Optus Sport
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports broadcasting |
| Founded | July 13, 2016 |
| Founder | Optus |
| Defunct | August 1, 2025 |
| Fate | Broadcasting rights purchased by Nine Entertainment; operations discontinued |
| Headquarters | Australia , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Owner | Optus |
| Parent | Singtel |
Optus Sport was a collection of Australian sports channels owned by Optus, launched on 13 July 2016. Optus obtained the broadcasting rights after outbidding Foxtel for the Premier League coverage in Australia. The network served as the main platform for international soccer in Australia, featuring competitions such as the English Premier League, FA Cup, J.League, K League, UEFA international fixtures, and the Women's Super League.
On 30 June 2025, broadcasting rights held by Optus Sport were purchased by Nine Entertainment, the parent company of Stan, for an estimated AUD$300 million. These rights will be transferred to Stan Sport, with Optus Sport scheduled to discontinue operations on 1 August 2025.
Up until its shutdown, Optus Sport could be accessed through web browsers, the Optus Sport mobile app available on iOS and Android platforms, as well as apps on select Smart TV models and gaming consoles including the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox One.
History
In its early years, Optus Television utilized sports broadcasting rights to differentiate itself from competitor Foxtel. The company carried C7 Sport until March 2002, when it switched to Fox Sports (Australia), which was briefly rebranded as 'Optus Sports' until October that year. By 2009, Optus Television halted new subscriptions and eventually discontinued its service.
Malaysian-backed Fetch TV entered the Australian market via Optus in July 2010. In 2015, Allen Lew, newly appointed CEO who had previously introduced parent firm Singtel's English Premier League coverage, announced a three-year strategy aimed at transforming Optus from a telecommunications provider into a multimedia content aggregator.
In March 2015, Optus tested its own content delivery network. Later that year, it secured exclusive Australian rights to the English Premier League through to the 2018/19 season. By March 2016, Premier League content was available through Fetch TV (rebranded as 'Yes TV'), a dedicated website and app, and satellite broadcasts for regions with limited internet connectivity or commercial venues. One match per round was sublicensed to free-to-air broadcaster SBS, which traded its existing FIFA World Cup license for this arrangement.
Following customer dissatisfaction after the initial pricing release in May 2016, Optus adjusted its EPL subscription fees in June, including offering a complimentary access period. Furthermore, Optus collaborated with the Nine Network to jointly hold rights for the International Champions Cup, broadcasting all matches outside Australia while Nine retained exclusive Australian game rights. This partnership marked Optus’s first live sports broadcast event with the Manchester United versus Borussia Dortmund match held in Shanghai on 22 July 2016. Subsequently, Optus also aired a friendly involving West Ham United and later their Europa League qualifier against Astra Giurgiu.
Initial controversy
The acquisition of Premier League rights by Optus sparked criticism from existing subscribers who were loyal to Foxtel or other providers and doubted Australia's network infrastructure could support live IPTV streaming effectively. During the opening three rounds, numerous complaints emerged across social media platforms and news outlets.
Foxtel's reaction
Following the loss of broadcasting rights, Fox Sports Australia discontinued the $15/month BeIN Sports add-on, incorporating those channels into its primary sports subscription. Additionally, Club TV channels dedicated to Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United were introduced, along with delayed telecasts of matches involving Arsenal, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur.
Foxtel asserted that Optus threatened legal proceedings over these so-called 'free' channels and subsequently imposed a minimal fee of one cent per channel annually.
Expansion
Optus broadened its portfolio by including regional football leagues featuring Australian teams, as well as coverage of the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup and the 2016 AFF U-19 Youth Championship. It also aired the semi-final and final matches of the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
In October 2016, Optus Sport 2 launched a dedicated 24/7 Cricket channel (operating from November 1, 2016, to February 28, 2017) under an extended contract with Cricket Australia. This channel provided highlights, replays, and original programming such as '#Stumps'. While live cricket was accessible through app integration, it was not available on the linear broadcast channel.
