Rugby World Cup 2011 – ESPN Star Sports Awarded Television Rights for Asia

Finally some official confirmation on the Rugby World Cup 2011 web site about the television rights for Asia!

When I was signing up for Singtel’s mio TV I read a brochure confirming the Rugby World Cup 2011 would be available on the service. I’d also seen a few hints on the web in other places (including ESPN’s web site), but there was nothing official announced on the Rugby World Cup 2011 web site until now.

ESPN Star Sports will broadcast all the matches to Singapore, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Korea, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Vietnam.

There is also a mention of some supplementary broadcasting:

Live TV coverage on ESPN STAR Sports’ networks will be supplemented with dedicated streaming and video on demand through ESPN Player and MobileESPN in Singapore and weekly highlights programming in several territories.

The first game is on September 9, so if you don’t have the right cable TV plan, now is the time to sign up for ESPN Star Sports to make sure you don’t miss any of the games!

I’m happy to finally get the confirmation, but I’m surprised it has taken this long. Especially considering I did see the brochure (back in April) that said the Rugby World Cup 2011 would be on mio TV. In any case it’s now resolved and I’ll be sitting down to watch the first game with the All Blacks taking on Tonga on ESPN Star Sports!

14 thoughts on “Rugby World Cup 2011 – ESPN Star Sports Awarded Television Rights for Asia

  1. Peter J

    I am moving to Singapore in a weeks time. Do I need both Mio and Starhub to make sure I get RWC, Premiership Football, Six Nations and Guiness Premiership Rugby? happy to have both if that is what it takes!

    Reply
    1. louco73 Post author

      Peter,

      You can get Setanta Rugby on mio TV too, but I’m sure you will want other channels. Check out the program guides on the mio TV and Starhub websites and you can make your decisions from that. I need my BBC World News and the documentary channels, which I can’t get on mio TV.

      Reply
  2. Scott

    Yes good news about the RWC coverage, but I nearly choked on my Tiger reading Manu Sawhney’s (ESPN managing director) press statement “…we have a proud history of rugby programming…” YEAH RIGHT! The buggers dropped Southern Hemisphere rugby coverage years ago, and if it weren’t for ABC’s Australia Network and latterly Setanta Sports I would have gone quite doolally. AB’s v SA tonight!

    Reply
    1. louco73 Post author

      I completely agree Scott! I didn’t even know that I had Setanta Sports until I was desperately looking for a channel to watch the Tri-nations. Go the All Blacks!

      Reply
  3. Kobus Olwagen

    I am a Rugby mad South African ( The Champs) working in Jepara, Indonesia. I receive Indovision. Does this mean I will be able to see RWC matches on Indovision ESPN Star Sports?
    Please say YES!!

    Reply
    1. louco73 Post author

      Hi Kobus,

      Yes, from what I have read you will be able to watch South Africa be dethroned by New Zealand ;). The coverage deal includes Indonesia, so as long as you have ESPN Star Sports you are set!

      Reply
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    1. louco73 Post author

      Steven, those there are fighting words! Who watches Rugby League? Rugby Union is the best! LOL

      We get the Aussie Rugby League games here in Singapore, but since leaving Australia I haven’t really watched that much Rugby League, apart from some of the State Of Origin games.

      Reply
  6. peter viles

    Academic living currently Cambodia – used to get at least 5 Rugby League games weekly from Australian Network, but this discontinued last year – is there any other TV coverage here in Cambodia ??? Will The Manly – Leeds club’s challenge in UK be televised on 17th – this friday night in UK ???????

    Reply
    1. louco73 Post author

      Hi Peter,

      I’m afraid that you will not have much luck posting that question on my little blog :). Is there an expat forum in Cambodia? That might be the best place to ask.

      Reply

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