EPL - StarHub or SingTel?

So the long-drawn battle is over. SingTel’s appeal was rejected and now the cross-carriage has to be done. Which means, StarHub gets to host EPL matches starting this new season 2013/14. It should be good news to all consumers, we can finally choose just one TV Cable (Red or Green). But the aftertaste was sort of a bitter one.

SingTel was casted as the ‘big bully’ and since he has lost the fight, the decision was to drag everyone down in defeat. With a single selfish swipe of decision, the new season package for EPL matches are now offered at $59.90 per month. That works out to be about $15 per match (assuming you only watch 1 match per week). If you happen to miss one of the matches, it will be $20 per match or $30 per match if you missed 2 matches in a month. Would it then be better to just make that trip to the nearby kopitiam and spend that money on beer? You can even order some satay or chicken wings to go along.

Your decision is sacred.

Here is what the 2 camps are offering.

SingTel – EPL Package
All existing MIO TV contracts honoured. Which means the new pricing will not be implemented to existing customers whose contracts are yet to run out. But if you are planning to renew, the new price kicks in.

Gold Pack @ $64.90 per month
> 9 BPL Channels (worth $59.90)
> 53 Family+ Channels (worth $29.90)
> Up to 23 Channels from your favourite ethnic packs (worth up to $42.80)
> 8 Movie Channels (worth $16.90)
> 11 World Sports Channels (worth $14.90)
> Free mio TV GO (worth $5/mth) till 31 May 2014
> Watch HD Channels at no extra cost
> Most number of HD Channels (59 channels)
> Lowest HD set-top box rental

Stadium+ Pack @ $59.90 per month
> mio Stadium Multiview (CH101)
> mio Stadium (CH102-108)
> mio Stadium On Demand (CH109)
> Note: UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, FA Cup, Capital One Cup, La Liga, French Ligue 1 and Italian Serie A are not included. Only available in Gold Pack / World Sports Pack

StarHub – EPL Package
Get a $30 rebate every month for the next 2 seasons. Valid for new and existing customers with or without contracts. No bundling required. No contract on the rebate.

Football in 3 easy steps
> Get your NRIC and StarHub TV Subscription ID
> Take them to any SingTel shop and sign up for BPL cross-carried on StarHub TV
> You will automatically receive the $30 rebate in your StarHub monthly bill within 90 days from the date of sign up
> Note: BPL matches will be broadcasted in HD. Please swap your digital set-top box to a HD set-top box

So what is your choice? Mine is simple. Currently, I have both MIO TV (purely for EPL) and StarHub TV (watched by the entire family). The Gold Pack offered by SingTel seems like a very enticing offer, but essentially I am paying more for what I do not need. If I switch over to StarHub, the price will be halved with the $30 rebate per month. And I would have everything in one set-top box, cutting all the hassle of switching set-top box if I want to watch the EPL matches. But I think the main deciding factor to ditch the Red camp is because of their cable quality. It has been a tremendous pain for the past 3 years with MIO, experiencing the most inconvenient lost of signal during crucial matches. In short, I have changed my MIO set-top box for more than 3 times, called the hotline almost every month, had 4 different technicians coming to home and still cannot rectify the problem. Surprisingly, the signal was much better the past one month. Is it because now there is competition?

Current setup ($140)
SingTel – $65 (EPL)
StarHub – $75 (Family, News, Kids, Chinese)

New setup ($105)
SingTel – $59.90 (cross-carriage)
StarHub – $45 (Family, News, Kids, Chinese, EPL), price is after $30 rebate

Just for info… You can do the cross-carriage over the phone on SingTel’s hotline, but just be patient with the “foreign english” call-operator. If not, a trip to any SingTel Shop would be best.

GO GREEN!

14 Days of Love

It’s the season of love!

Brought to you by SingPost, for 14 days started on 1 February, you are invited to post your love messages and romantic experiences based on daily themes around love. Simply comment and share the love message according to the day’s theme with your love ones at Cherished Moments By SingPost, and you may be surprised by gifts such as:

- Polaroid Camera
- Photo Studio Session
- High Tea @ Fullerton Hotel
- Gift Vouchers
- Tickets to USS, Gardens by the Bay, WaveHouse Sentosa and more

More than that, all winners will be invited to a special drinks on Valentine’s Day. One grand winner will walk away with a staycation sponsored by The Fullerton Hotel.

What are you waiting for? Give your love ones a surprise they will never forget. Remember love needs to be watered and nurtured. If more couples learn to have more courtship, less couples will land in courts.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

 

Our First Family Photo Scrapbook

Finally it is here! Our first family photo scrapbook, sponsored by Singtel – Home Without Walls.

The entire scrapbook was designed by Kless. She chose to use the photos we had from our recent Gold Coast trip. Brilliant idea!

“A smile is a language that even a baby understands.”

The feeling of seeing our photos on a book is surreal. Felt like reliving the moments in Gold Coast.

The page on the right really looked like a page out from some professional photography book. Super nice!

Family time = Fun time.

If you are interested to do something like this, visit Photobook Mart. Check out what is available for your own personalised scrapbook. For reference, what we did was an Imagewrap Hardcover (Large Square – 11”x11”) album.

Thanks again Singtel. We are planning to do another album!

Singtel - Home Without Walls

In this multimedia technology age, it is getting rare for families to actually do a physical photo scrapbook. The hassle of buying the scrapbook materials, printing hardcopy photos and doing all the artwork. On one hand I am not denying the fulfilment of really doing a physical family scrapbook, but it is not so easy if we are so busy at work and when most of our photos are in digital form.

So when I have an invitation from Singtel to participate in this chance to do a digital scrapbook, I jumped onto the wagon. So cool right?

SingTel’s “Home Without Walls” encourages Singaporeans from all walks of life to capture, share and celebrate their unique life experiences through the use of multimedia technology. Home is more than just a place we feel love, comfort and acceptance. It is where lives intertwine, where stories are made, and perspectives shaped. It is where we connect with one another – family, loved ones, and those that have made an impression in our lives.

“Wherever some thinks of you, that’s where home is.”

Let me share with you Singtel’s “Home Without Walls” scrapbook contest. This initiative allows you to explore the creative applications of technology by logging into Singtel’s Family Scrapbook for free! And the top 10 submissions will win a printed copy of your own scrapbook creation.

How to use?
1. Start by selecting a theme and type in your title of the scrapbook.
2. Click “ALL PHOTOS” tab to upload photos and place them in your scrapbook or use the templates provided.
3. Tweak the look of the photos by clicking on the “PHOTO EFFECTS” tab.
4. To add personalised messages, click on the “CAPTIONS” tab to do so.
5. Once you are satisfied with your creation, go to the next page and click the “SAVE AND CONTINUE” option.
6. Remember to upload your scrapbook to share your precious moments with family and friends. Get them to vote for your scrapbook and stand a chance to win a printed a scrapbook for FREE.
7. Saving and printing your own scrapbook is also possible.

Have fun doing the scrapbook with your family. I know I will with Kless, Joey & Jayne, they are already super excited to choose their favourite photos from our photo archive =)
DO IT NOW!