CASE leaves investigation of cable TV hikes to Competition C
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SINGAPORE : The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) said it had already raised the issue of StarHub Cable TV's price hike to the Competition Commission, and would leave it to them to investigate the matter.
CASE President Yeo Guat Kwang was speaking to reporters during the Committee Against GST Profiteering walkabout in Hougang on Sunday.
He said CASE was not against price increases, but companies must justify such increases.
Mr Yeo said: "Lately we see organisations like SCV making adjustments not in terms of percentage, but in terms of multiplying factor. This is something we are quite concerned about, because it is important for the service provider to come up with clear explanations.
"We are not against periodic adjustment per se. As businesses, we know and understand that when costs go up, businesses must make adjustments. The question is transparency, and how positive businesses are actually doing it in terms of giving consumers clear information.
"If the price adjustment is not in gradual terms or small percentages but in multiplying factor like two or three times, I think businesses should respect the choice of consumers."
He called for such businesses to give consumers a choice to opt out of contracts even if the businesses have done nothing illegal.
Mr Yeo said: "Although legally the companies and service providers have the right to do so, I hope they will consider the sentiments of consumers. They should give consumers the right to opt out." - CNA/de
source:
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/070618/5/singapore282847.html
HAHA. -
What opt out, must bring in new competitors!
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agreed. starhub has been the sole operator long enough.Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:What opt out, must bring in new competitors! -
seems like they were all talk after all and not doing much now.
and yes just bring in satelite. -
We have a Competition Commission?
WTH is that? -
what competition????
only SCV have the sport channel for EPL.
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Very apparent and obvious,Originally posted by hiphop2009:SINGAPORE : The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) said it had already raised the issue of StarHub Cable TV's price hike to the Competition Commission, and would leave it to them to investigate the matter.
CASE President Yeo Guat Kwang was speaking to reporters during the Committee Against GST Profiteering walkabout in Hougang on Sunday.
He said CASE was not against price increases, but companies must justify such increases.
Mr Yeo said: "Lately we see organisations like SCV making adjustments not in terms of percentage, but in terms of multiplying factor. This is something we are quite concerned about, because it is important for the service provider to come up with clear explanations.
"We are not against periodic adjustment per se. As businesses, we know and understand that when costs go up, businesses must make adjustments. The question is transparency, and how positive businesses are actually doing it in terms of giving consumers clear information.
"If the price adjustment is not in gradual terms or small percentages but in multiplying factor like two or three times, I think businesses should respect the choice of consumers."
He called for such businesses to give consumers a choice to opt out of contracts even if the businesses have done nothing illegal.
Mr Yeo said: "Although legally the companies and service providers have the right to do so, I hope they will consider the sentiments of consumers. They should give consumers the right to opt out." - CNA/de
source:
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/070618/5/singapore282847.html
HAHA.
Indirectly, CASE is saying it is OOTH (out of their hands), because SCV/StarHub is a GLC.... -
Read: "We lan lan cannot do anything ... we've made the pre-requisite noises but in the end, GLC lehz ..... "
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in other words ... 'we got ownz by GLC....'
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tt's singapore. no media competition at all. fark
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think gahmen owns STarhub or has shares in STarhub, is this true? Initially, when STarhub was set up thought I read that gahmen is/was in it!!Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:What opt out, must bring in new competitors! -
Starhub is owned by Temasek Holdings.Originally posted by rane:think gahmen owns STarhub or has shares in STarhub, is this true? Initially, when STarhub was set up thought I read that gahmen is/was in it!!
http://www.temasekholdings.com.sg/our_investments/linked_companies.htm
Brings back memories of watching "Legend of the Condor Heroes"(shen diao ying xiong zuan), the character zhou pak tong's kung fu, left hand beat right hand, right hand beat left hand.
Hehehe..... -
u all dunnoe meh? whahaha...Originally posted by maurizio13:Starhub is owned by Temasek Holdings.
http://www.temasekholdings.com.sg/our_investments/linked_companies.htm -
He probably got a nasty phone call from LeeChing Ho, the PM's husband ordering him to cease and desist or lose his rice bowlOriginally posted by Fatum:Read: "We lan lan cannot do anything ... we've made the pre-requisite noises but in the end, GLC lehz ..... "
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I know.Originally posted by hiphop2009:u all dunnoe meh? whahaha...
That's why I say, left hand beat right hand, right hand beat left hand.
These state owned monopolies has the leeway to do whatever they want to, without much obstacles.
Maybe they making contingencies for the Indosat and Telkomsel potential losses. -
huh, Temasek HOldings, there I know gahmen is in it!!!! price increase for STarhub is no surprise, whatever the gahmen can control, what else has/have not increased?Originally posted by maurizio13:Starhub is owned by Temasek Holdings.
http://www.temasekholdings.com.sg/our_investments/linked_companies.htm
Brings back memories of watching "Legend of the Condor Heroes"(shen diao ying xiong zuan), the character zhou pak tong's kung fu, left hand beat right hand, right hand beat left hand.
