Premier League to Launch Direct Streaming Service in Singapore

The Premier League will launch a direct-to-consumer streaming service, Premier League Plus, in Singapore next season. This move marks the first time the league will offer a service that bypasses traditional broadcasters.

Credit: Unsplash

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters confirmed the launch at the Financial Times’ Business of Football Summit in London. He described the initiative as a "very long, considered process, carefully chosen."

Premier League Plus will be available via a new app downloadable on smart televisions or laptops. Subscribers will gain access to all 380 games per season, along with "shoulder content" and a dedicated 24/7 channel.

Singapore currently has a six-year agreement with StarHub, one of its two telecommunications providers, for Premier League content. The new streaming service will operate with the Premier League taking on responsibilities alongside StarHub.

Masters stated that the Singapore launch is a trial to determine if the direct-to-consumer model is "replicable elsewhere." The initiative could have significant consequences for the long-term future of football broadcasting.

Should the model be replicated in the United Kingdom, it could deal a major blow to current live action rights holders Sky Sports and TNT Sports. However, a rollout in the UK or United States is "extremely unlikely" at this stage.

Sky Sports has been a major profit generator and instrumental in the league’s popularity since 1992. Fans are closely monitoring the pricing of the new streaming service amid concerns about spiralling costs for multiple network subscriptions.

UK supporters could pay around GBP 1,350 annually from 2027 to access all broadcasters of Premier League and Champions League football. The domestic rights deal between 2025 and 2029 with Sky Sports and TNT Sports is valued at GBP 6.7 billion.

Existing broadcasters handle significant marketing, production, and customer service costs. Running in-house broadcasts would present a major risk for the Premier League, raising questions about maintaining impartial journalistic output.

As an example, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 launched a subscription channel, Ligue 1+, after their overseeing body, the LFP, failed to secure a rights deal. This service has seen initial success, gaining 1.1 million subscribers, with 80% having paying commitments. The LFP aims for an additional 1 million subscribers by the end of the 2028-29 campaign to meet clubs' financial needs.

* The Premier League is launching Premier League Plus, a direct-to-consumer streaming service.

* Singapore will be the first country to offer Premier League Plus next season.

* The service will provide 380 games per season, additional content, and a 24/7 channel.

* This launch is considered a trial, with the potential for future expansion to other markets.

Source: Daily Mail

Pope Leo XIV Bans AI for Sermons, Addresses Youth Loneliness

Pope Leo XIV banned priests from using artificial intelligence (AI) to write sermons, while also cautioning that smartphones contribute to loneliness among young people. The 70-year-old Pope made these pronouncements during a question-and-answer session with four priests following his address to the clergy of the Diocese of Rome.

Credit: VATICAN MEDIA

Responding to a parish priest's question about effectiveness in postmodern culture, Pope Leo outlined his views on AI, emphasising the need to truly know the community served. He recalled a visit to Ostia, Rome, explaining that understanding people's reality is essential for communication.

He urged priests to remain vigilant over artificial intelligence and the internet, warning against the temptation to prepare homilies with AI. Leo explained that, similar to muscles, the brain requires use and exercise to maintain its capacity.

He stated that delivering a true homily involves sharing faith, adding that artificial intelligence would never be able to share faith. Leo mentioned that if priests offer a service tailored to their parish, people would want to see their faith and experience of knowing, and loving Jesus Christ.

In response to a young priest's question about supporting peers, Pope Leo asked priests not to be satisfied with only young people already attending church, encouraging them to seek out others. The Pope urged priests to organise, think, and seek outreach initiatives, suggesting they go out into the streets with young people and offer diverse activities such as sports, art, and culture.

He highlighted that getting to know others personally is crucial, stating that this understanding comes through a human experience of friendship with young people who live in isolation, in incredible loneliness. Leo explained that this loneliness has increased since the pandemic and due to smartphone use. He noted young people often live with a distance from others, a coldness, without understanding the richness, or value of truly human relationships.

Priests must understand how to offer young people another type of experience of friendship, of sharing, and gradually of communion, inviting them from that experience to know Jesus. Pope Leo XIV emphasised this requires time, and sacrifice, considering many young people are trapped in a terrible life of drugs, crime, and violence.

