SBS will air all FIFA World Cup games for the next 48 hours following discussions with Optus. Find out more here.
EARLIER: The announcement comes after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was assured by the chief executive of Optus that the telco giant’s streaming issues of the World Cup will be fixed by Monday night.
"I have spoken with the Optus CEO, Allen Lew. He assures me he is giving the World Cup streaming problems his personal attention and he believes it will be fixed this evening," Mr Turnbull tweeted.
It comes as opposition leader Bill Shorten suggested that the problems could have been avoided if not for funding cuts to SBS, who is sharing the World Cup rights with Optus for the first time.
In question time Monday, Mr Shorten quoted SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid as saying that "had we not had to look at our budgets, we probably would have retained [all Word Cup rights]" before demanding Mr Turnbull "apologise... for his cuts to the SBS".
But Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said this was "a complete mischaracterisation of the facts".
"In exchange for sharing the World Cup rights, SBS secured some rights to English Premier League matches... In other words, board and management of SBS made a commercial decision," he said.
SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid also raised the possibility of helping Optus with its coverage.
'#FloptusSport'
Optus has been facing a barrage of criticism over apparent buffering issues besetting its coverage of the World Cup via its Optus Sports app.
Customers have taken to social media to complain about streaming issues. One told SBS News how constant lag and slow buffering prevented him from enjoying the anticipated showdown between Argentina and Iceland.
Mr Ebeid said Optus was working round the clock to fix the issues and Sunday night’s coverage was considerably improved.
He said had SBS’s government funding not been reduced by $40 million, the sub-licensing deal with Optus may not have been considered.
“It does come down to finances, sports rights have been going up and up and up,” he told Melbourne radio network SEN.
“The World Cup was no different - we’ve paid a lot more for the World Cup. At the same time as our costs for the World Cup are going up our revenues have been going down.
“Had we not had to look at our budgets we probably would have retained it like we were planning to when we bought it."
SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid. Source: AAP
Mr Ebeid cited Optus statements that the number of people affected was less than five per cent of their viewership and mainly affecting those on its app platform, while those watching via its Fetch set-top box had not been affected.
“If Optus continues to have problems then we might have a conversation about how we can help them further in terms of putting some of those games on our channels and we’re certainly able and willing to do that,” he added.
ACCC speaking with Optus
A spokesperson for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) told SBS News that it was "seeking further information from Optus on what steps it is taking to comply with the Australian Consumer Law".
"Under the Australian Consumer Law, services must be fit for the purpose and deliver on what was promised," the spokesperson said.
"Consumers impacted by the streaming problems are advised to contact the service provider directly."
Meanwhile, Optus is offering disgruntled customers a free set-top box to watch the matches. Customers can pick the Fetch Mini boxes from their nearest Optus store.
“We know some customers didn't have a great experience watching the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ during the opening nights and for that we are sorry,” the telco said on its website.
Nine Network’s Today Show co-anchor Karl Stefanovic joined the criticism on Monday, saying Optus was “proving the sceptics right”.
“Optus, you are in telecommunications. If you can’t get your satellites together then let SBS do it, or Nine, or my uncle Rob who could do a better job hanging a coathanger from the Edmonton Bowls Club in far north Queensland,” he said during the program.
“Get it right. This is too big a deal to stuff up.”
