10 SINGAPORE NEWS The Business Times, Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Sales quieten ESPN, Star Sports undergo rebranding, relaunch

By LEE U-WEN
SPORTS fans who tuned in-

down at
to either ESPN or Star
Sports yesterday were
greeted with a fresh new
look on their screens as
Asia’s top sports content
provider underwent a ma-

Trevista, Trizon jor rebranding and re-

But developers gear
up for new launches,
such as Hundred
Trees and Cyan
By KALPANA RASHIWALA
BUSINESS visibly quiet-
ened down at showflats last
week but developers are
already revving up for new
launches and releases of
new phases of existing
projects after Hungry
Ghosts Month ends on
Sept 18.
However, some market
watchers reckon develop-
ers may be more careful
not to price their projects
too aggressively following
National Development Min-
ister Mah Bow Tan’s sec-
ond statement in five weeks
that the government is mon-
itoring the property market
very closely and will take
“certain actions” if neces-
sary.
City Developments is ex-
pected to preview Hundred
Trees condo on the former
Hong Leong Gardens site in
the West Coast area in the
last weekend of September.
Earlier market talk was
that the 396-unit project
will have an average price
of about $930-$980 per
square foot (psf). However,
some quarters suggest the
project will be “priced com-
condo named Cyan. A
stone’s throw away, Keppel
Land has sold about 65 per
cent of its 56-unit freehold
Madison Residences since
last month at an average
price of about $1,700 psf.
This pricing applies to
those who opt for the inter-
est absorption scheme
(IAS). Buyers who prefer a
normal progressive pay-
ment scheme pay 2 per
cent less.
Even more projects are
slated for launch in Octo-
ber, including Ho Bee’s Tri-
light on the former Elmira
Heights site on Newton
Road, as developers try to
catch possibly the last wave
of home buying for 2009
before the year-end school
holiday season.
NTUC Choice Homes
sold 50 units at its Trevista
condo in Toa Payoh last
week, mostly on Saturday
and Sunday. This is signifi-
cantly below the 410-unit
sales achieved from Friday
to Sunday of the preceding
week when the developer
previewed the 99-year-
leasehold condo. To date,
Choice Homes has released
550 of the condo’s total 590
units.
“The remaining units in
the project are mostly three
and four-bedroom apart-
ments. Prices start from
$884 psf or $1.008 million
BT understands that
things were even quieter at
the Trizon showflat in the
Mount Sinai area. Units in
the freehold project cost
$1,250 psf to $1,550 psf.
Sales are said to have plum-
meted last week after the
slightly more than 100
units sold in the previous
weekend’s preview.
A property consultant
said: “When a minister, es-
pecially the National Devel-
opment Minister, comes
out to urge buyers to be cau-
tious, it has its effects – at
least for the time being.”
“When the caution is being
urged in the Seventh Month
(when traditionally things
are a bit slower in the prop-
erty market), potential buy-
ers have time to reflect on
the message,” he added.
Following six months of
surprisingly strong home
sales, developers have
upped prices. By some esti-
mates, prices of mass-mar-
ket homes increased about
10-15 per cent from the
lows of January-February
2009 to July-August.
In late July, Mr Mah
urged home seekers to re-
search the property market
thoroughly and seek afford-
able units. Last week, he ad-
vised them to “think careful-
ly, think long term, think
about the unexpected” be-
launch.
The move is an effort to
keep the brand relevant
and further reach out to
new demographics, such as
younger viewers, while
strengthening ties with ex-
isting audiences, the com-
pany said yesterday.
The extensive exercise
comes at a time when the
sports season is hitting a fe-
ver pitch, with the Formula
One Singapore Grand Prix
and the new American
NBA basketball season
round the corner, and the
Major League Baseball sea-
son nearing its climax.
Among the many chan-
ges that its 310 million
viewers across 24 different
countries will see on the
two channels: The studio
sets have undergone a
facelift, logos have been
spruced up and more co-
lours and multi-media are
used for the graphics and
on-air presentations. Fresh look: The studio sets have undergone a facelift and logos have been spruced up, among other changes
The state-of-the-art vir-
tual set has new presenta- research and planning to tive, the uniqueness of revi- “It holds an intrinsic va- ty,” he said. “Sports is a vis-
tion features and graphics ual spectacle that showca-
develop the new themes for talising a sports channel is lue to a broad demographic
packages that “delivers ses heroic pursuits, re-
the channels, as well as key the ability to leverage on of people and its impact is
sports news, results and al-time action and cele-
elements that highlight and the ability of sport to con- far-reaching as seen in the
scores in a dynamic and brates human achieve-
accentuate the two distinct nect to viewers in a “direct way it binds people that
viewer-friendly manner”, ment, and an offering re-
and strong channel brands, and impactful” way that cuts across age, race, gen-
the company said. quires a presentation that
ESPN Star Sports man- he added. few other genres can, said der, culture, geography, can complement the live ex-
aging director Manu Sawh- As a rebranding initia- Mr Sawhney. and all segments of socie- perience.”
ney said that it was apt to
launch a new branding at a
time when so many sports
SINGAPORE
DBS official banking
properties are currently be-
ing broadcast on their chan-
nels. ROUNDUP
“Sports is a visual spec-

