OPTUS EXTENDS PREMIER LEAGUE RIGHTS AND OPENS UP OPTUS SPORT AHEAD OF THE 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP TM TO ALL AUSTRALIAN VIEWERS

 Optus announces full access to Optus Sport, including Premier League and all 64 matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup ^TM 

Optus has today announced it will continue to be the Australian home of elite international football, having extended its relationship for exclusive Australian rights to the Premier League for a further three seasons, commencing in August 2019. 

This includes exclusive live coverage on Optus Sport for every Premier League match, and  full on-demand, replay and short form rights for all 380 matches from 2019 to 2022. 

Optus CEO Allen Lew said, “One of the great things about Australian football fans is their passion for the sport, and we’re elated to extend our Premier League broadcast rights for another three seasons. This shows our long-term commitment to provide exclusive premium 

content and our transition to be a multi-media entertainment provider. Fans have shown that they love what we are doing in bringing the best club competition in the world to Australia and we look forward to taking it to the next level over the next four years.” 

Executive Chairman at the Premier League, Richard Scudamore said, “We are very pleased that Optus has again chosen to invest in our rights in Australia and will exclusively broadcast the Premier League for the next four seasons. 

“Optus is an excellent partner for the League and we look forward to continuing to work with them to make available the best possible Premier League content to fans across the country.” 

Optus Sport Going OTT 
As excitement about the 2018 FIFA World Cup^TM intensifies, Optus has separately announced a new direct-to-consumer subscription option for all Australian viewers to access Optus Sport,  which will be the only place to watch all 64 matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup^TM. 

From later this month, Optus Sport will be available for the first time to non-Optus customers and Optus customers who were previously not eligible, for $14.99 per month via Google Play and the Apple App Store. This is a significant step in the evolution of premium sport in Australia and will allow all football fans the opportunity to experience all that Optus Sport has to offer on a month to month basis. 

All subscribers will be able to access all of Optus Sport’s 2018 FIFA World Cup^TM coverage, including two 24/7 channels, all 64 matches both live and on-demand and Optus Sport’s entire array of dedicated World Cup programming, as well as all other sports programming on Optus  Sport. 

Eligible Optus customers will continue to be able to enjoy access to all Optus Sport content. 

2018 FIFA World Cup^TM Programming Highlights 
“We’ve made sure every single match played in the 2018 FIFA World Cup^TM receives dedicated pre and post-game analysis and both live and on-demand viewing options,” Mr Lew said. 

“As a bonus for fans, Optus has assembled an expert team of analysts comprised of international and national talent who will be based in Russia and Sydney and will produce and deliver five hours of dedicated programming every match day during the tournament. These teams will be led by former Socceroo Mark Schwarzer and Optus Sport’s Richard Bayliss, and will provide a unique insight into events throughout the whole tournament. 

Throughout the tournament Optus Sport will be the only place Australian viewers can watch all 64 games live. Within this, 39 matches will be only available live and exclusive through Optus Sport, including all of Lionel Messi’s Argentinean team group stage matches. 

Optus Sport subscribers will also be able to enjoy live on air content every matchday with pre-game shows, full match coverage and daily highlights produced by the Optus Sport production team. 

Some of the best matches exclusive to Optus Sport that are being played during the tournament include: 

• Egypt v Uruguay on 15 June at 10pm AEST featuring the incomparable Egyptian striker Mo Salah who has lit up the Premier League this year 
• All three of Argentina’s pool matches, v Iceland on 16 June, v Croatia on 23 June, and v Nigeria on 28 June - meaning Lionel Messi fans will be glued to Optus Sport 
• Brazil’s first game v Switzerland on 18 June which promises to be one of the key  matches in the group stage  
• Croatia v Nigeria on 17 June 
• Australia’s two Group C rivals Peru and Denmark playing each other on 17 June; and 
• South Korea playing Sweden at 10pm AEST on 18 June. 

Optus Sport App 
The Optus Sport App will provide people with greater flexibility to connect with the 2018 FIFA World Cup^TM whether at home or on the go. 

“We’ve optimised the App to be compatible with all major smartphones, as well as web browsers, Apple TV and Chromecast, offering a truly flexible viewing experience. Additional features include Start Over, meaning if you’ve missed the start of a live match you can simply select the start over option and jump straight back to the start of the match.” 

The sporting entertainment doesn’t end at the World Cup, with Optus Sport subscriptions thereafter providing access to all of Optus Sport’s exclusive content, which continues with the start of the 2018/19 Premier League season in August 2018. 

“As a leading content provider in Australian sport, we’ve made the decision to give everyone the opportunity to subscribe to Optus Sport and experience the state-of-the art sport coverage and insights we have available to our Optus customers,” Mr Lew added. 

To find out more about Optus Sport people can visit https://sport.optus.com.au/

Optus Sport will shortly announce its full array of World Cup programming, on-air talent and programming line-up. 

Personal viewing in Australia only. Compatible device, and Australian app store account required. 

Media Enquiries 
Candice Lester/Michelle Pacey 
Optus Corporate Affairs 
(02) 8082 7850 
media@optus.com.au 

Notes to Editor: Optus Exclusive Live Matches List
During the 2018 FIFA World Cup^TM, Optus Sport will be broadcasting all 64 games live and on demand/replay, 39 of which will be exclusive to Optus Sport.

All matches will be live on Optus Sport, with SBS broadcasting one game per match day simultaneously (25 in total).

The below list is of the 24-confirmed exclusive to Optus Sport matches. The remaining 15 matches that Optus Sport will be broadcasting exclusively will be determined during the tournament. These will include nine additional matches from the group stage, four round of 16 matches, and two quarter-finals.

A list of the full draw and all matches, which are being broadcast by Optus Sport, can be found here: World Cup Draw Optus