Hehehe.....
hmm ... wonder if LEE HSIEN loong needs to subscribe and pay to view starhub channels!!!??? wife is from Temasek holdings.
Thanks maurizio for reply. -
who dare to bring competition against first family's business?
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aiya act act only lah. what can Competition Counsil do? There isn't any competition per say - what is there to rule?
I don't believe that the Council will say, sorry no raise? And the bull about asking them to justify is also bull. Asking for figures is just like asking them to put up some numbers about cost increase - anyone can do that legitimately. say the oil price increase cause cost increase, blah blah.
at end of day, the gahmen needs to allow for more competition for cable TV. Let the market decide the price structure. If the market feels that the price hike by SCV is reasonable so be it - but when consumers are faced without alternatives, don't come and wayang about CASE and Competiton Council - we all know the decision already. -
Oil increase? I thought majority of our electricity is generated from Natural Gas? Was there an increase in Natural Gas too?Originally posted by red_amoeba:aiya act act only lah. what can Competition Counsil do? There isn't any competition per say - what is there to rule?
I don't believe that the Council will say, sorry no raise? And the bull about asking them to justify is also bull. Asking for figures is just like asking them to put up some numbers about cost increase - anyone can do that legitimately. say the oil price increase cause cost increase, blah blah.
at end of day, the gahmen needs to allow for more competition for cable TV. Let the market decide the price structure. If the market feels that the price hike by SCV is reasonable so be it - but when consumers are faced without alternatives, don't come and wayang about CASE and Competiton Council - we all know the decision already. -
Remember before the merge between channel U and mediacorpse, old lee said Singapore is small we don't need two TV stations to compete each other. So I believe the same applies to cable service provider. mediacorp under gahmen, Starhub also under gahmen. so maybe one day Singtel, and M1 may also merge!!Originally posted by mistyblue:who dare to bring competition against first family's business? -
Further more, SCV's answer from day one is: the cost of acquiring the program has increased and cable tv operators around the world has routinely increased subscription rates"
Well, listen here SCV, my questions are:
a. cost increase from what? you guys are buying at higher price? Whatever your purchasing people are doing? No negotiation power? Everytime you purchase something, you want to keep the costs down and if you keep having to buy programs at a higher rates - then jolly well look at how you can lowe them or keep them at bay - either your purchasing people are not doing a good job & should be sacked or your marketing / planning people ought to be shot. Look at working with ESPN or major cable TV people to buy programs in bulk - to gain more leverage.
If you have to bid so much for your programs - how about looking for more sponsors? As it is, your soccer matches are peppered with pre-game talk, half-time talk, post-game talk, after-game match analysis - we don't need that - cut those crap out - your so called experts can talk until cows come home and the favorite team will still lose - the ball is round remember? Why not have a no-frills channel- start only when the match start, half-time all commercials - no analysis, and then when the match finish, the program ends, thats it. - this is one way of offering lower rates.
b. Cable TV operators routinely increase rates - sure, but have you benchmark your rates against those charged by these operators? As far as I know, Astro in Malaysia charges lower rates and offer more contents - you SCV? Also, your move to bundle the programs together is not amusing to me - albeit your so call offering more value to consumers. You are just forcing a minimum spending - what a lame excuse.
As it is already, singapore have a small viewerbase, by leving more on this small base is going to shrink this number further and is not doing anything to increase your bottomline. Ps think more creative ways to increase revenue / increase viewership.
And pls don't talk about SCV offering more channles - I turn to History channel (supposedly new channel) and realise some programs are also being screened by Nat Geo - what the fark? Also, the movies are being shown and recycled countless times - I will accept if this means low cost but given SCV upping the rates, this is crap. -
Were they separate companies? I tot they were wayang only...Originally posted by rane:Remember before the merge between channel U and mediacorpse, old lee said Singapore is small we don't need two TV stations to compete each other. So I believe the same applies to cable service provider. mediacorp under gahmen, Starhub also under gahmen. so maybe one day Singtel, and M1 may also merge!! -
poor CASE, their hands are tied.. now we just gotta wait for the other organization's (predictable) official response *throws popcorn in bin* I hate predictable endings.
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channel U was under SPH. Any way may not make any difference, afterall gahmen controls the press, media!! What the heck!!! Really have got enough of all these control. When will they let go!! Control, control, control . . . indicates the gahmen is control freak! Tyrants at work!!!Originally posted by mistyblue:Were they separate companies? I tot they were wayang only... -
Lucky i don't have 'Sport Channel' to worry about. But since starhub added a new 'History Channel' on channel 8, and i love History..... i have no choice but to pay $4 more a month......