Fans are paying the price for the AFL’s monster TV deal |
Kayo’s decision to increase its premium subscription price by $6 a month will hit AFL fans where it hurts - in the hip pocket - and the AFL itself must shoulder its share of the blame.
The AFL chose to structure a broadcast deal that maximised rights revenue (a combined $4.5 billion over seven years from Foxtel and Seven) while concentrating access in the hands of a single pay-TV ecosystem. It’s no surprise that the cost would ultimately be borne by supporters.
An advertisement for Kayo Sports promoting its exclusive AFL coverage on Fox Footy on Saturdays.Credit: Paul Rovere
Kayo’s explanation for the price hike raised more questions than it answered.
“These changes reflect the cost of sports rights in Australia and internationally, and our continued investment in production, commentary and cutting-edge technology,” a Kayo spokeswoman said.
But that logic does not withstand scrutiny.
Those costs were already passed on last year, when the new broadcast agreement began and Kayo streamed all nine AFL matches per round for the first time. That was when subscription prices jumped. That was when fans were introduced to “Super........