In 2018, Optus’ FIFA World Cup broadcast was so poor that not only did the term “Floptus” enter the local vernacular but the company had to offload the rights to SBS. The Women’s World Cup, starting on Thursday in Sydney, gives it a shot at redemption, and the boss of the telco’s broadcast content division says it has put in the investment to make sure there are no own goals.

Clive Dickens, Optus’ vice-president of television, content and product development, cut a confident figure as he showed The Australian Financial Review around Optus’ refurbished studios in Sydney on Friday. But he didn’t shy away from the reality that the company cannot afford to stuff this up.