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Nicolas Atkin
nicolas.atkin@scmp.com

Charging subscribers extra to watch all the games from this summer’s tournament in Russia is shameful

When you’re a subscription-based television provider and you’re trying on a shameless sales pitch to get a pre-existing customer to shell out more cash for a premium World Cup package when they called you because of technical difficulties, you’re doing something wrong.

Step forward Now TV, who had the gall to try and grift a few more bucks out of my friend this week when we were at his flat and called the customer service hotline for over an hour because his Now TV box had frozen.

Sorry for the inconvenience sir, but while you’re here, can we sell you some more stuff despite our poor service?

A promotional advert on the company’s website also has a big logo of a referee brandishing a red card, warning you not to miss out, as if you would be punishing yourself by not giving over some more money.

It seems like a uniquely Hong Kong experience that customers are charged extra for these World Cup games despite some already paying HK$238 a month for sports packages with Now TV.

That’s the price I pay for my sports subscription, and I also had to sign up for a two-year agreement, with charges incurred if I cancel before the end of the deal.

Now TV is offering an early bird package for all 64 World Cup games which will cost HK$280, but users must also subscribe to other Now TV plans worth over HK$100 a month for a certain period to enjoy complete World Cup coverage.

Alternatively, if you sign up as a new customer to Netvigator’s internet services you can get a free Now TV World Cup pass, “valued at HK$880”.

Fans will at least be able to watch 19 ‘free’ games on Viu TV, including the opening game and the final – but that still requires a Now TV subscription. Continue Reading