Optus is trialling a new Aussie-first digital sports initiative, allowing UEFA soccer fans to watch selected matches live on Optus Sports’ Twitter and YouTube channel.
The telco is the exclusive local broadcaster of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) and UEFA Europa League (UEL), after securing rights away from BeIN Sports [i.e Foxtel].
The initiative will see Optus transmit a total of 10 UEFA matches between February and April 2019 on Optus Sports’ Twitter and YouTube channel (listed below). Matches will include six live UEL matches on Twitter, and four live UCL matches on YouTube.
Broadcast will commence with the live streaming of Tottenham against Dortmund in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions Leage on Optus Sports’ YouTube channel.
Optus Head of TV and Content, Corin Dimopoulos, claims the collaboration with YouTube and Twitter is a major opportunity to amplify Optus’ live programming of soccer tournaments.
Whilst similar partnerships have rolled out internationally, the telco asserts it’s the first time regular competitive football matches have aired this way in Australia.
“Optus Sport is illustrating continued innovation by opening our Optus Sport broadcasts through our YouTube and Twitter channels,” claims Dimopoulos.
Twitter Australia Head of Sports Partnerships, Olly Wilton, claims football is one of the biggest drivers of conversation on the social media platform.
“Passionate football fans will need to look no further than Optus Sport and Twitter to keep up to date with what is happening during the knockout phase,” he remarks.
The two separate arrangements will run from February to April 2019:
- UEFA Champions League: Optus Sports’ YouTube channel – two games from round of 16 phase, and two games from quarter-finals live.
- UEFA Europa League: Optus Sport Twitter page – two games from round of 32, two games from round of 16 phase, plus two games from quarter-finals live.
