#floptus fallout continues as Optus gives all group-stage FIFA World Cup matches to SBS
SBS has announced it will simulcast all the group games of the FIFA World Cup as Optus continues to deal with viewer anger over its streaming service.
The announcement will see SBS simulcasting the games until the end of the competition’s group stage on Friday 29 June while Optus customers will receive refunds for their World Cup streaming subscriptions.
This afternoon’s move comes after Optus handed over four games earlier this week following a horror weekend for the telco which culminated in the Prime Minister calling CEO Allen Lew about its streaming problems.
Optus also announced Optus Sport subscribers for its World Cup packages will be provided a refund. This refund will also include the first three rounds of the English Premier League including matches between Arsenal and Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal and Manchester United and Tottenham.
Michael Ebeid, CEO and managing director, SBS said: “The FIFA World Cup is the absolute pinnacle of football, a sport that Australians are deeply passionate about. SBS looks forward to continuing to simulcast the games, together with Optus over the next 10 days.”
Optus CEO Allen Lew said: “As a gesture of goodwill for Australian fans, Optus will also simulcast the group matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in conjunction with SBS through the Group stages.
Lew claimed thousands of customers have continued to sign up to Optus Sport despite the widely publicised problems.
“This reaffirms that our strategy to deliver quality content to customers is the right one. I have conviction in our content strategy and Optus will not waiver from our pursuit of this strategy,” Lew said.
“We appreciate customers have given us another go and invite those to tune in for tonight’s games.”
LIVE MATCH BROADCAST SCHEDULE on SBS:
WEDNESDAY 20 JUNE
Portugal v Morocco LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
THURSDAY 21 JUNE
Uruguay v Saudi Arabia LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) NEW
IR Iran v Spain LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*) NEW
Denmark v Australia LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
FRIDAY 22 JUNE
France v Peru LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) NEW
Argentina v Croatia LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*) NEW
Brazil v Costa Rica LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
SATURDAY 23 JUNE
Nigeria v Iceland LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) NEW
Serbia v Switzerland LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*) NEW
Belgium v Tunisia LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
SUNDAY 24 JUNE
Korea Republic v Mexico LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) NEW
Germany v Sweden LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*)
England v Panama LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
MONDAY 25 JUNE – previously unconfirmed
Japan v Senegal LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) NEW
Poland v Colombia LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*) NEW
Uruguay v Russia LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am Tuesday*) Channel TBC
Saudi Arabia v Egypt LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am Tuesday*) Channel TBC
TUESDAY 26 JUNE
Spain v Morocco LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) Channel TBC NEW
IR Iran v Portugal LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) Channel TBC NEW
Australia v Peru LIVE from 11pm* on SBS (kick-off 12am Wed*)
Denmark v France LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am Wed*) Channel TBC NEW
WEDNESDAY 27 JUNE – previously unconfirmed
Nigeria v Argentina LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) Channel TBC NEW
Iceland v Croatia LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) Channel TBC NEW
Korea Republic v Germany LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*) Channel TBC NEW
Mexico v Sweden LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*) Channel TBC NEW
THURSDAY 28 JUNE – previously unconfirmed
Serbia v Brazil LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) Channel TBC NEW
Switzerland v Costa Rica LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) Channel TBC NEW
Japan v Poland LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*) Channel TBC NEW
Senegal v Colombia LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*) Channel TBC NEW
FRIDAY 29 JUNE – previously unconfirmed
Panama v Tunisia LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) Channel TBC NEW
England v Belgium LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) Channel TBC NEW
SBS’ existing 2018 FIFA World Cup programming schedule including FIFA World Cup Today highlights show at 5.30pm* daily and the SBS Match of the Day replay at 6.30am* daily will remain in place.
*All times in AEST and subject to change
This is what happens when telecommunications companies imagine that they are broadcasters. Please leave broadcasting to those who know what they are doing – Broadcasters!!!
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Agree, ex-ABC. More evidence that “convergence” is, in fact, bollocks and specialists who know stuff still matter.
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Allen Lew is to Michael Ebeid what Alan Bond was to Frank Packer.
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Can’t find any direction for folks about accessing the ‘free’ service. Do you have to pay then wait for a refund? The media release was more than vague about it…
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I hope Optus go bankrupt over this. The World Cup MUST be free to all. It is the one big tournament that no-one should have to pay for. Government has to fund SBS to show all games every 4 years not let Floptus have it! Then let’s talk about giving the EPL back to Foxtel…..a proper broadcaster. Step in again here Malcolm!!
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Wouldn’t want to be Corin Dimopoulos at Optus right now! Epic fail for Optus.
Great coverage for fans.
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I’ve done some digging around and found the problem … Optus thought they were buying the ‘steam rights’ to the World Cup.
Let’s start building a proper NBN once the current mob in Canberra are gone.
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