Malaysians can watch Thomas Cup final for free with Astro on the Go app

Malaysian Chong Wei Feng celebrates after winning againts Rumbaka Dionysius Hayom of Indonesia during their Thomas Cup.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians can watch Sunday’s Thomas Cup final for free via the Astro on the Go (AOTG), the satellite TV provider has confirmed.

“The Thomas Cup final is available on Astro on the Go (AOTG) free for all Malaysians,” said Head of Sports at Astro CK Lee, Saturday.

“To access AOTG you can download the app from the Apple App store and Google Play store or access it via web on onthego.astro.com.my,” Lee.

He said that all Malaysians will be able to enjoy the Thomas Cup finals on 25 May for free, even non-Astro subscribers.

Lee added that the cost of obtaining the broadcast rights for sporting events had been on the rise, and Astro had no choice but to pay the hefty price tag set by foreign companies.

“The truth of the matter is that cost of sport rights globally are increasing. The Thomas and Uber cup rights are no different,” said Lee.

“Rights owners IMG sets the price, and like other broadcasters, Astro, appreciating the importance of badminton to Malaysians paid the predetermined commercial rates for the broadcast rights.

“The rights offered to RTM are for Free to Air broadcast, and reflective of its cost,” said Lee.

The Thomas Cup final match between Malaysia and Japan can be viewed for free at 5.30pm, Sunday the Astro Arena Channel via the Astro on the Go app.

Earlier Saturday, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin took to social media to make an open appeal to Astro to release its broadcast rights for the Thomas Cup final to Radio Television Malaysia (RTM).

“As sports minister, I want to make an open appeal to Astro on behalf of all sports lovers in Malaysia for a reduced or free broadcast rights for the people of Malaysia through RTM,” said Khairy on his Facebook page.

“It is not often Malaysia makes it to the Thomas Cup final, the last time we were in the finals was 12 years ago. And the last time we won was 22 years ago,” he said.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek had apologised Saturday for the non-transmission by RTM of Friday’s Thomas Cup semi-final tie between Malaysia and Indonesia.

“I apologise on behalf of RTM because many were dissatisfied as there was no live telecast,” said Shabery.

“This was because the broadcasting rights had been acquired by a private TV station.

“If we wished (to telecast), we had to pay highly and in this matter, we had other requirements including the live coverage during the Brazil World Cup (football) championship and the cost content for sports is not cheap, it involves millions of ringgit,” he said.