Optus Sport kicks off new investment in women’s football 

Securing Australian rights to transmit Barclays FA Women’s Super League

Optus Sport has announced it has scored the exclusive live rights to transmit the top tier of English women's football for the next three years in Australia.

After producing the most comprehensive coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup ever seen in Australia, Optus Sport has strengthened its investment in women’s football by streaming the Barclays FA Women’s Super League (FA WSL) from Sunday November 17.

The deal continues Optus’ commitment to elite top-level football and will see Optus Sport broadcast approximately 50 live matches a full season and around 40 fixtures of the underway 2019/20 season.

Fans can enjoy must-watch match highlight compilations on Optus Sport, including the popular mini matches, as well as games on-demand for up to 30 days after first transmission.

Tom Gracey, Senior Broadcast Manager at the FA said, “We are delighted to partner with Optus Sport in a historic deal that will showcase the Barclays FA Women's Super League to viewers across Australia.

“This is our first deal in the Asian region and demonstrates the ever-increasing global appeal of the league. We commend Optus for being at the vanguard of elevating and broadcasting more top-level women’s football.

“The popularity of women’s football is at an all-time high and this agreement is a fantastic opportunity for viewers across Australia to enjoy the skills, excitement and competitiveness that the Barclays FA Women’s Super League has to offer.”

Optus’ Head of TV and Content Corin Dimopoulos said Optus remained focussed on helping grow women’s football and inspire the next generation.

“We are proud to be Australia's home of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and look forward to growing interest in and sharing the league with our expanding base of Optus Sport customers,” said Mr Dimopoulos.

Alicia Ferguson, former Matilda and Optus Sport Expert, added, “It is really exciting Optus Sport has secured the rights. Optus Sport will not only be making more football available to Australian viewers, but importantly, increasing the visibility of women’s sport.”

The Barclays FA WSL joins a slate of premium football content on Optus Sport, including exclusively live coverage of every Premier League, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League match and Optus Sport’s new in-house, live 90-minute football show, Scores on Sunday, hosted on rotation by Mel McLaughlin, Richard Bayliss and Niav Owens and featuring some of Australia’s best pundits including Heather Garriock, Mark Schwarzer, John Aloisi and Alicia Ferguson.

OPTUS SPORT WSL PROGRAMMING

Optus Sport’s official coverage of the FA WSL kicks off with a bang when Manchester City take on West Ham, Sunday November 17.

Details of Optus Sport’s opening round of live matches include:

17 November 2019 - Manchester City v West Ham - 11.30pm AEDT 
18 November 2019 - Chelsea v Manchester United - 1am AEDT
18 November 2019 - Tottenham v Arsenal - 2am AEDT
18 November 2019 - Liverpool v Everton - 2am AEDT

BARCLAYS FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE

12 teams make up England's largest full-time women's league, including current champions Arsenal Women FC, who last season were guided to their first ever FA WSL title win since 2012 by former Australian soccer player and Melbourne City A-League assistant coach, Joe Montemurro.

Founded in 2011, the FA WSL consists of: Arsenal Women FC, Birmingham City Women FC, Brighton & Hove Albion Women FC, Bristol City Women FC, Chelsea FC women, Everton Ladies FC, Liverpool FC Women, Manchester City Women FC, Manchester United FC, Reading FC Women, Tottenham Hotspurs Women FC and West Ham United Women FC.

In 2018/19, the FA WSL season became Europe’s only fully professional women’s league.

HOW TO WATCH OPTUS SPORT

Watch Optus Sport on the big-screen via Fetch, Apple TV, Apple Airplay, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox or desktop, or on-the-go via tablet, mobile, or laptop.

Optus Sport is available as an optional extra on eligible Optus plans for no extra cost, or for Optus prepaid customers, a $10 Optus Sport Add On is now available. Non-Optus customers and Optus customers ineligible for a monthly subscription may subscribe to Optus Sport for $14.99 per month.

More information available here.

To note: As a result of Optus Sport securing the rights, live Barclays FA WSL matches on The FA Player will be geo-blocked in Australia as of November 17, 2019.

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Media contact:

Tara White
(02) 8082 7850
media@optus.com.au