Foxtel counters Optus’ EPL push by adding new BeIn Sports channels to sports pack for free
Foxtel has moved to shore up its sports offering weeks before it loses the English Premier League from the platform to Optus by striking a deal with BeIn Sports to offer three new HD channels for free to sports subscribers.
The move sees BeIn, which is currently a $20-per-month extra subscription for one standard definition channel, move into the main sports pack alongside Fox Sports and ESPN. It also adds a slew of international football rights including Champions League and the upcoming European Championships to the Foxtel offering.
The May 15 launch date for the new channels is also the final day of the English Premier League season, giving Foxtel the chance to heavily cross-promote the new football-rich offering to its subscribers in what is expected to be a large marketing campaign.
Optus surprised the market when it paid $63m per season for the rights in a surprise smash and grab raid at the end of last year, leading to an angry backlash from EPL fans against Fox Sports. Observers say the move could see up to 70,000 subscribers, paying at least $50 per month each, depart the pay-TV provider.
What about beIN subscribers that purchased 12 months in advance?
Hi Ann,
As I understand it subscribers will be refunded whatever they paid for the service after May 15 – so if you paid for a month from May 1 you will get half of that back.
Hope that explains it.
Cheers,
Alex – editor, Mumbrella
word is they will receive pro-rata refunds
Fantastic! Genius move from Foxtel.
Great move by Foxtel and great for their customers (and Bein’s). More value for money as it’s just added to the standard sports pack. Customers now pay less for more. Brilliant stuff!!
BOOM!!
What about people who get fox sports via optus cable tv featuring foxtel? There are over 100,000 of us. Because we already get fox sports, does this mean we will get BEIN, or will we miss out?
Hi Peter,
According to a spokesperson it will be made available there too.
Cheers,
Alex – editor, Mumbrella
Is the Foxtel office posting on this threat or what?
Not impressed at all. There are already Champions League games on FTA via SBS. The EPL is the crown jewels of league football around the world. Go to any soccer training session in Australia (kids or adults) and 90% of people are wearing kit from EPL teams. The rest wear Madrid or Barca tops. But everyone watches the EPL. I think its a brilliant move from Optus and will damage Foxtel greatly. BeIn Sports has nothing of genuine interest apart from Champions League and FA Cup
This move, doubled with rumours that it will cost $90 per month to view EPL on Optus (though I assume that will be bundled with internet/mobile) has really swung the pendulum back to Fox. As a football fan it’s also gratifying to see that Fox realised they needed to pull a rabbit out of the hat, and they’ve done it.
Who would choose optus over this? Unless you’re a die hard fan of an EPL club, this new bein deal is incredible.
As a follower of A-League, Serie A and Bundesliga and any major tournament this has stopped me from throwing in the towel to Foxtel. Fantastic
@mg “BeIn Sports has nothing of genuine interest”?
So
Bundesliga
Serie A
La Liga
European Championships
+ more
A collection of the best leagues in the world, the best teams (Real Madrid, Barca, Bayern Munich) and the highest quality tournament (Bar South American teams Euros always throw up better quality than World Cup)
I’d reckon that would get most real football fans very, very interested.
‘It offers Fox Sports a rich variety’ – should be ”It offers Foxtel a rich variety’
Fox Sports is a channel like beIN, Foxtel is the platform which offers a rich variety.
FYI – Optus Tv aka Fetch TV as BEIN sports in their package (Dont know about the all 3 channels thou.) So I still get even more without having to get FOXTEL.
Thanks Alex for the update.
Here’s a prediction for you: within 24 months Optus will have given up any hope of making this work and will be subleasing the EPL back to Fox Sports or will have given up the rights altogether. The precedent for this is actually how beIN came to take over Setanta: the Irish broadcaster took EPL games off Sky but then defaulted on payments. Optus will never make this work.
@GA who do you work for?
@GA – Yeah but there’s 3 of ya.
@ GA Btw I am a massive football fan and the EPL is where it is at for me. Fox have taken too much money, for too long. I subscribe to netflix and see no ad’s. Foxtel however, I subscribe and still get ad’s: good riddance!
This is a game changer, there is every chance that those football fans that were considering dropping Foxtel for Fetch TV via Optus will now be keeping it. Only the real EPL die hards will now be looking at the EPL channel on Fetch TV. The rest will make do with keeping Foxtel sports package and the odd EPL saturday night match on SBS.
Optus will be fuming…………….
Amazing news for Football fans!
I think i’m going to have to buy a second TV purely so i can watch two games at once!
Can’t wait to see what Optus come up with for the EPL,
Also @MG, The EPL isn’t the crown jewels of Football everywhere in the world haha The vast majority of top tier football playing nations couldn’t care less as to what happens in England (with the obvious exemption of everyone watching Leicester very closely right now).
No more being stuck with Aston Villa vs Newcastle as our only option for the early kick off.
Hi Dylan,
As a Newcastle fan I should take offence to this, but after this season…
Cheers,
Alex – editor, Mumbrella
@Suspect trolls
What? because I like this deal I work for Foxtel. try reading the reaction on football forums like 442.
Everyone is stoked with this, except plastic EPL supporters
Is it only in hd or standard channels aswel
Want BeIN + EPL and nothing else? Get Fetch TV 🙂
It just remains to be seen if Fetch will get the extra two BeIN channels, and how much the EPL channel will cost.
Anyone who thinks Foxtel won’t adjust their packages again in the coming 12 months is living under a rock.
bein costs $20 a month now on Foxtel….how can they just throw it in for free now and make money…..eventually they will re-package their sports packages for sure
it’s simple – let’s all just wait and see
@GA pull the other one and enjoy the Bundesliga… ??
There’s only one Premier League…
Does anyone know how bad streaming is live footy and no HD ? Optus cant stream EPL to my home due to the poor Internet service and Country areas across OZ – What about Pubs / Clubs – what if the internet goes down????? With Foxtel ive go no streaming issues connected to a Satellite Dish – I agree wait for the uproar from those expecting crystal clear HD or even basic SD coverage – i had a Fetch TV service which was unwatchable
Fox you fucked up I been with fox from the beginning 20years and I been with bein sport for 5 years what I’m I going to do now that you lost the epl thanks for nothing fox
@ Alex Hayes, at least you don’t support Portsmouth like me, dark dark days 🙁
@ I cant stream. Back up your theory moron!
Yes, i live 4587 meters from my Exchange with a peak down load at best of 2.5 MBS down load speed with ADSL1 not ports available for ADSL 2 which would boost me to perhaps 5MBS – i cant afford to go to Telstra Mobile downloads of 3,5G or 4G as one match would use all my down load allowance – unless Optus bring out a Mobile plan with Unlimted Downloads for EPL – Optus only offer 3G patchy coverage here in Koroit Victoria – so please dont call me a Moron unless you work at Optus!
Moron was harsh, sorry.
Ditch your Foxtel subscription and get a better plan. It’s 2016: no need for ‘cable’ tv…
FORZA JUVENTUS!
Is this going to be in SD or HD
i love this comment from MG above…
“BeIn Sports has nothing of genuine interest apart from Champions League and FA Cup”