In a surprise move, Optus has snatched English Premier League (EPL) broadcast rights from Foxtel’s grasp.
The move – believed to cost Optus $63 million a year from the 2016/17 season – has left Australian viewers scratching their heads, with many concerned they will be restricted to watching the world’s most popular football league on their mobile devices.
Foxtel’s Fox Sports has held the EPL rights since the late 1990s and is now facing enormous backlash on social media following the announcement – with a vast number of posts suggesting the pay television network will lose subscribers as a result
Despite the reaction, reports suggest Football Federation Australia could gain from the loss of the English competition.
It is believed Fox Sports provides $25 million to host the EPL, and now some of that money could be used to bolster A-League coverage – which it currently pays approximately $40 million to broadcast.
With the FFA keen to negotiate a new A-League broadcast deal, and get the local league on one of the prominent commercial stations, it will be keen to get its hands on the Foxtel’s boosted coffers.
Source: The Age