StarHub Named Official Broadcaster & Sponsor of LionsXII

SINGAPORE: The Football Association of Singapore has appointed StarHub as the official broadcaster and principal sponsor of LionsXII, while MediaCorp has secured the rights to air live key Malaysia Super League and Malaysia Cup matches from StarHub.

Under the agreement, the matches will air on Channel 5 for the upcoming 2012 season. Channel 5 will telecast seven Malaysia Super League home matches and up to four Malaysia Cup matches. MediaCorp has also been awarded the production contract to produce all Singapore LionsXII matches played on home ground.

"As a passionate home-grown supporter of local football, we want to cement our commitment to the cause with this broadcast and sponsorship deal. In the past 18 months alone, we have brought the Youth Olympic Games, the Lion City Cup and the S.League into the living rooms of households all over Singapore. With our LionsXII coverage bringing the fans as close to the action as possible, fans will be able to kick every ball and make every tackle with the team," said Tan Tong Hai, the COO of StarHub.

“I would like to thank all the companies who came to us with comprehensive proposals. The FAS evaluation committee decided that StarHub’s proposal best met our objectives which include extending the reach of the matches to a wider heartland audience through public screenings, showcasing the matches on various platforms such as television, mobile and online, as well as an innovative promotional strategy. We look forward to partnering with StarHub in using football as a key platform to strengthen social and community bonding in Singapore,” said FAS’s president, Zainudin Nordin.

Lim Suat Jien, the executive VP for Channel 5 and okto, said, "It has been an extensive negotiation process but with the interest of our viewers topmost on our minds, we are pleased that we will soon be able to bring back the roar to nationwide free-to-air TV, the way it was seen many years ago. These will be spectacular television events for the whole family to enjoy together!”