SBS to air all World Cup Group Stage games, refunds for Optus Sport subscribers

SBS will air all FIFA World Cup matches up until the end of the Group Stage on June 29, amid ongoing technical issues with the Optus Sport streaming service.

A decision has yet to be made if matches after June 29 will be available on SBS, or will go back to being exclusive on Optus Sport. However, as per SBS' original broadcast agreement, it will still air two-quarter finals, the semi-finals, and the final.

Additionally, all Australians will be able to use the Optus Sport app for free until August 31. In light of this, all customers who paid for a standalone subscription will be refunded their $15 fee. Optus has offered Fetch Mini set-top boxes for affected subscribers. 

Today's announcement follows SBS picking up four additional games over that last 48 hours that were originally Optus Sport exclusive. While SBS was originally only meant to get four additional games, the 10 day extension suggests that the issues surrounding Optus Sport don't have an easy fix.

Alex Choros

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Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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