SBS to broadcast the rest of the World Cup after Optus streaming debacle

SBS will broadcast all remaining matches of the World Cup after reaching an agreement with Optus. 

After Optus Sport's coverage of early stages of the tournament was plagued with streaming issues, the telco agreed to let SBS broadcast the remaining group matches. 

SBS today confirmed it will show all remaining matches of the tournament. 

Optus Sport sub-licensed the rights to stream the World Cup from SBS at a reported cost of $8 million, with 39 matches initially set to be exclusive.

Optus has now essentially ceded all its exclusive rights and fans will will be able to watch the remainder of the tournament for free on either service.

Customers who paid $15 for Optus' service can expect their direct transfer refunds before the end of the World Cup on July 16.

Fans took to social media with their fury after the Optus Sport broadcast suffered glitches, outages and extended buffering from the tournament's opening match.

The public outrage reached such a crescendo that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull stepped in and put in a call to Optus chief executive Allen Lew.