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English Premier League returns to free-to-air television in Australia

Kieran Francis

English Premier League returns to free-to-air television in Australia image

The English Premier League is to be shown on free-to-air television in Australia for the first time since 2019.

Channel Nine will broadcast Saturday, August 16's match between Aston Villa and Newcastle at 9:30pm (AEST) on their main and HD channels.

The decision for Nine to show the Premier League on free-to-air in Australia comes after its streaming arm Stan Sport acquired the rights to broadcast the competition off Optus Sport, who had the rights for nine years.

However, don't expect Nine to broadcast many games on free-to-air throughout the season, with the airing likely to promote their Stan Sport offering by using matches in a friendly timezone for Australians.

SIGN UP: Watch every match of the Premier League live and on demand with 4K on Stan Sport. Starts 16 August.

Nine's coverage of Villa and Newcastle will commence after the broadcast of the NRL match between the Rabbitohs and Eels.

It is currently unknown which other matches Nine intends to broadcast on free-to-air, but it's likely they will choose 9:30pm (AEST) kickoff games, which occur until daylight savings arrive in Australia on October 5.

SBS was the last Australian free-to-air channel to broadcast the Premier League six years ago.

Liverpool are favourites to retain their Premier League title this season, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea the next in line to challenge.

SIGN UP: Watch every match of the Premier League live and on demand with 4K on Stan Sport. Starts 16 August.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.