I have become a fan of the English Premier League gradually over the last four to five years. I’ve officially picked a team to follow (Crystal Palace) and like to follow all the news involving the league.
I can attribute the peak in my interest to two things: the EA Sports FIFA series and Foxtel.
This season is the first that I have had Foxtel at my disposal and I have been fully invested in the whole competition. Before now I’d occasionally watch highlights or goal packages, check the table see how things were going but never to the degree of interest with which I have followed the 2015-16 season.
Leicester City’s title triumph, the fight for the European spots and the red hot relegation battle going on. In addition to all of that, there’s the important story of the prolific rise and equally disappointing fall of Alan Pardew’s men.
But my first season with Foxtel, at this stage, is looking like my last with the Australian broadcasting rights being purchased by Optus. While there were some ideas thrown around that they would then charge Foxtel to broadcast the games, it seems whatever negotiations may or may not have been happening behind the scenes have not come to fruition. Optus will be broadcasting the games via online streaming.
The two most common methods are:
1. Via Optus’ FetchTV service, which is a pay-tv service offered with Optus Broadband, the purchase of which would mean you have free access to live games.
2. Streaming via mobile if you have an Optus Mobile post-paid plan. This would incur an additional fee to access live EPL games.
All in all, if you’re not already an Optus customer, it’s going to cost you more than Foxtel does, and you have to purchase an Optus product to get it.
If you’re willing to switch everything to Optus then it might end up being cheaper, which I’m assuming is Optus’ goal, but I can’t see Australians being bothered
I don’t want to get into why this isn’t a particularly clever business model but the main issue is, if people want to stream games (most people know how to do that for free), they’re not going to be making any money from existing Optus customers. A lot of people who have Foxtel will be keeping it for the other channels that are offered (FoxFooty being the favourite in our house).
All in all, the result is that less people will be watching the EPL, there will be a very limited number of people who might be introduced to the EPL (those who are already active FetchTV subscribers) but more than anything a greatly reduced number of people who are currently watching it.
This means that not only the love of the EPL in Australia might fade away to nothing, but it could slow down the rapid rate in which the country is falling in love with football in general.
It might mean a lot of those watching EPL late on a Saturday night, perhaps after the dinner and the washing up is done, might have to swap it for some prime-time A-League action. How likely that is I’m not so sure, but I guess that would be one positive that we can take out of the situation.
And let’s not forget that these games aren’t going to be on at the pub anymore either. This means that those who aren’t as astute a fan as I am, and more often than not catch a reply of the game at an RSL or sports club, would most likely stop watching the game altogether. Those people may have an idea of what’s happening when Manchester United play Liverpool, but would probably have no idea of the existence of clubs like Bayer Leverkusen, Athletic Bilbao or Monaco.
I’m not saying Australians will stop playing football, or that the increase in junior registrations will start to slow. I think it’s pretty obvious that football in Australia is a locomotive with no intention of stopping.
Foxtel is saving face by including beIN Sports for subscribers, which broadcasts top flight games from France, Italy, Spain, Germany as well as European-wide competitions and some South American football leagues, at no extra cost. That will at least keep high-level football on our screens.
But the EPL has been one of Foxtel’s flagship products for a number of years and definitely the most followed by Australians. I can definitely see Australia’s interest in football waning a little due to this. Until the next World Cup that is.
Mark
Guest
See my earlier point then: "Most people, however, want to watch football on their TV." Yes, you can connect the computer to the TV. Similar issues to the phone with picture quality (although at least it resolves the locking issue).
Fussball IUL
Roar Rookie
1) The Optus deal is fantastic for every content provider for disrupting sports broadcasting in Australia. This is not complex business theory; it's basic Economics 101: supply & demand Since Optus entered the market, there will now be more EPL product - much much more EPL product - available for committed EPL fans. Since Optus entered the market there will be more football product - much much more football product - available for committed football fans. BUT 2) The Optus deal is not perfect. Never said it was. Perfect would be free broadcasts available to every Aussies on every platform: digital & traditional. 3) 70% of households reject Foxtel. Not opinion FACT. By contrast, less than 5% of households do not have internet broadband in AUS. 4) I'm not changing any forecasts: the FFA will get $85-$100m/yr with the next TV rights.
AR
Guest
Oh my goodness. First, Fuss claimed below that he was "celebrating" the Optus announcement because it disrupts the status quo...then he flips, and admits he agrees with me that Optus wouldn't be good for the ALeague, if it's packaged like the EPL. He also makes the bizarre claim that the Foxtel delivery product isn't "perfect" (as though that was any part of the discussion) and goes on to say that "70% of Aussies" agree with him...because, yep, 70% of households don't have Foxtel. There's so much wrong with that analysis I genuinely don't know where to begin. The reality, is that Fuss has been making various arrogant declarations about the coming broadcast deal for months...and he's slowly realising that, as with many things, he's been way way off.
Fussball IUL
Roar Rookie
@AR "I don’t believe Optus winning the FFA rights would be a good outcome at all for fans…or for the ALeague." If Optus were to deliver ALeague the same way as it intends to deliver EPL then ... finally, we can agree on something! I agree: the Optus delivery model for EPL is certainly not perfect. But, here's the thing... For the past 10 years (or however long Foxtel has owned the EPL rights) I've found the Foxtel delivery model not perfect. And, 70% of Aussies agree with me. There are lots of things in life that I find not perfect. The Optus delivery model for EPL is just another item to add to my List. Are you honestly saying FTA Tv is not dying? That it is still as strong with those aged under 40? If that's what you believe, fair enough. Of course the FFA wants better FTA exposure. The FFA must deliver A-League as widely as possible & get adequate revenue. This will involve: FTA Tv PayTv digital/online
Midfielder
Guest
Edi If you are no longer a Football fan because the EPL is on Optus not Fox... then so be it... Makes me wonder if in your life all your interests are so limited ... Have a good life with what you choose next.
