Playback errors and system crashes have made a shambles of Optus Sport's World Cup coverage, leading to an apology to "all Australians" from the telecommunications company's chief executive Allen Lew.
While the rest of the world is enjoying the World Cup on FTA, Australian fans are being told to pay money to watch games on a mobile phone screen as host broadcaster @OptusSport doesn't know how to broadcast. Pathetic
Optus, which in 2016 agreed to pay $63 million annually to have exclusive rights to the English Premier League for three years, has exclusive rights to show all matches from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
While World Cup games featuring the Socceroos are still available on free-to-air network SBS, the rest of the matches are exclusive to Optus. The telco was not prepared for the spike in traffic.
"I apologise unreservedly to all Australians. "We should have done better, we can do better and we will do better." @Optus CEO Allen Lew to @OptusSport customers who experienced streaming issues during the opening nights of the #WorldCup #OptusSport
Optus CEO Allen Lew apologised unreservedly to all Australians via Twitter on Sunday, saying the company "should have done better".
Lew later told The Sydney Morning Herald Optus had planned for a larger viewership than the English Premier League, but the "unprecedented demand" was larger than it had anticipated.
And on Monday, prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said he had spoken with Lew about the issues.
I have spoken with the Optus CEO, Allen Lew. He assures me he is giving the World Cup streaming problems his personal attention and he believes it will be fixed this evening.
Still, the excuses were too little, too late for Australians who were unable to watch many of the weekend's matches. It didn't help that people had stayed up to the early hours of the morning to watch them.
Optus Sport currently doing unfathomable damage to the sport of football in Australia.
There was a lot of this:
We apologise that some viewers may be experiencing technical difficulties. You can view the game by signing in with your Optus Sport details on our separate 2018 FIFA World Cup™ app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
And a lot of anger.
Dear @OptusSport, Australia will never forgive you for this. You thieving, money-hungry, incompetent bastards. Sincerely, everyone. #OptusSport #Optus #optusfail #WorldCup2018
Optus has destroyed the World Cup experience they should be driven out of the market.
Hey @Optus. I'll probably only pay some of my bill this month. Don't worry, I'll have people on the job searching for the rest, but there could be some technical difficulties in locating the funds. I'm sure you'll understand.
As a way for @Optus to regain the love of Australia I believe they must allow @sbs to show all games of the World Cup. To not be able to watch the genius of Messi & co tonight because @OptusSport app simply can’t do the job is a disaster for the company and the nation.
More highlights from the 2018 World Cup thanks to the good people at Optus
Ok enough his enough ! It’s time the government gets involved and get the games back to @SBSSport ! Does anyone care ? Unacceptable
Feel sorry for everyone back in Australia having to watch a 'playback error' instead of the #WorldCup -- simply unacceptable
While others just tried to see the funny side of things.
Not sure why everyone is complaining. My Optus stream is crystal clear. #OptusSport #WorldCup #ARGvICE #SBSTheWorldGame https://t.co/Zenp942AfT
Exclusive images from Optus Sports World Cup 2018 Planning Meeting:
I work at Optus and we just received an all staffer saying we have to let (up to 6) people watch the soccer on our tellies at home if they can show a sim card at the door
Good on Optus for protesting Fifa corruption by refusing to stream the World Cup
Thinking of you, Optus Sport social media person
The 2018 FIFA World Cup is being held in Russia. Not yet out of the first round of the group stages, there are still plenty of games to come. Lets, uh, hope Optus can sort it out.
