5, via their cable set-top boxes.
But they cannot yet tune in to new free HD channels, which promise images four times sharper.
This is because MediaCorp and StarHub are deadlocked in discussions to bring such channels to cable customers.
To watch programmes on MediaCorp's new HD5 channel, such as drama series CSI, they will have to buy another set-top box.
The inconvenience means many more couch potatoes who could have tuned in to HD programmes cannot do so.
Thus, despite sales of HD TV sets doubling last year thanks to falling prices, many viewers are still watching regular TV programmes on their shiny new screens, say experts.
The issue boils down to dollars and cents.
StarHub wants to charge MediaCorp for carrying its HD channels on the cable network. The two parties cannot agree on a fee.
According to StarHub spokesman Caitlin Fua, this fee was not for a profit and the cable operator would bear part of the operating costs.
'Unlike most pay-TV operators around the world, StarHub does not charge local viewers for accessing free-to-air channels via our network,' she said.
MediaCorp is understood to hope the government regulator will intervene.
Said a MediaCorp executive who spoke on condition of anonymity: 'The cable operator should carry our HD programmes... since HD will replace our analogue TV signals one day.'
'If you want to push HD faster, then you have to make it easy for people to tune in,' he added.
The Media Development Authority (MDA), which regulates the industry, is adopting a wait-and-see stance.
It currently mandates that StarHub carry regular free-to-air channels on its cable network, but has not decided to do so for HD channels.
MDA chief information officer Yeo Chun Cheng said: 'We are happy that they (StarHub and MediaCorp) are talking, so we will see how that goes.'
Mr Yeo, who is also the MDA's HDTV programme director, predicted a deal will be signed this year.
But techies waiting for more HD content are frustrated a deal has not been struck.
One of them, lawyer Adrian Kwong, said viewers will be put off by the cost and hassle of buying more than one set-top box.
He asked: 'Why aren't the authorities pushing HD content and channels (more) if they want us to find compelling reasons to go on HD?'
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-southeastasia.asp?parentid=85754
