Singapore – Football fans have banded on Facebook to protest what they call “rip-off pricing” with the page “Mass Boycott StarHub/SingTel Overpriced World Cup Package”. Just two days after the page was created, over 14,000 Facebook users have joined the outcry over World Cup pricing of S$94 (existing subscribers) and S$160-S$206 (new subscribers) by StarHub and SingTel. StarHub and SingTel recently announced they secured broadcast rights to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In separate press releases the telcos said they will each offer all 64 matches live, and will also be available in high definition. “We negotiated hard for the World Cup rights for over a year, with the best interests of the nation at heart. We are thrilled to be able to bring viewers in Singapore to the heart of the sporting action in South Africa, and look forward to showcasing all the spectacular moments of the tournament on StarHub TV,” said Tan Tong Hai, COO of StarHub. Edward Ying, chief of content and media services for SingTel said, “We are very pleased to bring the World Cup to Singapore. Despite the challenging negotiations, the focus at the heart of it all was the football fan in Singapore, and we are very happy that our customers will be able to catch all the action and excitement of this premier event all in HD format on mio TV, the real home of sports.” FIFA’s director of TV Niclas Ericson said, “We are very pleased to confirm the successful conclusion of negotiations [with StarHub and SingTel] and that viewers throughout Singapore will be able to celebrate the best that football has to offer at this year’s 2010 FIFA World Cup.”