Existing Optus Sport customers are set to receive discounted pricing to watch the English Premier League after the transfer of broadcast rights to Stan.
Nine’s Stan Sport streaming service will begin airing the football content from August 1, the date when Optus Sport shuts down, ending a nine-year run. The new Premier League season kicks off on August 16.
It is yet to be determined whether any football content will be broadcast on Nine’s free to air channels at this stage.
Stan is paying Optus Sport an up-front fee of $20 million and making a contribution toward the first payment for the next Premier League rights cycles.
The agreement also includes the rights to FA Cup games, Japan’s J.League and the US National Women’s Soccer League.
“The Premier League is the most-watched football league on the planet, and alongside the FA Cup, this acquisition reinforces Nine’s position as the home of sport in Australia,” Nine CEO Matt Stanton said in a statement.
“We are proud to deliver these iconic competitions to Australian audiences through Stan Sport.”
Under the agreement, Optus Sport customers who remain Optus telecommunications customers will be provided discounted pricing from Stan. Existing customers will receive detailed information and special offers in coming days to ensure the transition to Stan is as simple as possible.
Optus CEO Stephen Rue said the decision to transfer the Premier League broadcast rights comes as the company shifts its focus to Optus’s core operations in telecommunications, its commitment to customers, and unlocking further value for the business in its future.
“Optus Sport has delivered outstanding sports broadcasting to Australian football lovers for almost a decade,” Rue said in a statement.
“One of our key priorities was to find a home for Optus Sport content which would take the game forward and enable all Optus Sport subscribers to continue to receive uninterrupted access to all their favourite football action.
“Optus Sport customers and the game of football will be in great hands at Stan, and we know the game will receive the broadcasting priority it deserves from an organisation whose speciality is delivering quality sports programming to its customers.”
Existing Optus Sport customers will still be able access the broadcast of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 tournament, which commences on July 3.
ABC/AAP
