It’s officially time to dust off your fave soccer jersey and crack open a cold one, ‘cos Channel Nine’s Stan Sport has officially copped the rights to the Premier League and the Emirate FA Cup. GET ON IT!
Yep, that’s right. If you still got footy fever post A-League season (or 2023 Women’s World Cup, because that was an awesome time to be alive), you’re in bloody luck.
Channel Nine’s Stan Sport has announced that it has obtained exclusive Aussie rights to both the Premier League and Emiates FA Cup for the 2025/2026 season.
On top of that, Japan’s J.League and America’s National Women’s Soccer League (let’s go Angel City FC) will also be available on streaming services.
Alongside the announcement, Channel Nine CEO Matt Stanton said the luxe deal with Optus Sport and the Premier League marked a step in the network’s “digital growth strategy”.
“The Premier League is the most-watched football league on the planet, and alongside the Emirates FA Cup, this acquisition reinforces Nine’s position as the home of sport in Australia. We are proud to deliver these iconic competitions to Australian audiences through Stan Sport,” Stanton shared.
CEO of Optus, Stephen Rue, mentioned that one of its “key priorities” was to find a place for Optus Sports, noting that the beloved game “will be in great hands” at Channel Nine’s Stan.
“One of our key priorities was to find a home for Optus Sport content which would take the game forward and enable all Optus Sport subscribers to continue to receive uninterrupted access to all their favourite football action,” he said.
“Optus Sport customers and the game of football will be in great hands at Stan, and we know the game will receive the broadcasting priority it deserves from an organisation whose speciality is delivering quality sports programming to its customers.”
Per The Guardian, with the $300m move to Nine, Optus Sport — which previously held all the footy goodness — will be shut down.
Those keeping up with the footy roster will know this deal comes at a perfect time with UEFA Women’s EURO 2025™ kicking off on July 3. From then, punters can watch Liverpool and Crystal Palace in the FA Community Shield on August 11, with the 2025/2026 Premier League commencing on August 16.
Optus Sports customers will still be able to watch the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025™ July 3 tournament before the streaming service closes.
A-League, Tillies, and Socceroos games will continue to be played on Paramount+ + and on Channel 10.
Guess we can have kick-ons while watching the kick-ons, amirite?
Image source: Getty Images
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