Optus Sport has announced that SBS will broadcast all remaining 2018 FIFA World Cup games for free.
The telco said on Thursday all remaining games will be shown in conjunction with SBS, and all Australians could access Optus Sport free until August 31.
Optus Sport’s streaming service has been plagued by buffering issues and glitches, leaving Australian soccer fans furious.
The debacle saw Optus derided as ‘Floptus’ and even Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull weighed in, demanding the telco’s boss fix the problems.
Optus Sport is set to announce that SBS will broadcast all remaining World Cup games (pictured are SBS hosts Lucy Zelic and Craig Foster)
The telco said on Thursday all remaining games will be shown in conjunction with SBS, and all Australians could access Optus Sport free until August 31 (pictured is Optus host Mel McLaughlin)
Chief Executive Allen Lew said Optus’ decision was made in order to put Australian soccer fans first.
‘Optus is here to push the boundaries of innovation in Australia and deliver choice to customers,’ Mr Lew said.
‘We had technical issues with the Optus Sport service over the first weekend of the tournament but we are confident that these issues have now been addressed.
Mr Lew said Optus intends to learn from the experience in aiming to provide customers with its streaming-to-mobile service.
Optus Sport’s streaming service has been plagued by buffering issues and glitches, leaving Australian soccer fans furious (stock image)
‘Our customers and viewers have been the priority in our decision making,’ he said on Thursday.
‘That’s why we have provided several ways to watch the matches, offered refunds and introduced a range of measures to address the technical issues experienced by some Optus Sport viewers.
‘All Australians are eligible to access Optus Sport for free until 31 August 2018.’
Optus also promised to refund disgruntled customers, and has taken out full-page ads in Friday newspapers to apologise to fans.
SBS sold the rights for most World Cup matches to Optus Sport for a reported $8million – but many fans have been unable to watch due to technical problems.
The deal left SBS with the rights to show one World Cup game per day as well as the finals.
Thursday’s announcement comes after Optus responded to complaints by giving SBS broadcast rights for 48 hours last week.
Optus had exclusive rights to show two of the quarter finals and half of the round of 16 matches.
Thursday’s announcement comes after Optus responded to complaints by giving SBS broadcast rights for 48 hours last week (pictured is an error message viewed by Optus users)