Starhub loses to Singtel on pay-TV race

Will BPL rebates help?

According to RHB, SingTel’s aggressive promotions to bundle its fixed broadband, pay-TV and mobile service saw its pay-TV market share widen to 43.4% in 2Q2013 from 43.2% in 1Q2013 and 41.2% in 1Q2012.

Its pay-TV ARPU improved 5% q-o-q (+21% y-o-y) to SGD31, while StarHub’s stayed flat.

"After losing customers for the past six quarters, we think StarHub’s pay-TV base could improve in 3Q2013, buoyed by the SGD600 rebate for customers cross-carrying the Barclays Premier League (BPL) on its
platform and signing up for its bundled broadband/IPTV plans. "

SingTel’s pay-TV revenue share improved 6%-pts y-o-y to 28% in 2Q2013 at the expense of StarHub, which saw its share of the market decline to 72% from 78% a year ago.