Bad enough that the Singapore national football team are staring elimination in the face if they lose tonight to Thailand in Bangkok, they actually have to play without the support of a country watching them live.
The national (and only permitted) broadcaster MediaCorp is showing it delayed at 11.30pm tonight, two hours after the game ends.
And why?
Because of a singing contest.
Singapore Idol is going live at 8pm and since commercial interests reign supreme, it’s immovable.
To make it even more frustrating, football fans will have to endure Criss Angel Mindfreak III (9pm), News 5 Tonight (9.30pm), Singapore Idol Results Show (10pm) and America’s Got Talent IV (10.30pm) before they get to watch it at 11.30pm.
That’s where Singapore football – and perhaps even sports in general – stands in the pecking order.
I do think that the lack of coverage of local sports in the main stream media is a vicious cycle that would haunt us back in the future.
Without local heros for the young to emulate and dream and aspire to be, my prediction is that the youth would lack the inspiration to become better sportsmen.
I reminisce of the days when the names of Hasnim Haron, Malek Awab. Steven Tan were common names in the household. The team even managed to cut a music record.
The mainstream media must really look within. My take is that they do have a societal responsibility and it is a cost that they need to take up. In the end, it may be a long term investment that pays off if Singapore does manage to produce world class athlestes.
Aiyah, Mediacorp is all about making $$$, like Ivy Lee’s husband says in today Zaobao interview. And it is not just sport telecast, but also drama, variety show production, so even though they have 4 Primetime drama slot in Channel 8 and U, their production can only fill 1, may 1.2 slot. Because it is cheaper and easiler to just buy dramas from HK, Taiwan, Japan and Korea that is made more than 2 years ago.
Anyway back to sports, had a similar thing elsewhere, there did be demonstration outside the TV station. Here, we get use to it, and search our own alternative.
And @Ice and Les, while it is true that football here is getting more money than other sports in Singapore, the money is still peanuts when you compare to the leading country in Asia. I remember Richard Bok saying that his budget cannot be compared with Kashima Antlers, as Kashima budget is like US$50-60 million a year. And Kashima is only a CLUB. Even the Indonesian clubs are better equip financially than us.
So relative to the investment other countries made on football, our money is little.
Hi Kelvin, Yes, I agree with you. We cannot fault MediaCorp.
They are just following present demand.
One look at the programming lineup for tonight from 7.30pm will tell you everything – it’s either American programmes or licensed American programmes (Idol).
You are right, we in Singapore get what we deserve on television.
And we don’t demand too much local sports apparently.
@Les…..I get your point, as well as your frustration.
However the truth is that it is an accurate description of the pecking order taking the total Singapore public and viewing population as a whole.
Firstly, not enough excitment and pride and following of local sports as a whole. The sporting community and the NSAs have to take their fair share of responsibility.
This is so even amongst the older male demgraphic, despite the fact that football is the most popular local sport..and legalised gambling has added more following to this sport than the “real” sports enthusiast.
So when you add the older females (aunties)…split between the channel eight variety show types and the channel five (idol followers)….and the younger females..who are likely more keen on the next idol than Singapore vs Thailand…less the few who follow football to oogle their fav young lion “idol” (who cannot compare to torres or ronaldo for hot factor)….and the young males…who have no clear demo grahic characteristics…but many of whom may be gaming on the web.
Then what you describe is probably true and therefore you cannot fault mediacorp.
We get what we deserve.
Thats why I think Redsports is doing a good job being an alternate media…for those of us who wants to follow local sports.
Having said that….I have always felt that mainstream media should give some coverage to schools sports. The audience there is captured, motivated….and not insignificant. Students and involved parents.
At least Singapore won!
GO LIONS!
Congrat lions for the win 1-0…
It is only an Asian Cup qualifier. If this is considered the most important match for Singapore football, it says alot about the standards of Singapore football.
And can we please stop saying that Singapore football does not get enough attention. Please. They get much much more attention than any other sports in Singapore, without actually having the results to show for it
@ice: Regardless of what we may think of the Asian Cup, it is the equivalent of the European Championships. Sure, the Euro has a higher profile but the Asian Cup is the most significant Asian football championship. Playing in it is an achievement in and of itself.
If Singapore qualifies for the Asian Cup, it would be a historic achievement. To be even in a position to qualify for the Asian Cup does say something of the standards of Singapore football.
I agree with your point that given the amount of money spent on Singapore football, the return at international level is poor.
To make it even more frustrating, none of the live streams on the internet seem to work