Optus Sport - Features, cost, and content: the world's best football in one place
If you’re a real football fan then chances are you have already heard of Optus Sport. The sports streaming service and telecommunications giant of the same name has been home to some of the biggest football tournaments and competitions of the past five years, and there’s no sign of things slowing down.
Here in this Optus Sport streaming TV, we’ll look at just why the service is essential for those who love the ‘beautiful game’, how to stream matches live, and how much it all costs.
What is Optus Sport?
Optus Sport jumped into the sports streaming market back in 2016, when they secured the rights to the English Premier League, one of its major draws to this day. The service was initially exclusive to Optus mobile and broadband customers, but it has since become available to a wider market for a monthly or annual subscription fee.
The streaming service specialises in live football, one of the fastest-growing sports in terms of popularity in Australia. The jewels in their crown are the EPL, LaLiga, Women’s Super League, and the J-League. As well as live football action, you can watch pre-match press conferences, football documentaries, and even free fitness videos to stay in shape between games!
As a lot of European football like EPL and WSL is played in the early hours here in Australia, the Optus Sport on demand feature has been key in keeping fans right up to date with all the action. You can watch full 90 minute replays of virtually every game that has gone out live. In terms of the EPL, you can watch replays of games that have happened weeks ago, ideal for fans of specific teams that want to relive those magic moments.
How much does Optus Sport cost?
As a sports fan, you might be wondering more about the Optus Sport cost. Well, there are two ways that you can go about it. First, there is a monthly, cancel any time plan for $24.99 per month. This allows you to register the Optus Sport app on up to four different devices. However, you will only be able to watch one at any given time.
If you fancy saving a few dollars over the course of a season, you can choose the Optus Sport annual plan for a $199 one-off payment, which saves you around $100! This option also allows you to register up to 4 devices at once, whilst watching on only one.
Is there an Optus Sport free trial?
At this moment in time, there isn’t an Optus Sport free trial option. But subscribing to Optus Sport is always worth the buck, especially if you love football more than anything.
What’s on Optus Sport?
Whether you’re a fan of the men’s or women’s game, there is a whole heap of weekly football action to keep you glued to your screen. Here we look at the best leagues and content you can watch all year round with an Optus Sport subscription. You can also stream on your iOS and Android devices, including your compatible Smart TV by downloading the only app worthy of the Premier League, Barclay’s FA Women’s Super League, and much, much more.
League | Season date | Watch on |
---|---|---|
English Premier League | 12 August 2023 – 19 May, 2024 | Optus Sport: every game live. Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea replays on beIN Sports. |
La Liga | 12 August 2023 – 26 May 2024 | Optus Sport: every game live. |
Ligue 1 | 12 August 2023 – 18 May 2024 | beIN Sports: 7 live games per round. |
Bundesliga | 18 August 2023 – 18 May 2024 | beIN Sports: every match live. |
Serie A | 20 August 2023 – 26 May, 2024 | beIN SPORTS: up to 10 live matches per round. |
UEFA Champions League | 13 June 2023 – 15 March 2024 | Stan Sports: every game live. |
A-League | 20 October 2023 – TBA May 2024 | Paramount Plus: every A-League game live. 2 live games per round on 10. |
FA Cup | 5 August 2023 – 25 May 2024 | Paramount Plus : every match live in all 5 Proper rounds. |
Scottish Premier League Football | 5 August 2023 – 19 May 2024 | beIN Sports : up to 3 live matches per round. |
Carabao Cup | 8 August 2023 – 25 February 2024 | beIN Sports : up to 8 live matches per round. |
EFL Championship | 4 August 2023 – 26 May 2024 | beIN Sports : up to 5 live matches per round. |
MLS (Lionel Messi) | 25 February – 9 December 2023 | Apple TV (MLS Pass) |
Women’s Super League | 29 September 2023 – 18 May 2024 | Optus Sport: All matches live. |
Compatible devices to watch Optus Sport on?
Optus Sport is available to watch and stream on a wide range of devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast and LG Smart TVs. The app is also compatible with iOS devices and android devices. You can use your Optus Sport subscription with your PC or laptop using Chrome, Firefox, Safari and other major browsers.
Devices supported on Optus Sport
Streaming Devices
- Apple TV (4th generation and above)
- Fetch TV (Mini, 2nd Gen, Mighty)
- Android TV (Android 7 and above)
- Fire TV (1st & 2nd generation)
- Hubbl
Smart TV
- LG Smart TV (2017 models or newer)
- Samsung Smart TVs (2017 models or newer)
Mobile devices
- iPhone (iOS 10.0 and above)
- iPad (iOS 10.0 and above)
- Android (versions 5.0 and above)
Casting
- AirPlay (Apple TV Gen 1-3)
- Chromecast (2nd generation and above)
Gaming consoles
- Xbox One
- Xbox One S
- Xbox One X
How does Optus Sport Subscription compare?
With so much competition in the sports streaming market, especially when it comes to football, you might be wondering how Optus shapes up against the other big names in Australia. Here we are going to look at just that.
