SBS will exclusively show one English Premier League fixture per round as part of an agreement with new Australian rights holder Optus.

The deal – set to begin in August when the 2016-17 season starts – will last for three years.

Optus will also run a 24-7 football channel, solely focused on English Premier League, which will broadcast every match live.

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It will screen magazine shows and match-day analysis live from the UK, daily news programming and highlights shows.

The channel will be carried on Optus’ subscription TV platform, Optus TV with Fetch.

Optus will also screen matches live on their website for subscribers, and produce an app that will show fixtures for mobile and tablet.

Optus CEO Allen Lew said: “With Optus, football fans are spoiled for choice.

“As the only telco in Australia to own and operate network infrastructure across all three mobile, fixed and satellite platforms, we are in a unique position to deliver the English Premier League and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, to more Australians, in more ways than ever before.

“Broadcast has been a key part of our services since the inception of Optus’ satellite business.

“We have developed rich expertise in broadcasting and have a long history in delivering high quality live broadcasts via our satellite fleet.”

The English Premier League products will be exclusively available to Optus customers, with pricing to be announced later this year.

SBS managing director and chief executive Michael Ebeid said: “International football is at the very heart of SBS and our purpose to inspire understanding between our diverse multicultural communities.

“We are pleased to partner with Optus to deliver a deal that gives football fans much more international football on free-to-air TV throughout the year.”

FIFA World Cup

On Thursday, Optus released their plans for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which SBS have sub-licensed to the company.

Optus will broadcast all 64 matches at the showpiece in Russia live and show additional FIFA-sanctioned events.

SBS will retain their simultaneous free-to-air live rights to 25 of the World Cup matches – which they will pick. Optus will show the other 39 exclusively.

SBS will screen all Australian matches, the tournament opener, four matches from the round of 16, two quarter-finals, both semi-finals and the final in addition to other matches and a daily highlights program.