Fussball IUL
Roar Rookie
FACT: Optus has greater household penetration across Australia than Foxtel. Fetch Tv is irrelevant to this discussion. 10 million people have access to Optus. Around 7.5 million have access to Foxtel. These are the relevant figures. And, in 3 months, the majority of these people will wake up & find they can watch EPL for free. Not pay 1 cent more. It's just there on their mobile phones. On their tablets. On their laptops. On their PCs. On their Smart Tvs.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Fair enough - but we should know by now that the headline is often not what the author submitted. Clearly, the Premier League is far more important to Australian sports fans than it is to those of Italy, Mexico and Japan (although I'm sure you are aware that the Premier League is the pre-eminent soccer league across Asia and Africa). But is it important enough to convince a large chunk of the Australian population to switch over to Optus and subscribe to Fetch TV? No. Would the FFA be wise to throw in its lot with Optus and Fetch TV for a bit of coin? No.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
"Which bit don’t you understand?" My main issue is with the "Could Optus be the reason Australians stop loving football?". Am early 40s and, like billions of other fans in the world I have not always had access to the epl in my life. Never stopped me from watching football. Do basketball aussie fans need the nba to love their sport? I completely understand that fans would/will be disappointed if they don't have access to the epl, ucl etc from next year (i would) but 'stop loving football' is the bit I don't get. As I said, that's an 'only is oz' (well maybe new world?) moment. Ask an Italian, Mexican or Japanese football fan if he may stop watching football if he doesn't get his 2-3 epl games fix and he will think you're mad (and he'll be right).
PJA
Guest
Don't agree FussBall. I'm a massive Everton fan and haven't missed a single game this season, up every night they're playing at 2am, 4am etc. Whenever I get home I get to Goodison every chance I get. But there's absolutely no chance I'm paying the extortionate rates that Optus are charging to watch the EPL. They are pretty much blackmailing all EPL fans. I have a near new phone and Internet contract and I can't afford to take out another or fetch tv. I'll see every game next season but I'll be streaming through other sites and yes the quality won't be great and it will be frustrating but eventually Optus will see sense and offer reasonable subscription costs instead of ripping of Aus EPL fans.
fiddlesticks
Guest
nice insult
fiddlesticks
Guest
well said sir, awaiting the great one to respond. He probably needs to calm down first
fiddlesticks
Guest
i can see the steam coming out of your head now, dont throw your mouse Fuss
Neil
Guest
I got foxtel because of the A league . EPL was a bonus then I got Bein because it had more variety in footballing competitions. Optus do not service my area last time I checked. Optus has poor phone signal. So I decided I will make do with what foxtel have on offer, plus the SBS free game. But what concerns me more is the World Cup. It will be a scenario where we will not be able to see all the games without a Optus service, I think we will be paying a dear price for that one EPL game on SBS due to the deal between Optus & SBS.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Made me really sad watching that West Ham video. I thought moving to a massive stadium for almost no cost would be amazing. But in reality it's terrible for the soul of their club.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Great stuff. Their NRL coverage has always been top notch and now the football coverage is absolutely amazing. All I need over winter :)
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Judging by the reaction, Optus can look forward to a few hundred Australians taking up the offer to jump on to Fetch - the so-called great revolution. Household penetration will go from 0.5% to 0.501%
Cameron
Roar Guru
AZ_RBB, With the recent announcements made by FoxSports, I have decided to rejoin the FoxSports Subscription team. $25 a month for all that or sign back up later and then I don't get beIN and EPL? Signed up today again. Gotta love sport.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Yeah, I'd tell them they're not really connected to these other clubs but you know...
AR
Guest
Precisely MF. Good luck to the CCMariners signing that premium sponsor that's content with getting its exposure on Fetch TV. Fussball spent the most part of last year telling us all that FTA is dead'n'buried as a platform, and that truly modern sports consumers (read: exclusively 'football' fans) would rely on digital providers. Well, the total opposite of what he's been saying is true - the FFA has expressly stated its main objective is FTA TV. He's been trumpeting the arrival of Optus as some sort of rolled-gold panacea for the FFA. Clearly, from the underwhelming response to the Optus package, that is far from clear. Here's Simon Canning from Mumbrella summing up the Optus move: ---- Canning added: “Optus won’t be happy about it but right now this is going to be a real PR disaster on their hands. “It has misread how it brings the EPL to market by telling people who aren’t Optus customers currently that the only way to get this content is to sign up for an extra service. “And people don’t like being muscled into watching something.” Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/ffa-advised-control-message-ahead-rights-deal#RGYHyYYJO9UrFSJz.99 ---- Canning also talks about Foxtel's winning move in buying the EPL club games. But hey, what would that industry expert know, Fussball is a REAL football fan..! On a serious note, as it stands right now, I don't believe Optus winning the FFA rights would be a good outcome at all for fans...or for the ALeague.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
I doubt if Optus or anyone else can stop people loving the greatest, most played and most popular sport in the world, so your assertions about an Australian phone company's impact on football lovers are way off the mark. The Socceroos and A-League are way more popular than the EPL, so that claim of yours is wrong too. For Optus customers like me, who have been with them for many years and get all my services through them, its the best thing since sliced bread. It allows me to sign up for EPL football for peanuts. If you want a better deal, sign up to Optus, which is exactly what they want, and the reason they splashed out millions to get the rights - to get more phone and internet customers. They are a great company and the service and pricing has been fabulous compared to the bad old days with Foxtel/Telstra. Will be very interesting to see how their marketing ploy pans out.