SBS and Optus have “mutually agreed” that SBS will broadcast the remainder of the World Cup group stage up until Friday 29 June.
Optus had paid subscriber rights to many of the group stage games, yet technical faults have plagued its streaming service, infuriating viewers and forcing even the prime minister himself to intervene.
SBS CEO, Michael Ebeid, said: “The FIFA World Cup is the absolute pinnacle of football, a sport that Australians are deeply passionate about. SBS looks forward to continuing to simulcast the games, together with Optus over the next ten days.”
Meanwhile, Optus has also agreed to reimburse the $14.95 to those who subscribed to its dodgy World Cup app.
In the initial deal, SBS was entitled to just one game a day while the rest went to Optus. But it remains unclear if Optus will have solved its technical issues by the round of 16.
The group stages include the following matches (*All times in AEST and subject to change).
WEDNESDAY 20 JUNE
Portugal v Morocco LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
THURSDAY 21 JUNE
Uruguay v Saudi Arabia LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*)
IR Iran v Spain LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*)
Denmark v Australia LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
FRIDAY 22 JUNE
France v Peru LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*)
Argentina v Croatia LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*)
Brazil v Costa Rica LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
SATURDAY 23 JUNE
Nigeria v Iceland LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*)
Serbia v Switzerland LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*)
Belgium v Tunisia LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
SUNDAY 24 JUNE
Korea Republic v Mexico LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*)
Germany v Sweden LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*)
England v Panama LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
MONDAY 25 JUNE
Japan v Senegal LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*)
Poland v Colombia LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*)
Uruguay v Russia LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am Tuesday*)
Saudi Arabia v Egypt LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am Tuesday*)
TUESDAY 26 JUNE
Spain v Morocco LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*)
IR Iran v Portugal LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*)
Australia v Peru LIVE from 11pm* on SBS (kick-off 12am Wed*)
Denmark v France LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am Wed*)
WEDNESDAY 27 JUNE –
Nigeria v Argentina LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*)
Iceland v Croatia LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*)
Korea Republic v Germany LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*)
Mexico v Sweden LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*)
THURSDAY 28 JUNE
Serbia v Brazil LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*)
Switzerland v Costa Rica LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*)
Japan v Poland LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*)
Senegal v Colombia LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*)
FRIDAY 29 JUNE –
Panama v Tunisia LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*)
England v Belgium LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*)
