Ask LH: Can I Watch International Soccer Without Paying For Foxtel?

Hey Lifehacker, Now that the real football season has come to an end (“soccer” as most folk here call it), I am looking at my options for the upcoming season. I subscribed to Foxtel Play fit to get my EPL, Championship and A-League fix, but I’m not particularly keen on paying for a bunch of additional channels that I will never watch.

Image: Ronnie Macdonald

I know Telstra and Optus do some sports streaming services, but are there any other providers out there that will allow me to watch EPL and Championship matches here in Australia?

Thanks
Switched Off

Dear Switched Off,

There are some options for the soccer fanatic in Australia, but not that many, and without the kinds of wide coverage that other international sports codes offer. While you’d still be giving money to Foxtel, there’s Foxtel’s EPL On Demand service, which is notably cheaper, but offers far less in terms of overall coverage, and in SD only to boot.

If you’re willing to invest in FetchTV, they offer the BeIN sports package that’s available on Optus, iiNet and Dodo for $14.95 per month. That’ll give you a more solid fix of actual live games to watch from the EPL a host of other soccer leagues, and is arguably your best non-Foxtel bet, albeit not quite EPL.

If you’re willing to go the VPN route, there are options such as Premier League Pass that should sate your soccer watching needs nicely, but as with any geoblock-dodging effort, it can be a game of cat and mouse to not get kicked off such a service.

From what I can see, however, you’re not in anywhere as much luck when it comes to A-League soccer. Any Lifehacker readers know anything about legal avenues for online streaming that don’t involve Foxtel?

Cheers
Lifehacker

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