I just need to give my opinion about the big hoo-ha over the world cup pricing packages and how hundreds of people are signing up for the facebook group "Boycott Singtel and Starhub" and going to the Speakers corner a few weeks back to protest.
Lets be rational here and examine why this whole thing is just a waste of time.
Firstly, 70 bucks for one month of football ain't really that bad if you think about it, i mean come on singaporeans are lavish spenders. We're talking about the world's greatest ever sporting event and people aren't willing to part with 70 dollars, which is easily what a temp staff could earn in a day?? Ok even if it is expensive, come on as football fans we pay almost 30 dollars/month to watch 1-2 football matches every weekend (about 4-8 matches per month), but we cannot pay 70 dollars to watch 60+ matches over a month. I think its foolish!
And so, the question beckons? Where are u gonna watch your football then? TVs in the house are located in the most comfortable places for people to sit back and watch. Obviously now one will not be able to watch football on their expensively-invested TVs in the comfort of their sofas/beds. Pls dun tell me oh i can go to the coffee shop, pubs, stream it online. Coffee shops are hot, stuffy, dirty, and we gotta drink something every time we go down there. If u spend about an average of $2 each time u visit the coffee shop (thats being conservative, u will always buy a drink, but sometimes u buy food), then u are gonna spend about $60 in all! not far from $70. If you go to a pub, u can only go about 6-7 times before it becomes not worth it. If you stream online, then u are antisocial and really not in the spirit of the World cup, which is meant to be enjoyed with friends and in a social setting!
Moreover it will be lagging, and unclear, and pixellated, and might hang, and unreliable, and in a weird commentary language.
And so, one might ask what those naive protestors can get out of all their protesting and passion at the speakers corner? Absolutely nothing! I have no proof, but i strongly believe that the telcos did not overcharge us. I am sure they would only make a small profit out of it, come on u can't expect a company to take up a project to aim to break even or make a loss for the sake of the consumer, thats just childish thinking. And so in all honesty, if there is someone u want to blame, blame FIFA, which price discriminated between countries and thus victimised singapore. I always thought the world cup was an inelastic good, clearly not for many singaporeans.
At the end of the day, when we think about it, we are being foolish. This one-time payment comes once every 4 years. We are willing to spend alot more for a night at the club, or a shirt from topman, and yet we cannot part with 70 dollars. If you aren't willing to spend a little bit on your passion for football, then u are selling yourself short.
Well, i think i sound like a rich kid who doesn't think much of money and is acting all snobbish. Truth is, whats the point of earning money and not spending it on something which you love? And... my dad paid for the world cup. hahahahahaha
Expecting a lot of people at my place over the next one month, good news!! the multi purpose hall downstairs will be screening all the matches, time to party and go geylang for supper in between!!! ALL ARE WELCOME
