SBS has announced it will simulcast all the 2018 FIFA World Cup games until the end of the group stage on Friday June 29.
Michael Ebeid, CEO and Managing Director, SBS, 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.”
After recent problems with its World Cup streaming service, Optus gave SBS four additional games to show on FTA TV as it worked on repairing its service.
Following the hiccup, Optus CEO Allen Lew apologised to all of its customers impacted by the interruptions.
He said: “I apologise unreservedly to all Australians. We should have done better, we can do better and we will do better.”
Tech guru Trevor Long’s prediction made on Twitter earlier today, before the SBS announcement was made, has come true to some extent. Long tweeted, “I hope for the Optus engineers’ sake they’ve got it worked out, but the realist in me knows that 48 hours is a very short time – so as I’ve said all week, I think the World Cup will have to stay on SBS – we find out at 4.30pm.”
In a bid to get back on the Australian fans’ good books, Optus has opened its streaming service, Optus Sport, to everyone for free until August 31.
Live match broadcast schedule:
Wednesday June 20
Portugal v Morocco
LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
Thursday June 21
Uruguay v Saudi Arabia
LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) – NEW
IR Iran v Spain
LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*) – NEW
Denmark v Australia
LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
Friday June 22
France v Peru
LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) – NEW
Argentina v Croatia
LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*) – NEW
Brazil v Costa Rica
LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
Saturday June 23
Nigeria v Iceland
LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) – NEW
Serbia v Switzerland
LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*) – NEW
Belgium v Tunisia
LIVE from 9.30pm* on SBS (kick-off 10pm*)
Sunday June 24
Korea Republic v Mexico
LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) – NEW
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 June 25 – previously unconfirmed
Japan v Senegal
LIVE from 12.30am* on SBS (kick-off 1am*) – NEW
Poland v Colombia
LIVE from 3.30am* on SBS (kick-off 4am*) – NEW
Uruguay v Russia
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am Tuesday*) – Channel TBC
Saudi Arabia v Egypt
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am Tuesday*) – Channel TBC
Tuesday June 26
Spain v Morocco
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW
IR Iran v Portugal
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW
Australia v Peru
LIVE from 11pm* on SBS (kick-off 12am Wed*)
Denmark v France
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am Wed*) Channel TBC NEW
Wednesday June 27 – previously unconfirmed
Nigeria v Argentina
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW
Iceland v Croatia
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW
Korea Republic v Germany
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*) – Channel TBC – NEW
Mexico v Sweden
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*) – Channel TBC – NEW
Thursday June 28 – previously unconfirmed
Serbia v Brazil
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW
Switzerland v Costa Rica
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW
Japan v Poland
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*) – Channel TBC – NEW
Senegal v Colombia
LIVE from 11.30pm* (kick-off 12am*) – Channel TBC – NEW
Friday June 29 – previously unconfirmed
Panama v Tunisia
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW
England v Belgium
LIVE from 3.30am* (kick-off 4am*) – Channel TBC – NEW