Optus and Seven to create special 4K UHD streaming channel for Tokyo Olympics

It’s the world’s biggest sporting event, but Australian viewers have been missing out. Now there’s a solution for some lucky fans.

The Seven Network and Optus have announced plans to team up to stream the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 4K Ultra HD for the first time.

A new channel that will livestream Seven’s coverage will be available only to Optus 5G Home Broadband customers with Fetch Mighty set top boxes and active Fetch subscriptions.

At this stage there doesn’t appear to be an additional cost for the Olympics coverage, but Fetch Mighty boxes retail for $449.

If you’re subscribing to the required Optus 5G Home Broadband plan though you can add a Fetch Mighty for an extra $15 a month, bringing the total cost of your plan up to $85.

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If you have one of Optus’ 5G towers near your place you’ll be able to stream the Olympics in 4K.

Optus began selling its 5G Home Broadband plan earlier this year and it’s only available to a limited number of customers at this stage as the telco continues rolling out its 5G network.

Optus has more than 300 5G sites so far but plans to have 1200 by March next year.

If you’re in one of the areas where it’s available, you can get unlimited data at speeds faster than the NBN for $70 per month.

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Optus vice president of product development, TV and content Clive Dickens said the Olympic channel would build out the 5G “video experience network”.

“This exclusive partnership is another element which will allow us to ensure end-to-end delivery of 4K Ultra HD Video content to exclusive Optus customers.”

Last month, Optus announced 5G Home Broadband customers would be able to exclusively stream English Premier League soccer in 4K UHD as well via Optus Sport, which also costs $15 a month on top of your plan.

Optus 5G Home Broadband comes with a specially designed Nokia modem.

Optus is confident it won’t see a repeat of the issues that dogged its streaming of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and forced it to let SBS simulcast games.

The Olympics has had some events shown in 4K in the past in other countries around the world.

Japan will broadcast the games in 8K, which Seven has announced plans to show at some public events, but will not be able to broadcast.

4K streaming has been available on Netflix and Disney+, as well as broadcast through pay TV subscription services like Foxtel, but currently is not available through any of the free to air networks.

Streaming 4K content requires a download speed of around 15Mbps at the least, but Optus 5G Home Broadband customers shouldn’t run into any problems, given the plan’s 50Mbps Satisfaction Guarantee, which will let you out of the plan for free if you’re not satisfied you’re getting at least that speed.

Seven’s chief revenue officer said the Tokyo Olympics, which will take place in a very favourable time zone for Australian viewers, will be the “most-watched”, and the biggest “digital event in Australian streaming history”.

Japan’s new national stadium that will host many of the events was completed last month. Picture: Kyodo News via AP

Fetch CEO Scott Lorson said the new channel would be a “special treat” for viewers.

“We are delighted to work with Optus and Seven on this groundbreaking initiative,” he said.

“As a result of this partnership, Optus subscribers with a Fetch Mighty will be in for a special treat, with access for the first time ever to a 4K Ultra HD channel streaming Seven’s coverage of the Olympics.”

The Tokyo Olympics will take place from July 24 to August 9 next year.