SINGAPORE – Existing StarHub Sports+ subscribers will be able to watch all 48 matches of the upcoming Rugby World Cup at no additional charge, the telco said on Wednesday.
The Sept 8-Oct 28 tournament in France will be screened on the beIN Sports Rugby channel (StarHub Ch212), with special pre-event programmes from Sept 1. There will be repeat telecasts and daily highlights as well.
This arrangement, at no extra cost to StarHub customers with a sports package, is similar to 2019 when Japan hosted the event.
Singtel subscribers, however, will have to pay $73.90 (early-bird price from Aug 18-31) or $85.90 (from Sept 1 onwards) for access to the live broadcasts on both beIN sports rugby (Singtel TV Ch117) and beIN sports rugby on demand.
The prices for 2019 were $68.90 and $78.90 respectively.
Hosts France will face three-time world champions New Zealand in the opening match at the Stade de France in Paris on Sept 8.
Defending champions South Africa meet Scotland two days later at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
The 20-team Rugby World Cup is billed as the planet’s third-largest sporting event after the Olympics and Fifa World Cup, in terms of total viewership.
StarHub’s head of content and consumer business group Andrew Tan said: “We strongly believe that sports is for all, and are sparing no effort to bring top-tier sports programmes to our Sports+ customers at affordable prices.
“In response to the Rugby World Cup 2019 being met with much acclaim, we decided to broadcast the event again now that it has come around four years on.
“Rugby fans in Singapore can get ready for a thrilling global rugby event, and cheer on their favourite teams any time, anywhere – from the comfort of their homes to commuting on public transport.”
StarHub customers without the Sports+ pass can sign up at $25.22 a month, with a two-year contract, to catch the Rugby World Cup as well as other competitions like Formula One, National Basketball Association and Ultimate Fighting Championship.
