The NRL’s Las Vegas footy festival was just seconds old when an apparent technical error saw the action on the field interrupted by a long ad break – and fans were quick to go online to vent their anger.
The match between English Super League sides Hull Kingston Rovers and Leeds Rhinos had just got underway on Foxtel at 11am on Sunday, Australian time, when the broadcast switched from the play to a commercial break that lasted approximately four minutes.
Foxtel – which is also exclusively showing the match through its Kayo streaming service – boasts that it does not show ads during play.
However, the long commercial break wasn’t the only interruption, with glitches also resulting in the broadcast briefly switching to snippets of ads several times early in the match.
Footy fans were quick to slam the coverage online with their anger stoked by Kayo’s recent price rise, which saw viewers slugged an extra $5.99 a month for a premium subscription.
‘Fox… Why are we getting a full 5 minute ad break DURING PLAY!? WE PAY FOR THIS!’ one wrote on X.
Pictured: A sample of the fan fury online after the first footy game from Vegas was interrupted by a rogue ad break on Sunday
Footy fanatics lashed out after they paid to watch the action between Hull KR and Leeds (pictured) uninterrupted by commercials
Angry supporters like this one wasted no time going online to vent their fury after being hit with a price hike for the Kayo streaming app
‘Hey @FOXNRL, @kayosports, what the hell happened to “No ad breaks during play”?’ another added.
‘If kayo isn’t the biggest hunk of s**t of an app I genuinely don’t know what is 7+ adds 5min into a game,’ said a third.
‘Great opening 10 mins of Vegas League – commentary intermittent and adverts randomly appearing,’ another wrote.
Other angry comments included ‘coverage is absolutely horrendous’, ‘random commercials during play WTF’, ‘this is an embarrassment’ and ‘u effing incompetent a holes’.
Fans 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.
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 that the broadcaster continues to invest $1billion into sports rights and production, including $130million into the production of local sporting content.
Viewers missed out on some of the action as Leeds (star Cooper Jenkins is pictured left during the match) stormed their way to a big halftime lead in Sin City
The long ad break referred to by this fan was joined by other, shorter interruptions as snippets of ads were shown due to what was most likely a technical glitch
‘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 said.
The hike went over like a lead balloon with viewers.
‘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.’
The error in Vegas came as the Rhinos stormed to a huge lead against the Rovers.
Former Parramatta star Maika Sivo scored two tries as his side raced to a 28-0 lead at halftime, with ex-Melbourne Storm half Brodie Croft also crossing for a score.