---

• Pope Leo XIV has forbidden priests from using artificial intelligence to compose sermons.

• He warned that smartphones contribute to increased loneliness among young people.

• Leo emphasised that true homilies share faith, which AI cannot replicate.

Source: DAILYMAIL

Paramount Skydance Poised to Acquire Warner Bros Discovery as Netflix Withdraws Bid

Paramount Skydance has emerged as the likely winner in a months-long battle to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. Streaming giant Netflix declined to raise its bid for the Hollywood studio.

Credit: UNSPLASH

Netflix stated, "We've always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid." Netflix confirmed it was withdrawing its bid for Warner Bros Discovery.

The Warner Bros board must still terminate the Netflix deal and adopt Paramount Skydance’s offer. Warner Chief Executive Officer David Zaslav said, "Once our board votes to adopt the Paramount merger agreement, it will create tremendous value for our shareholders."

He added, "We are excited about the potential of a combined Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery and can’t wait to get started working together telling the stories that move the world."

Paramount had pursued Warner Bros, launching a campaign to secure the acquisition. The company lured Warner Bros back to the bargaining table with the potential of an increased cash offer.

Warner Bros stated that Paramount’s revised $31-a-share offer was superior. This offer surpassed Netflix’s bid of $27.75 per share for Warner Bros’ streaming and studio assets.

An unnamed Netflix adviser recommended that the streaming service withdraw from bidding. The adviser said the deal no longer made economic sense.

Netflix Co-Chief Executive Officer Ted Sarandos hinted previously that the streaming giant would not substantially raise its offer in a February 20 interview with Fox News' Liz Claman. Mr. Sarandos emphasised that Netflix has been "very disciplined buyers."

The adviser indicated Netflix was bidding against a billionaire willing to pay a price Netflix considered irrational. The source referred to billionaire Larry Ellison, co-founder, executive chairman, and chief technology officer of Oracle. Mr. Ellison is the father of Paramount Chief Executive Officer David Ellison.

Netflix shares increased by more than 10% after the company declined to raise its offer.

Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros would unite two major Hollywood studios, two streaming platforms (HBO Max and Paramount+), and two news operations (CNN and CBS).

The Ellisons have connections to President Donald Trump. The bid is likely to face antitrust scrutiny in Washington, foreign countries, and United States states, including California.

TD Cowen analysts stated that federal regulatory approval seems likely. However, they believe some state regulators, notably California Attorney General Rob Bonta, could challenge the deal. They also see potential for European regulators to weigh in.

Attorney General Bonta, a Democrat, previously indicated the state was examining both bids closely. States can sue to block deals, though the Department of Justice has the most resources for such actions.

Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Richard Blumenthal expressed concern that the deal’s approval could be influenced by political favouritism.

In its revised bid, Paramount increased the regulatory termination fee to $7 billion, up from $5.8 billion. Paramount also agreed to cover the USD 2.8 billion fee Warner Bros would owe Netflix for withdrawing from the merger agreement.

The Ellison Trust is committing USD 45.7 billion in equity, an increase from $43.6 billion previously. Larry Ellison backs this commitment and agreed to provide additional funds to meet Paramount’s bank solvency requirements, according to the firm.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citi, and Apollo are providing USD 57.5 billion in debt financing. This is an increase from their earlier commitment of USD54 billion.

Activist investor Ancora Holdings, which owns a small stake in Warner Bros, welcomed the latest offer. Ancora had previously urged Warner Bros to engage more with Paramount.

Ancora stated, "Netflix's decision to not raise its offer of USD 27.5 , less likely net debt adjustments, has paved the way for shareholders to receive meaningfully more cash and a truly viable path to government approvals." The firm concluded, "This is a win-win for shareholders and the industry.”

---

• Paramount Skydance has emerged as the likely acquirer of Warner Bros Discovery.

• Netflix withdrew its bid, citing that Paramount Skydance’s higher offer was no longer financially attractive.

• Paramount’s revised bid offers $31 per share, surpassing Netflix’s bid of $27.75 per share for Warner Bros’ assets.

Source: REUTERS