petitively”.
The 12-storey develop-
ment has a 956-year-lease-
hold tenure. The Hundred
Trees condo will be decked
with Mempat trees, often
dubbed the local version of
Japan’s sakura or cherry
blossoms.
At Keng Chin Road in
the Bukit Timah area, Far
East Organization is expec-
ted to preview in a few
weeks a 278-unit freehold
for three-bedders and $850
psf or $1.448 million for
the four-bedroom apart-
ments,” a Choice Homes
spokeswoman said yester-
day.
Trevista’s initial aver-
age price was $898 psf, but
with subsequent releases of
units – some with better fac-
ing and on higher floors –
the average price achieved
is understood to be about
$920-$930 psf.
fore buying a property.
He also said there is a
“definite possibility” that
the government will re-in-
troduce land sales through
its confirmed list system
from next year. Such sales
have been suspended since
October last year.
All eyes are on today’s
tender for a plum 99-year
condo plot at Dakota Cres-
cent next to an MRT station
and fronting Geylang River.
tacle and our on-air packa-
ges aim to enhance this ex-
perience by speaking in the
same dynamic and energe-
tic language of sports,
while articulating the chan-
nels’ brand promise to
viewers across all
age-groups and demo-
graphics,” he said.
The marketing and
on-air promotions team
went through more than
three months of extensive
Leedon Investments
wins URA hotel tender
THE Urban
Redevelopment Authority
(URA) yesterday said that
it has awarded the tender
for a hotel site in New
Bridge Road to Leedon
Investments. The company
was top bidder in a state
tender for the 99-year
leasehold plot that closed
last week. Its bid of about
$67.7 million works out to
almost $401 per square
foot (psf) of potential gross
floor area. Leedon
Investments is part of
Hong Kong’s Far East
Consortium International
group, which is not related
to Singapore property
giant Far East
Organization.
S’pore, Vietnam
defence cooperation
DEPUTY Prime Minister
and Defence Minister Teo
Chee Hean and Vietnam’s
Minister for National
Defence Phung Quang
Thanh signed a Defence
Cooperation Agreement in
a ceremony at the Vietnam
Ministry of National
Defence yesterday. The
signing of the agreement
at ministerial level marks a
milestone in the growing
defence relationship
between both countries
and reflects their
commitment to enhancing
bilateral ties through
closer defence cooperation.
partner of YOG
By PHILIP KERPAN KWEE Koh Boon Hwee, chair- It was also announced
man of DBS Group, hailed that DBS and Visa will be is-
DBS Group (DBS) was offi-
the partnership as a “Singa- suing 500,000 pre-paid
cially announced yesterday
pore milestone” in this “glo- cards equipped with transit
as the official banking part-
bal, iconic event”. He con- funds and the capability of
ner of the Singapore 2010
tinued to say that the event cashless transactions to Sin-
Youth Olympic Games.
next year is a “huge oppor-
In a lunchtime press con- gapore 2010 accredited per-
tunity for all of Singapore to
ference held at the Swisso- sonnel and ticketed specta-
wow the world”.
tel The Stamford yesterday, tors.
This was echoed by the
DBS signed the sponsor- To commemorate the
Minister of State for Com- first Youth Olympic Games
ship agreement with the munity Development,
Singapore Youth Olympic in Singapore, DBS and Visa
Youth and Sports Yu-Foo
Games Organising Commit- will also be creating a limi-
Yee Shoon, who was the
tee (SYOGOC) to provide ted edition series of com-
guest of honour. She de-
branch banking services, memorative cash cards.
scribed the global nature of
and in conjunction with Vi- As for the rest of the
the Youth Olympic Games
sa, ATM services at the preparations for next
as a perfect platform for
Youth Olympic Village and year’s Games, Ng Ser
DBS to show off its
other Singapore 2010 ve- Miang, chairman of
strengths as a bank of
nues. SYOGOC, says that with
world-class standards.
around 340 days to go, de-
DBS joins other first-tier She went on to deem the
sponsors such as Changi Ex- sponsorship as an impor- velopment as a whole is
hibition Centre, Khat- tant partnership with the “progressing well” and that
tarWong and Crocodile In- private sector of Singapore, the team is “ready”.
ternational. “a win-win formula”. Game on.
Man faces charges of duty, tax evasion
A MAN will face court today for allegedly sion of duty or GST is liable to a fine or 20
evading $147,112 in duty and goods and times the amount evaded, or imprison-
services tax due while importing 146 Japa- ment, or both. They must also pay the tax
nese cars of various makes. owed.
Sia Chee Han, 54, was arrested yester- In July, a parallel importer was fined
day and faces 90 charges of fraudulent eva- $10.8 million for evading more than $2.5
million of taxes and duty. Tay Kien Chuan
sion of excise duty and GST, Singapore Cus-
pleaded guilty to 327 charges and was
toms said. He allegedly submitted Customs jailed for eight and a half years because he
declarations that showed incorrect values could not pay the fine.
for cars that he imported. The offences are Several car importers have been caught
said to have taken place between August this year after a crackdown by Customs. At
and November 2007. least 11 people have been charged this
Anyone found guilty of fraudulent eva- year with evading taxes and duty.

