Singapore platform StarHub and Disney-owned Fox Networks Group (FNG) appear to have reached an agreement that keeps a bouquet of about 20 channels on air for current subscribers to StarHub’s old IPTV platform.

But new signups and migrations to StarHub’s just-launched TV+ platform are not being offered the bulk of the channels distributed by FNG. 

The exceptions are three Fox Sports channels, which are part of StarHub’s sports pack offered on the new TV+ platform for S$20/US$14.75 a month with a 24-month contract. Plus rights to the IPL Indian cricket league, which StarHub is delivering on dedicated channels.

FNG’s carriage agreement with StarHub ended on 31 August. Insiders said in the run up to D-day that the two sides were nowhere near reaching agreement on value/price, although an extension was widely tipped.

Neither company has commented on the terms of the revised carriage agreement, and it’s not clear what happens when the IPTV platform subscriptions come up for renewal. 

The two-tier approach to channel distribution follows a dramatic week during which StarHub offered 18 Fox channels on a complimentary basis to subscribers signing up to the new TV+ platform, launched on 10 September. 

The 18 complimentary channels included Fox, FoxCrime, FX, National Geographic, Star Chinese Movies, and a few Indian entertainment channels.

Excluded were three premium Fox movie channels, which StarHub confirmed in early Sept had not made the migration to its new platform. 

The complimentary channels disappeared from the offering with no explanation sometime between Tuesday (15 Sept) and Friday (18 Sept).
 
The bundles as advertised haven’t added up since. As of Monday night (21 Sept), StarHub was still advertising, for instance, 52 channels in the Entertainment pack that actually has 38 channels. So, either someone can’t count... or something is happening with Fox channels. Or...???

Subscribers to the IPTV platform, which is being phased out, had not as of Monday (21 Sept) been notified of any changes to their subscriptions, as would be required by domestic consumer protection regulations. 

Anyone who comes on board now will only be able to sign up for StarHub TV+, which includes mobile/device access as well as a set-top box rental for S$5/US$3.70 a month. The six packs on the new platform cost between S$15/US$11 and S$30/US$22 for 24-month contracts, with surcharges of up to S$20/US$14.70 a month for a no contract arrangement. This effectively prices the 38-channel Entertainment pack at S$50/US$37 a month.

No announcements have been made on the launch of Disney+ or Disney+ Hotstar in Singapore. Speculation is that the streamer will land in Singapore by end 2020 or early 2021.