Optus finally reveals how you can watch the EPL in Australia
UPDATE: May 5, 2016, 5:57 a.m. AEST On Wednesday, Optus released pricing details for the 2016/17 season of the English Premier League (EPL).
Most importantly, you must be an Optus customer. If you have one of the telecommunication company's select mobile or home broadband packages, you'll be able to add EPL for A$15 per month, the company said in a statement. If your plan costs more than A$85 per month, EPL will come free. Streaming over mobile, mobile broadband or home broadband will also be unmetered.
You May Also Like
Looks like you have a choice to make, Aussie EPL fans. Or you can hope your games play later on SBS.
After Optus stole the broadcast and digital rights to three seasons of the English Premier League from right under Fox Sports' nose last year, Australian fans were left bewildered as to how they would watch their favourite game in 2016.
On Thursday, the telecommunications company finally disclosed the details. Will fans be happy? Well, that depends whether they happen to be Optus customers.
A new channel
First, Optus will be creating what it called in a statement "Australia’s first ever 24/7 football channel" on Optus' subscription TV platform, complete with commentary and analysis. If you subscribe to Optus TV with pay TV service Fetch, you'll have access to 10 sub channels that will carry every match live.
It is not clear what the EPL channel will cost Optus TV subscribers. Full pricing will be released in the coming months, an Optus spokesperson told Mashable Australia. However, some existing customers will already have EPL included in their plan, she added.
A set top box
For Optus mobile customers who don't have Optus broadband, a mini-set top box will be available so they can stream the channel via Optus TV with Fetch to their television in a manner similar to Google's Chromecast.
An app and website
There will also be two other digital options: An Optus EPL app and website. The tablet and mobile app will allow Optus customers to stream live games unmetered over mobile or fixed broadband. Optus also said the app will become available on other TV player devices and Smart TVs over time.
It looks like Optus is sticking to its guns and not allowing non-Optus customers to buy season passes to its app or channel. The live matches and EPL-related shows will only be available to Optus customers, an Optus spokesperson confirmed.
While not dissimilar to the former locked-in arrangement under cable provider Foxtel, fans are still a little upset.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
If you don't want to join Optus in EPL world, the telco has also cut a deal with free to air channel SBS that will allow the public broadcaster to air one match per round live for three seasons.
Via the SBS, Optus also has the rights to show the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as well as the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Make your choice, soccer fans of Australia.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
Ariel Bogle was an associate editor with Mashable in Australia covering technology. Previously, Ariel was associate editor at Future Tense in Washington DC, an editorial initiative between Slate and New America.
