k r i s a n d r o

Singtel has won the bid over Starhub to broadcast the Barclays Premier League (BPL) for 3 seasons beginning 2010 and boy am I pissed.

Pissed because the reason I pay $52.73 monthly for my Starhub CableTV is for the $25 component that says “Sports Group”. And it may jolly well be named as “BPL Group”, because the only thing I really watch on Starhub CableTV is BPL football.

So if you take away the only reason I am paying FIFTY-TWO DOLLARS and SEVENTY-THREE CENTS every month, please don’t expect me to pay for Starhub CableTV come October 2010.

It’s easy to blame Singtel for this situation as they have taken the whole pie out of the plate leaving nothing to eat for the diners at Starhub’s table. Sentiments I garnered from Twitter proved that most are pissed with Singtel or/and Starhub and only a couple celebrating (Presumably the rare ones that are actually subscribed to Singtel’s mio TV).

I initially felt the same anger towards Starhub for not bidding hard enough to retain the rights and Singtel for greedily taking the pie which they never ever had in the first place. But then again, it’s all business. Instead of the possibility of sharing the pie, it was all or nothing.

I’m gonna boycott both cable tv providers next year once BPL screening makes the switch. No way I am paying to switch providers every 3 years just to watch football.

Don’t know how much difference we will make, but do join the .

Apart from the fact that the National Geographic is on channel 11, Starhub Cable TV; my knowledge on National Geographic was poor to say the least. It was with great excitement that I was invited by Pat Law of Ogilvy PR to the exclusive preview of Asia’s first National Geographic Store in Singapore!

 

Never have I ever thought that the National Geographic would have a physical store and much less open one in Singapore.

The bloggers were told to meet at Newton Food Centre and were chauffeured by a grand convoy of 17 SUVs from the great volunteers at www.suvec.org. A personal SUV for every blogger! How cool is that? The royal treatment was only marred by the traffic jam at the town area, but we arrived safely at Vivocity, where the store is located.

 

Stepping through the boarded doors of the National Geographic Store was like stepping into another dimension in Vivocity. The mood of the store mirrors that of an art exhibition but with the promise that one can actually afford the cool ‘exhibits’ that the store showcases.

 

The National Geographic Store provides a ‘one stop’ experience for shoppers that sells stuffs ranging from books to the likes of apparel and photography equipment. Even if you don’t fancy the stuffs that are sold there, one can always be reminded of what to buy for your trip by walking through the store. One of the interesting facts about the store is that almost anything can be bought, even the furniture! The sold furniture and items like the photographs are replaced and it gives the store a different look and feel from time to time. Just note that I said, ‘almost anything can be bought’ and not ‘everything can be bought’. The cute store attendants cannot be bought (amongst other things), so do ask nicely if you fancy anything from the store.

 

Asia’s 1st National Geographic Store is located at Vivocity 1st level. Visit it if you haven’t already!