Optus hands SBS group World Cup matches

Optus will allow all Australians to watch the World Cup for free, with SBS simulcasting all remaining group stage matches.

Optus has been forced to allow Australians to watch the World Cup for free until the end of June with SBS broadcasting all the matches until the completion of the group stages.

Optus CEO Allen Lew apologised for the patchy coverage of the international event which earnt a rebuke from PM Malcolm Turnbull.

“I don’t have regrets about spending the money. We’ve created some very significant differentiation in what we’ve done with live streaming sports. We’re not perfect, we’ve made a mistake, but we hope the goodwill we’ve done in terms of giving Australians choice will allow them to give us another chance.” he said.

SBS hosts Craig Foster and Lucy Zelic.

All Australians will have the choice to watch the World Cup on Optus Sport or on SBS from now until the end of the group stages on 29th of June, and the Optus coverage will be free for all Australians until August 31.

The deal also means the first three rounds of the 2018-19 English Premier League season, streamed on Optus Sport, will be available for free.

Those who have paid for World Cup coverage will be refunded the $15.

SBS CEO Michael Ebeid said the two parties came to a mutual agreement over broadcasting.

“The World Cup is the absolute pinnacle of football, a sport that Australians are deeply passionate about. SBS looks forward to continuing to simulcast the games, together with Optus over the next ten days.”

The new deal means SBS will continue to broadcast two extra matches each day of the tournament, as it has done over the past 48 hours due to technical difficulties Optus has experienced with its streaming app.

You can’t hold the beautiful game back. The passion we share is too great. Well done to all for sensible outcome for Australian public. Each World Cup inspires a new generation for the rest of their life, a gift they cannot be denied. See you soon on World Cup Today #sbsworldcup

— Craig Foster (@Craig_Foster) June 20, 2018

After winning the rights to the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments, SBS sub-licensed all 64 games to Optus, electing to show 25 of them to meet the criteria for anti-siphoning rules.

SBS would show 25 matches, plus highlights, including all Australian group games, two quarter-finals, both semi-finals and the final with 39 matches exclusive to Optus.

Optus agreed to give SBS 114 English premier league matches over three seasons.

Mr Lew admitted Optus had suffered brand damage as a result of the fiasco.

“We hope that Australians understand that we have listened to them, and today’s announcement with SBS, plus the fact we are making Optus sport free, convinces all Australians we have listened to them and given them choice, he said. “That’s the most important thing we can do to reinstate confidence in our brand.”

Optus CEO Allen Lew. Picture: Christian Gilles

The CEO added the world was entering a new era of the mobile internet, and live sport streaming on mobile internet was still an emerging technology.

“We are all learning as we go along,” he said. “Our partners fully undersrtstand the risks involved in new technologies and the myriad of devices. We are all on this journey together.”