Optus Sport vs Kayo Sports
Kayo Sports is seen by many as the leader in sports TV streaming in Australia. Kayo’s links with Foxtel give it a big edge in terms of variety. There is a lot of football available on Kayo like La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A, but these domestic leagues are nowhere near as popular as the EPL.
For proper football fans, Optus is a premium option. If you like a wider range of sports, and maybe not the Premier League, then Kayo Sports might be a safer choice. Kayo plans are also more expensive (minimum $25/month) than the fee for Optus subscribers (with a $24.99/ month plan).
Optus Sport vs Stan Sport
The difference between these two options really boils down to whether or not you prefer UEFA Champions League or the Premier League. It would be a tough choice for many football fans to choose between the two, which makes choosing the provider even more difficult. If you look at the value you get for your money, then it could be argued that you get a lot more for your $24.99 in terms of football with Optus.
The fact that you have do have a standard Stan Subsctrition just to get Stan Sport (minimum $20/month) makes it more expensive. There is also a lot less waiting time between EPL rounds than Champions League, meaning you get to watch football more regularly and for longer periods with Optus Sport.
Best internet plans for Optus Sport streaming
Thankfully we have a good recommendation for high-speed internet. Streaming TV in high definition requires some hefty data usage, so you need to know your internet can handle it. We’ve done the research and included the best offer for Optus customers below.
Optus Sport Frequently Asked Questions
In order to take advantage of what Optus Sport has to offer, you have to subscribe to the service just like any other sports streaming services in Australia.
The best way to get Optus Sport onto your TV is to use one of the popular streaming devices that are around at the moment, at prices ranging from budget to top-tier. There are Optus Sport apps for Fetch TV, Apple TV and Amazon’s Fire TV, and the latest Google Chromecast with Google TV is supported via an Android TV app that also works on Sony smart TVs. You’ll also find apps for LG and Samsung smart TVs and the Xbox One game console.
While you could share your account login with friends, the service only supports streaming to one device at a time – so it’s probably best to keep your account to yourself so you don’t miss a match! The one exception is Fetch TV – if you’re watching on Fetch TV, you can stream on another device at the same time.
Not any longer – despite making a bid for the rights to the UEFA Champions League, Stan bid higher and got the rights for the next three years. So for that tournament, you’ll need to subscribe to Stan and their sports add-on to watch.
Not surprisingly, Optus Sport is owned and operated by Optus themselves. Optus is owned by Singapore communications giant Singtel, but that company doesn’t have direct involvement in the running of Optus Sport.
Optus has made it easy to stream matches on your TV, with native apps available for Samsung and LG smart TVs, for Android TV (including Sony smart TVs and Google TV devices including Chromecast) and for Apple TV, Fetch TV and Fire TV, as well as the Xbox One game console.
No, not at the moment anyway. With the fierce competition between Telstra and Optus – as well as the fact that Telstra TV is one of the main platforms for Kayo Sports – it would seem unlikely we’ll see Optus Sport on the device any time soon.
Yes, you can watch Optus Sport on any supported device, including iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, Apple TV, Fetch, Android TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, and Samsung and LG smart TVs.
Optus Sport streams all its games at 720p, to ensure a fast frame rate so all the action of every game is captured smoothly and accurately.
At the moment, no, there’s not an Optus Sport app for PlayStation games consoles – just for Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles. Optus has hinted for some time that a PlayStation app might be on the way but, at the moment, you’ll need to watch on another device. Fortunately, the service works on multiple popular devices.
As a subscription service, Optus Sport’s live streaming along with its replays and highlights are only available through the Optus Sport app. However, they do have a channel on YouTube that’s constantly updated with highlights, news and even full-length documentaries, all of which can be watched completely free of charge.
The 2020 men’s UEFA Euros were broadcast live on Optus Sport. It is as yet unconfirmed whether or not the next men’s UEFA Euros competition, in 2024, will be broadcast on the service. The 2022 women’s UEFA Euros will be available to watch live or later on demand with Optus.
Led by Mel McLaughlin, Optus Sport’s on-screen presenting team comes with a formidable knowledge of football and its culture. They’ve got access to a pool of expert commentators and presenters, including Socceroos legends such as Mark Schwarzer, John Aloisi, Craig Moore, Kevin Muscat, Luke Wilkshire, Scott McDonald and Mark Milligan, and former Matildas Heather Garriock, Alicia Ferguson and Amy Chapman. Depending on the location of the games being played, there’s also a roster of well-known international names on tap, including former Denmark captain Thomas Sorensen, ex-England players Michael Bridges, Emile Heskey, Wes Brown, Sue Smith and Karen Carney, and former internationals Carl Robinson of Wales, Spaniard Gaizka Mendieta, and Portugal’s Luis Boa Morte.
On most devices, you can only stream games live as they happen, or stream a replay of the game later. However, if you are a Fetch TV subscriber and have their hard-drive-equipped Mighty box, not only can you record any game you like, but you can also series-link your favourite team or teams so all their games are automatically recorded for you to watch whenever it suits you.
The Champions League and Europa League have received unprecedented coverage from Optus Sport. The Optus Sport team continues to change the way football is aired in Australia, and they also continue to attract new fans who appreciate what Optus Sport does.