For customers who manage to sign up early with Telco, the company usually make their packages more attractive for them. With the intention of encouraging more customers to sign up for the new English Premier League packages, Optus has considerably reduced the charges before the start of the 2016-17 season. Latest soccer lines also reveal that several football fans have demonstrated their unrest from the time when the Telco disclosed its contentious broadcasting package. One of the controversial issues is that Telco does not allow Australian customers to watch sports from several popular leagues if they do not sign up with them.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Optus declared that they have wide-ranging selected packages that would allow new customers to get free Premier League broadcast in the 2016-17 season. This starts from an affordable monthly mobile package going for only $30. The company has also reduced the minimum spend for the broadcast from $85 for customers who manage to register with them before July 31. For those who do not get this package by then, and would like to upgrade, they will pay $15 every month.
Optus have improved their packages even though it claims that many customers are already interested in its plans. An Optus spokesperson said that slashing prices is just an incentive for customers to sign up for the Premier League package now. The company is encouraging fans to subscribe now to prepare them early enough for the upcoming season in August. This is because setting up most broadband installation can take more time depending on the location of the customer.
Several football fans hoped that Optus would change their mind on broadcasting the Premier League matches exclusively to subscribed customers. However, Optus explained that such a move would defy the aim of its far-reaching expenditure to get the broadcasting rights. It purposely bought the content not only to move people, but also to grow the market share of its mobile and broadband. Optus said that combining their core products with content is a crucial step towards executing that strategy.
Many football fans have caused a stir with the rights distribution by Optus. According to The New Daily, Liverpool Football Club has already received such complains in their boardroom. In an attempt to quell the backlash, the CEO of the club, Ian Ayre, will highlight their objections at the subsequent meeting of the Premier League shareholders.
To echo their grievances, CHOICE, the Consumer advocacy group, also expressed that is unfair and absurd for Optus to hold the fans to ransom. A spokesperson also predicted that some Optus customers might embrace the decision by the Telco’s to cut down the prices. However, Optus remains adamant that customers must purchase their internet products or phones to watch live matches of their favourite teams in the PL next season. Therefore, Optus should not force customers to watch their favourite content using their products. The spokesperson concluded that frustrated customers would turn to VPNs [virtual private networks] to purchase their favourite content abroad using their preferred internet provider.
Matthew Selby, the spokesperson of the international fans of Liverpool supporters committee, argued that the Optus deal would short-change football fans even with the announcement of revised deals. He added that the unfairness is because several customers are still burdened with other contracts, and moving to Optus abruptly cannot happen easily without paying expensive early termination charges. Many fans have generally reacted negatively to Optus because of the cost involved, availability, and the preference of streaming to satellite or cable.
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