Fans ‘forced to subscribe’ to Optus Sport as World Cup free-to-air schedule revealed
By Nell Geraets
A Nigerian-Australian community leader has expressed disappointment that the upcoming knockout round clash between Nigeria and England will not be available to watch on free-to-air television, with broadcast partner Seven confirming on Friday only half of the FIFA Women’s World Cup round of 16 matches will be broadcast for free.
Though fans will be able to watch the Matildas go head-to-head with Denmark on Monday night, and France clash with Morocco, only those with an Optus Sports subscription will be able to see Spain compete with Switzerland, South Africa take on the Netherlands, Colombia battle Jamaica, or England’s duel with Nigeria.
Only half of the eight round of 16 games will be broadcast for free on Seven.Credit: Eddie Jim
Chairperson of the Nigerian Association of Western Australia, Dr Pedus Eweama, says the situation affects plans many Nigerian-Australian families had to support their home nation.
“Many people have been looking forward to watching the game with England, but not everybody can afford to pay for Optus Sports,” Eweama says. “But there’s a limit to what we can do, it’s just part of policy ... it’s very disappointing.”
Alex Read, who hails from the UK but lives in Melbourne, shares Eweama’s concerns, noting that his friends and family in the UK have been able to watch every game for free either on live television or BBC iPlayer (which requires an account, but no paid subscription).
“I find it quite funny that the host country doesn’t show all the games for free on TV when other countries do,” he says.
“I get that football is a bigger sport in the UK than it may be in Australia, but that should be irrelevant. You’re not going to host the Olympics and not show the whole thing for live view.”
Australian laws require free-to-air broadcasters have an initial opportunity to buy the television rights to major events included on the country’s anti-siphoning list.
However, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was not added to the list, which includes the FIFA World Cup, Australian Rules Football, rugby league and rugby union, horse racing, cricket, tennis, netball and Olympic Games.
Optus secured the broadcast rights in August 2021, and chose to on-sell to Seven the free-to-air rights to 15 key matches last October. It’s a deal that’s delivering just under a quarter of the tournament’s matches to free-to-air viewers.
The round of 16 determines which countries will enter the quarterfinals later this month. Those who wish to watch games that will not be broadcast for free will have to subscribe to Optus’ streaming platform, which costs $24.99 per month, or get to a venue screening matches.
Overall, only 15 of the 64 matches will be aired on Seven. The live matches on free-to-air have so far included the three Matildas’ group matches, but major blockbusters such as Germany v Colombia or Spain v Japan were only available for Optus Sports subscribers.
Writing in this masthead on last week, former SBS commentator Lucy Zelic said it was “baffling” that Australia’s biggest sporting event since the 2000 Olympics had so few matches available on free-to-air TV.
The number of games broadcast live on free-to-air television has become a sticking point for people such as Eweama who believe Australia’s biggest sporting event since the 2000 Olympics should be more widely accessible.
“I, personally, don’t have Optus Sports, but I’m going to be forced to subscribe,” he says. “I will encourage parts of my community, those who I know are struggling – especially the young students who are here studying – to come to my place if they can and watch. And I’ll encourage other people to make such a commitment. When they can afford it, they can allow struggling families to watch the game at their houses.”
Round of 16 games on Seven
Japan v Norway – Saturday, August 5
Sweden v United States – Sunday, August 6
Australia v Denmark – Monday, August 7
France v Morocco – Tuesday, August 8
Round of 16 games only on Optus Sports
Spain v Switzerland – Saturday, August 5
Netherlands v South Africa – Sunday, August 6
England v Nigeria – Monday, August 7
Colombia v Jamaica – Tuesday, August 8
With Martin Boulton
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