Foxtel has announced another round of price increases less than two weeks after securing its share of the NRL’s record-breaking $5.3 billion broadcast agreement, prompting fresh scrutiny over the cost of watching live sport in Australia.
The increases will affect a portion of Foxtel‘s premium subscribers from September, with the company insisting the changes were not driven by the new NRL deal.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, customers on selected premium set-top box packages have been notified of a $5 per month increase.
Foxtel Plus customers on eligible plans will see their monthly subscription rise, while Platinum Plus subscribers will also pay an extra $5 each month from September.
A Foxtel spokesperson said the price rise was unrelated to the recently announced NRL rights agreement.
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“Like all businesses, we regularly review our pricing to ensure it continues to reflect the long-term investment in our products and content and this change was as a result of a review held in the first quarter this year.”
The spokesperson added:
“To continue bringing customers the world’s best sports and entertainment, while delivering great value through a premium customer experience, we are changing the price of Foxtel for a small percentage of premium package set-top box customers.”
The timing, however, has attracted attention.
Just days earlier, the ARL Commission confirmed a seven-year, $5.3 billion media rights agreement with Foxtel Group, Nine and Sky NZ, the richest broadcast deal in Australian sporting history.
Under the agreement, Foxtel and Kayo Sports will remain the subscription home of every NRL and NRLW home-and-away match through to the end of 2034, while also expanding their exclusive coverage as the competition grows.
When the rights deal was announced, Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany defended the cost of sports subscriptions and argued the company’s investment ultimately benefits the game.
“This renewed NRL partnership is a great outcome for the game, fans and our subscribers.”
Delany said Foxtel remained committed to investing in innovation, coverage and growing rugby league both domestically and internationally.
The broadcaster has maintained that the latest price adjustments were determined well before the NRL negotiations concluded.
Nevertheless, the announcement is likely to reignite debate around the rising cost of premium sports broadcasting, particularly as broadcasters commit record sums to secure Australia’s biggest sporting competitions.
For rugby league fans, little changes on the field.
Foxtel, Kayo Sports and Nine will continue broadcasting the NRL under the new agreement from 2028 through to 2034.
Off the field, however, some subscribers will soon be paying more for that access.
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