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Broadcaster Mediacorp plans to bring the best of the Rio 2016 Olympics to local audiences for free on its multiple platforms including digital, television, radio and print.
In a media statement, Mediacorp said it would present a raft of dedicated programmes and digital initiatives which will include sporting highlights, up to 12 hours of delayed Games coverage daily, and up-to-the-minute news covering of Team Singapore’s participation in the Games.
Mediacorp will broadcast daily highlights and delayed telecasts of the Games on okto, its designated channel for sports content, and Toggle, its over-the-top service platform everyday from 7 to 21 August.
On three daily highlights shows, two will showcase highlights of the Games in general while the third is a half-hour programme produced by MediaCorp with a special focus on Team Singapore athletes in Rio.
The daily coverage of the Games will include Team Singapore’s events. All daily highlights are also available for catch-up on Toggle.
In addition, Mediacorp will telecast live from Rio the opening and closing ceremonies on 6 and 12 August respectively on Singapore time.
In the run-up to the Olympic Games, a special documentary series, “Countdown to Rio”, will be aired on okto, which focuses primarily on Team Singapore athletes competing in the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games.
Industry experts told TODAY that the prices that were being charged by regional Olympic broadcast rights holder Dentsu for live Olympics telecasts proved to be too prohibitive, as Singapore’s viewership market is small compared to regional neighbours like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
Furthermore, advertisers have expressed little interest in investing advertising dollars in the Rio Games because of the time difference.
“The market for sports coverage rights has been very competitive over the last several years,” said Mediacorp deputy CEO Chang Long Jong in a media statement.
“At Mediacorp, we are doing our very best to bring Singaporeans the best of Rio 2016 across our range of platforms including breaking news, curated highlights and inspiring features and documentaries.
“Naturally we will have a special focus on Singapore athletes – every one of them competing in the Games has worked so hard to get there and through our coverage, we hope to rally all Singaporeans behind their endeavours.”
Olympic reports will also be carried on Channel NewsAsia, Channel 5, Channel 8, Suria and Vasantham in their breakfast shows and daily news programmes and there will be pages dedicated to games coverage in TODAY newspaper, and all Mediacorp radio stations will provide regular updates of the Games throughout the day in the four official languages.