AFFC partner gets

6 months’ jail, fine
WONG Kee Yock, a partner
of All Family Food Court
(AFFC), faced the court
yesterday on charges of
wilfully evading tax by
understating his share of
profits from AFFC from
2000 to 2005. The total
amount understated was
$536,534. He was
sentenced to six months’
jail and ordered to pay a
penalty of three times the
tax undercharged,
amounting to $249,405.12.
Wong is the last of the
three partners of AFFC to
be charged with tax
evasion.
3D’s Jagbir Singh
sentencing adjourned
THE sentencing of Jagbir
Singh, a director of
GST-registered trader 3D
International, has been
delayed. The judge said
yesterday that Jagbir’s
doctor needs to be
examined in court, and as
the doctor is overseas,
sentencing is adjourned to
October. Jagbir has been
prosecuted over alleged
fraudulent GST claims.
Costly buy but cheaper in long run
Energy-efficient appliances
lead to more savings: NEA
A MORE energy-efficient refrigerator or
air-conditioner might cost more at the
point of purchase than their less ener-
gy-efficient counterparts, but can poten-
tially generate more savings for consum-
ers in the long term, a study done by the
National Environment Agency (NEA)
has found.
The 14-month-long study, which
sought to measure the market impact of
the Mandatory Energy Labelling
Scheme (MELS) launched by the govern-
ment in January last year, showed that
energy-efficient air-conditioners and re-
frigerators generally have lower lifecy-
cle costs compared with the less-effi-
cient ones. The lifecycle cost of an appli-
ance is the sum of the product’s cost
price and the lifespan electricity costs of
running it.
Eleven retailers and 57 of their shop
outlets were involved in the study. Un-
der the MELS, air-conditioners and re-
frigerators receive an energy efficiency
rating of zero-four ticks, with four given
to appliances that use energy most effi-
ciently.
For air-conditioners with cooling ca-
pacities ranging from 5.5 to 6kW, the
study found that the lifecycle cost of
four-tick models is about 50 per cent
less than that of the one-tick ones. Ener-
gy costs for refrigerators of volumes be-
tween 350 and 450 litres are also about
half those of the one-tick models.
The study also found that energy-sav-
ing appliances are not necessarily the
most expensive, and that retailers have
increased their offerings of energy-effi-
cient appliances.
Said the chief executive of NEA, An-
drew Tan: “We are delighted to note
that retailers have increased their
range of the more energy-
efficient appliances. This can be attrib-
uted to higher consumer demand due
to increased sophistication of consum-
ers who are now more aware of the en-
ergy savings that they can reap by
adopting energy-efficient models.”
With households accounting for
about 17 per cent of Singapore’s total
energy use, NEA has rolled out a series
of initiatives to encourage energy sav-
ings for consumers. It kickstarted its in-
augural Energy Challenge Week on
Sept 5, which closes on Sept 13.
Activities for the week include a fair
at the Marina Square Central Atrium,
where more than 20 firms are showcas-
ing their latest energy-efficient technolo-
gy in household appliances.