Bars shoot for live-stream win

More than 100 bars across Hong Kong are offering World Cup live streams to lure soccer lovers as they expect four rounds of business every night with each customer spending HK$150, an industry leader says.

With a five-hour time difference between Hong Kong and Qatar, matches are held between 6pm and 3am Hong Kong time, the so-called "golden operation hours" at bars, said the chairman of the Hong Kong Bar and Club Association, Chin Chun-wing.

"Even matches that kick off at 3 am would end in two hours at 5 am, which is still opening hours at bars," Chin said.

Assuming each customer spends HK$150 a round, Chin expects customers may spend as much as HK$600 each if they watch up to four matches in a day.

"I believe the World Cup live can bring at least a 30 percent boost in business for bars," he said.

Among 400 member bars in the association, more than 100 have bought World Cup live stream services from broadcasters at HK$30,000 for the two-week games, almost 1.5 times the prices for the last World Cup in 2018.

Chin said soccer fans can search for bars that provide the live streams on the Bar and Club Association's Bar Map app.

Authorities lifted opening-hour restrictions at bars and restaurants earlier this month and businesses at bars have bounced back to 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

But Chin urged the authorities to further relax the rapid antigen test requirements on bar customers and the vaccine pass to help with recovery of the trade.

A Chinese restaurant owner named Leung expected a 20 percent increase in business during the World Cup, and bookings were already full during the semi-finals and finals. But the restaurant has no plan to extend its business hours for matches overnight, he said.

Wholesale and retail sector lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai also expected the World Cup to lift business in bars and restaurants during dinner time.

But he held dimmer hopes for the retail business, as citizens may save money for travel during the Christmas peak season.

For upcoming matches today and tomorrow, England and Argentina apparently stand bigger chances to win.

Betting odds for England versus Iran at 9pm (Hong Kong Time) today were 1.23 to 10.5, while those for Argentina versus Saudi Arabia at 6pm tomorrow are nearly 18 times higher.

Jersey sellers said business has dropped 20 percent compared with 2018, but more people have opted for online shops instead of purchasing from physical stores. A seller said dark blue jerseys for the Japanese team are popular among local fans.

The seller told The Standard that the Argentine team's blue-and-white-striped jersey was sold out weeks before the World Cup began yesterday, while jerseys for the Portuguese team were also popular.

But the bestsellers were the no. 10 shirt of Argentina's keyman Lionel Messi and the no. 7 shirt of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. A seller named Lam said the Qatar World Cup could be their last tournament for both Messi and Ronaldo.

Meanwhile, some Sham Shui Po stores were found to be selling TV set-up boxes for between HK$800 and HK$1,000 so people can watch matches at home, but a barrister warned it is a violation of the Copyrights Ordinance.

In a shopping mall in the district, at least five stores were selling the TV boxes. One of the staff told reporters from Headline Daily, The Standard's sister publication, that by connecting wi-fi and LAN cables, these boxes could watch all TV channels in the world.

The staff member recommended CCTV-5, the sports channel of the state-owned China Central Television, and said some of the TV boxes even provide Cantonese channels for World Cup live streams.

When asked which TV box can cover the World Cup, a staff member at another shop refused to answer. But barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung warned citizens may infringe the Copyrights Ordinance if they use TV boxes to watch live streams from local TV stations that have broadcasting rights.

People watching mainland or overseas channels could also risk violating the Telecommunications Ordinance, but the penalty is lighter.

Pay-TV service provider Now TV and its player app Now E have been granted exclusive broadcasting rights for the Qatar World Cup, while its free TV channel ViuTV will air 19 selected games, including the opening match as well as the two semi-finals and the final.

Six shopping malls are airing the World Cup, including three Sino Group malls free: Olympian City, Tuen Mun Town Plaza and Citywalk, Nina Malls in Tsuen Wan, Central Market and Fashion World in Whampoa.

Sino Group expected a 10 to 15 percent increase in customer footfall during the tournament.