Optus delays pre-orders for its English Premier League packages
Optus has delayed taking pre-orders for its new English Premier League packages telling customers it was taking time to give them a better experience, in a move that could be a signal it reacting to anger over its pricing and packages.
The telco was meant to have opened its pre-orders over the weekend – the final weekend of the EPL on Foxtel – before the code moves over to Optus after it secured the EPL in a surprise move last year with the new season kicking off in August.
Optus has delayed pre-orders for the EPL
In an email sent to thousands of people who had expressed interest in subscribing to the EPL with Optus, the telco apologised and said information on pre-orders was still a few weeks away.
“We can’t wait to share next season’s action with you, like you’ve never seen it before,” the email said.
“We had planned for the Premier League Pre-Order site to open at midnight on 15th May. We are committed to making it as easy as possible to set yourself up for the Premier League. That means taking a few extra weeks to make the experience as smooth and painless as possible. Please bear with us. It will be worth it. Pre-Order will open soon.”
Last week the telco said it would have the technology, which includes a complex app and new 24/7 station on Fetch TV, ready for the start of the season.
The email also urges people to get their local pub to subscribe to the Optus EPL package.
“Encourage your pub to register its interest,” the email said, although it gave no details of how that would be made available.
The delay could be a signal that Optus is rethinking its strategy on pricing and packages after a massive backlash from football fans when it revealed its pricing last month.
The company announced the EPL would not be available as a standalone product, but would be bundled with either phone packages, broadband or a Fetch TV package.
Having invested $60m per year for the next three years, Optus aimed to recoup the investment charging anyone on a plan worth less than $85 per month $15 per month to access the sport.
Football fans took to social media to express their outrage, with many complaining that they were already committed to phone or broadband plans and would effectively have to sign up for a second service to get the EPL.
Reports today suggest Optus is also eyeing up a bid for the A League rights. However the first and last rights held by Foxtel would make such a move difficult for them.
Optus’ surprise win of the EPL, which was on Foxtel, has been countered by the subscription TV company which launched three new BeIn sports channels over the weekend.
Foxtel has also signed individual deals with six EPL clubs which will allow them to broadcast their games on delay.
Optus has not responded to requests for comment from Mumbrella at the time of publication.
I just don’t see how they are going to get the business at $85pm! Considering Foxtel with all the bells and whistles is $100ish……
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@becca
for that $85 you also get your mobile, broadband or home phone paid for which you would have to pay anyway.
Not defending Optus’ decision but the position they put viewers in is not much worse than Foxtel to begin with….
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Optus have completely got this wrong and Allen Lew’s comments are very naive. People will change when the product is better, unfortunately it’s not the case here. [Edited under Mumbrella’s moderation policy]
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For EPL fans, under Foxtel we had a magnificent HD picture to watch live or record for those games at difficult times.
Optus have been very short on detail regarding quality. Coming down the internet, there is bound to be buffering and a scrappy picture because of little chance of seeing it in HD, except for the privileged few who might have a very fast connection – and then there is still no guarantee of quality.
Also, I see scant information on advertising – are we going to be subject to advertising on-screen during the game or are we going to get a full 90 minute game free of interruption and advertising as we did on Foxtel.
This is all very mysterious and it just amazes me that Optus got the rights without guaranteeing some form of technology that at least matched that provided by Foxtel. Are we going to go backwards???
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Don’t know how Optus can sell a product that depends on a internet system that in this country is not up to the standard required.
The Australian public have been treated with contempt by Internet supplies who have not upgraded there systems because we have no choice but to put up with slow internet and this is what will come back and bite Optus as no one is going to watch a match that stops and buffers every 30 seconds.
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@alan, the Liverpool game last night on Foxtel was less than SD and unable to be recorded, as was many others.
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Hmmm, simplest and the best way is say NAY to OPtus. After all why pay to switch just for EPL. I felt the same about OPTUS and its offerings or lack of! I am happy to hear that Foxtel has BEIN Sports and as of 1st July, wait for it, LFCTV. Delayed telecast, ok, for me, but all important cup matches are either on Foxtel via ESPN or BEIN Sports, European (CHAMPIONS & EUROPA LEAGUE) and the ENGLISH CUPS (LEAGUE and FA CUP). So to pay for just EPL games with OPTUS just simply say NO and stay with Foxtel. If you are already with them, otherwise, I still say sign up to FOXTEL, Simply because the quality and available through internet, yes it is not fast enough, but quality still great for me on my mobile with FOXTEL GO. NOT AND AVID FOXTEL FAN! but happy with my SOCCER broadcasts. ok ok, talk about quality and the cost and so on, JUST DON’T SIGN UP till OPTUS can give you what you want at your price!
I for one will be happy to see EPL Delayed with LFCTV. If OPTUS offers a service for EPL ONLY via broadband will take it, but must be of quality and NO LAGGING!!! ESPECIALLY NO Ad breaks and promo and so on.Good luck Optus and thank you FOXTEL for the 3 NEW BEiN CHANNELS and the other CLUV TVs to follow.
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So how do I, who lives in the NT where we can only get Telstra, now watch the sport I love and have followed all my life??!!
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Wrong! It’s not $85 for all that … check your facts before commenting …
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Unfortunately you can’t, you’re the perfect example of why this whole thing is a complete joke. Nice work flOptus
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