2. MDA provides funds (received from Radio and TV licence) to Mediacorp Ch 5 (the dedicated National sports channel) to carry significant sporting events. The individual channel will then, decide on which event to cover and what not to. The bigger and more important events will take priority, some of which are the Olympics Games, the Asian Games, and the Southeast Asian Games. Since most live-action sporting events command high licensing and telecast costs, it is unfortunate that it has been Mediacorp's commercial decision to drop the World Cup's 3rd round of qualifier between Saudi VS Singapore. As you may know, in the case of the Pre-World Cup Qualifiers, there are four contenders in the 3rd round, namely, Singapore, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan. Each country will meet their three other opponents in a total of six “home and away” matches. For example, Singapore will play three “away” matches against Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan in their respective home countries and three matches at “home” in Singapore against the same opponents. We have decided to cover all the home matches as they will feature every other country in the group. The first of these home matches will be on 12 March when Singapore meets Lebanon followed by the matches against Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan in June. Hope you will tune into the upcoming matches that will be held in Singapore on Channel 5
Update on May 1, 2011: The govt has finally abolished the Radio & TV licence.
