Optus may have wrapped up major rights to the English Premier League soccer coverage – though receiving a caning from sections of the press over its subscription pricing – but Telstra appears determined not to be left out.

“At Telstra, we pride ourselves on ensuring our sport lovers never miss a minute of the action. So we couldn’t be happier to reassure football fans that they will have access to great EPL content with Foxtel from Telstra,” it announced in a media release yesterday.

Foxtel – a joint venture between Telstra and Rupert Murdoch’s News group – will offer subscribers to its sport service access to 24-hour channels showing matches by just three EPL teams: Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.

If you’re already a Foxtel Sport subscriber you can watch the matches at no extra cost, Telstra says. If you’re new to Foxtel, however, you face a $687 outlay ($51 a month, plus $75 for an IQ box to connect to your telly) for the Sport service. If you also want drama, entertainment and other channels, you’re looking at more like $1585 ($135 a month, plus the box).