Optus encountered difficulties securing additional sports rights due to existing long-term agreements held by major Australian sporting codes. Although it placed a bid for exclusive A-League broadcasting rights, it withdrew citing technical and equipment expenses. By May 2017, CEO Allen Lew regarded the acquisition of Premier League rights as a success and indicated plans to introduce non-sport family content on the 'Yes TV' platform—later disclosed to include the National Geographic App.
2018 FIFA World Cup and surrendering rights to SBS
Optus Sport obtained exclusive rights to air 39 live matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup through an arrangement with public broadcaster SBS, which initially secured rights directly from FIFA. SBS maintained free-to-air simulcast rights for 25 matches, whereas Optus held exclusive coverage for the entire tournament.
The exclusive broadcast of the opening game, Egypt versus Uruguay on 15 June 2018, encountered major technical difficulties such as buffering and connection interruptions. In response to ongoing issues and negative viewer feedback, Optus and SBS agreed that all matches on June 18 and 19 would be simulcast on SBS.
This agreement was extended on June 20 to include all group stage fixtures. Optus made its app and streaming services freely available until August 31, 2018, and refunded all paid subscribers. On June 28, Optus further prolonged the deal by transferring rights for all remaining World Cup matches to SBS.
Channels and programming
Optus Sport managed eleven multiplex channels:
- Optus Sport 1
The flagship channel mainly dedicated to broadcasting Premier League matches. During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, continuous Premier League coverage shifted to Optus Sport 3. It also featured Scores on Sunday, a weekly 90-minute football review encompassing domestic and international men’s and women’s games.
- Optus Sport 2
The primary overflow channel presenting selected international fixtures. For the 2018 FIFA World Cup, this channel acted as a secondary dedicated platform airing simultaneous live games, replays, and highlights.
- Optus Sport 3–11
Additional overflow channels delivering concurrent live broadcasts of Premier League or other competitions available on Optus Sport.
On-air presenters
Cricket 2016–18
- Richard Bayliss (Presenter)
- Lisa Sthalekar (Presenter)
- Damien Fleming (Presenter)
- Jason Bennett (Presenter)
- Glenn McGrath, Dean Jones, Michael Hussey, Jason Gillespie, Ian Healy, Chris Rogers, Dirk Nannes, Ryan Harris, Simon Katich (Commentary and Analysis)
- James Anderson, John Emburey (International Match Analysis)
FIFA Women's World Cup 2019
- Richard Bayliss, Amy Duggan, Mel McLaughlin (Presenters)
- Specialists: Heather Garriock, Alicia Ferguson, Mark Schwarzer, John Aloisi, Catherine Cannuli, Ash Sykes, Georgia Yeoman-Dale, Amy Chapman, Tal Karp, Dean Heffernan, Ante Juric
- Field Reporters: Jules Breach, Niav Owens, Michelle Escobar
FIFA World Cup 2018
- Richard Bayliss, Jules Breach, Mel McLaughlin (Presenters)
- Expert Panel: Mark Schwarzer, Michael Bridges, Tony Popovic, John Aloisi, Brett Emerton, Paul Okon, Shane Smeltz, Luke Wilkshire, Alex Wilkinson, Tony Vidmar, Amy Harrison, Sasa Ognenovski
- On-site Reporters: Michael Zappone, Kelly Somers
Copa America 2021
- Richard Bayliss (Presenter)
- Michelle Escobar (Reporter/Presenter)
- Hosts and Analysts: Thomas Sørensen, David Weiner
- Expert Analysts: Michael Bridges, John Aloisi, Scott McDonald, Craig Moore
- Reporter and Analyst: Mark Schwarzer
UEFA Euro 2020
- Presenters: Richard Bayliss, Jules Breach, Paul Okon, Michelle Escobar, Thomas Sørensen, Adriano Del Monte, David Weiner, Mel McLaughlin
- Expert Panel: Michael Bridges, John Aloisi, Kevin Muscat, Mark Milligan, Carl Robinson, Scott McDonald, Craig Moore
- Analyst/Reporter: Mark Schwarzer
- Reporting Team: Michael Zappone, Kelly Somers, David Davutovic, Max Rushden, Ollie Geale, Max Merrill, Alicia Ferguson