The value of the deal was not disclosed by Optus,but the company’s vice president for television,content and product development Clive Dickens said it was a significant investment that would be matched,if not surpassed,by the amount of money it will spend on promotion,advertising and marketing of the tournament over the next two years.
However,one match every day of the Women’s World Cup - including all games involving the Matildas - will be shown on free-to-air television through a sub-licensing deal which is yet to be completed.
Dickens said commercial networks Seven,Nine and Ten,plus the ABC and SBS,were all interested and that correspondence had begun,but the official tender process will take place over the coming months and that the successful bidder will be selected based on its vision to champion women’s football.
Optus is not obliged to on-sell any free-to-air rights due to Australian anti-siphoning laws,which do not cover this tournament,but it is believed FIFA requires a degree of free access in host nations for their major tournaments. Optus would not say if there was a prescribed number of games that must sit in front of the paywall,but a press release said “key matches” would be simulcast on free-to-air.
“This is not a football tournament or a sports event for us. This is a cultural moment,” said Optus’ head of TV and content Corin Dimopoulos.
“I don’t imagine to be announcing many FIFA World Cups hosted by Australia in my lifetime. There’s two events in the world that blow your mind - the 100 metres final at the Olympic Games and the football World Cup final.