- Next EPL season kicks off on August 16
- New deal has been reached on Aussie rights
Channel Nine and its streaming service Stan have secured the rights to air all English Premier League matches in Australia in what amounts to a seismic change for soccer fans Down Under.
The broadcaster reached an agreement to snatch the rights from Optus Sport in a move that was officially announced on Monday.
Under the terms of the deal, Nine and Stan will also be the sole way to watch FA Cup matches in Australia.
The three-year-deal effectively ends Optus’s live sports programming and brings an end to the Optus Sport platform, which will close.
Nine has bought out the rest of the rights period from Optus, with Stan giving discounted pricing to Optus Sport customers so they can continue to watch the world’s biggest football league.
The transition of the rights becomes official on August 1.
Aussies who want to watch stars like title-winning Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah (pictured) in action will now be tuning into Channel Nine and the Stan streaming service
The official handover of the rights from Optus is coming on August 1, just ahead of the start of the next Premier League season (pictured, Manchester City star Erling Haaland)
Reigning champions Liverpool (pictured) will begin the 2025-26 EPL season when they host Bournemouth at Anfield on August 16
Stan is paying Optus Sport an upfront fee of $20million and making a contribution toward the first payment for the next Premier League rights cycles.
‘The Premier League is the most-watched football league on the planet, and alongside the FA Cup, this acquisition reinforces Nine’s position as the home of sport in Australia. We are proud to deliver these iconic competitions to Australian audiences through Stan Sport,’ Nine CEO Matt Stanton said in a statement.
The agreement also includes the rights to Japan’s J.League and the US National Women’s Soccer League.
Nine said it would be communicating with Optus Sport customers to ensure a seamless transition.
‘We have enjoyed every moment producing world-class content for football fans in Australia and around the globe and though it’s the end of an unforgettable era here at Optus Sport we are excited for the future of football in Australia,’ Optus Sport said on its website.
The upcoming EPL season begins with champions Liverpool hosting Bournemouth at Anfield on August 16, AEST.
