Kayo has announced that it has increased the price of its premium subscription on the eve of the 2026 AFL and NRL seasons, with fans now set to pay an extra $5.99 for the streaming service’s marquee product.
As part of the renegotiated AFL TV rights deal, which came into effect at the start of the 2025 season, Foxtel and Kayo now exclusively show Saturday’s regular-season matches in Victoria and Tasmania, and nationally for the first eight rounds of the season.
Fans enrolled on Kayo’s premium subscription had previously been paying $40 per month, but now those looking to watch the footy on the DAZN-owned platform will have to pay $45.99. The service’s standard streaming package, which costs $29.99, is set to stay the same.
Speaking to The Age, a Kayo spokesperson stated that the new price plan reflected how the streaming service had continued to invest both in the number of sports available on its platform as well as the quality of the output.
It came after Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delaney stated during the brand’s annual Parliamentary Showcase that the broadcaster continues to invest $1billion into sports rights and production, including $130million into the production of local sporting content.
‘These changes reflect the cost of sports rights in Australia and internationally and our continued investment in production and commentary, and cutting-edge technology,’ a Foxtel spokesperson told The Age.
Kayo has announced that it has increased the price of its premium subscription on the eve of the 2026 AFL and NRL seasons, with fans now set to pay an extra $5.99 for the streaming service’s marquee product
Foxtel CEO Patrick Delaney (pictured) said the broadcaster had invested $1billion into sports rights and production
‘We have worked hard to ensure the monthly subscription for entry-level Kayo remains the same, ensuring our world-leading 50-sports live remains accessible for sport fans, while premium with two streams remains a great option for families.’
‘AFL will be bolstered this year with the new AFL Origin clash between WA and Vic in February, ahead of an expanded premiership season with the introduction of the wildcard weekend.’
Fans subscribing to the premium plan can watch the footy on two devices and can also stream games in 4K.
The standard package only allows fans to watch on one device and does not allow for 4K streaming.
‘Our investment flows through the system – back into rugby league, Australian football, netball, cricket, supercars – to support athletes, pathways, grassroots clubs, facilities, and participation,’ Delaney said during Tuesday’s showcase.
A leading media analyst has, however, told Yahoo Sport that the move could push viewers away from subscribing to the platform.
Steve Allen from Pearman Media told the outlet: ‘Definitely a loss of subscribers will follow.
‘Apart from anything else, the high likelihood – a guarantee in my estimation – that the Reserve Bank of Australia will increase the cash rate on Tuesday and will mean a significant push-back and backlash at a time when the public is already feeling the cost-of-living squeeze.’
Fans enrolled on Kayo’s premium subscription had previously been paying $40 per month, but now those looking to watch the footy on the DAZN-owned platform will have to pay $45.99
The news has not gone down among footy fans, with one branding the move an ‘absolute disgrace’
As he predicted, the move has not gone down well among social media users.
‘So $500 a year for Kayo, I feel like they have shot themselves in the foot here, a lot of people will look to other places,’ one wrote on Reddit.
‘Annoying. I only watch AFL on Kayo for the season and then cancel, which is generally 7 months. $200 is getting steep,’ another said.
‘Absolute disgrace,’ one said, while another added: ‘I won’t be getting Kayo this year.’
One believed that it was now cheaper to head down to their local pub and watch the game on there with some food.
‘I basically can’t even watch my team play when not at home without Kayo, but nah. I’m not gifting this awful company any more money to watch 10-odd games of football a year. At $30-40 a month it’s genuinely cheaper to go to a pub and eat/drink, even with outrageous food and beverage prices. So long, Kayo. I will not miss you.’
