SingNet Receives IPTV License

SINGAPORE, January 16: The
Media Development Authority has issued a commercial IPTV services license to
SingNet, which is planning to roll out a platform later this year featuring a
slate of HD channels from Mega Media.

SingNet’s IPTV service
will include several networks from Rainbow Media’s VOOM HD Networks suite,
including VOOM HD, featuring the best documentary, travel, music, arts, fashion
and lifestyle content from the VOOM portfolio. The service will also include
the first locally created HD network, Sling HD, for computer gamers and extreme
sports enthusiasts. The Mega Media and VOOM content is currently available on
the SingNet trial IPTV service, which began in November.

Jonathan Foo, the MD of
Mega Media, noted, “This agreement is an affirmation of our position as a
leading producer and aggregator of made-in-HD content for the region. HD is the
future of television, and that is what we are about. Singapore is leading the
push into this new frontier and we are excited that we can offer local audiences
the true HD experience.”

Quek Peck Leng, SingTel’s
EVP of consumer, added, “HD is set to be the next wave for consumers and
SingTel wants to shape the Singapore market with the most HD programming and
the best HD content. For example, new local content channels like Sling HD will
offer a quality programming alternative that can resonate with the Singapore
viewers.”

SingNet received the
license as part of a new regulatory framework from the MDA to boost the
competitiveness of the Singaporean IPTV market. “We took into consideration the
developments in technology in a rapidly evolving media landscape and local
industry feedback when factoring flexibility in this license framework to
address the needs of niche IPTV players vis-à-vis mass market IPTV players
while ensuring that consumer interests are not compromised,” said Ling Pek
Ling, the director of media policy at the MDA. “This will enable the entry of
more industry players looking to provide a wide range of IPTV services to
consumers including those who are currently not served or not well served by
existing broadcasters. At the same time, consumers can look forward to richer
and diversified content.”

Two types of licenses are
available: the Nationwide Subscription TV License and the Niche Subscription TV
License. The Nationwide license is for those rolling out mass-market services,
targeting more than 100,000 subscribers. Licenses will be issued for ten years.
The fee will be 0.5 percent of revenues for the first three years, and 2.5
percent for subsequent years, with a S$50,000 minimum per year for the duration
of the license. Advertising revenues should not exceed 25 percent of total
revenues. And Nationwide License holders must carry local free-to-air channels.
The Niche Subscription TV License is for those with limited reach, of 100,000
subscribers or less. The licensee would be subject to a lighter license
framework. For example, niche licensees will not be required to carry the local
free-to-air channels. Niche licenses will be issued for a period of five years.
The fee will be 0.5 percent of revenues for the first three years, and 2.5
percent for subsequent years, with a S$5,000 minimum per year for the duration
of the license.

SingNet has been issued a
Nationwide Subscription TV Service license to roll out its commercial IPTV
services.