Kayo Sports

Last updated

Kayo Sports
Kayo Sports logo.png
Type of business Subsidiary
Type of site
Over-the-top media service
Available in English
Headquarters Gore Hill, New South Wales,
Area servedAustralia
Owner Hubbl
CEOJulian Ogrin [1]
Products
Services Sports television distribution
Parent Foxtel Group
URL kayosports.com.au
RegistrationRequired
Users Increase2.svg 1.312 million (as of 8 Aug 2022) [2]
Launched26 November 2018;5 years ago (2018-11-26)
Current statusActive

Kayo Sports is an over-the-top video streaming subscription service available in Australia, owned by Hubbl (formerly Streamotion and a wholly owned subsidiary of Foxtel Group). [3] The service offers sports live and on demand from Fox Sports, ESPN and Racing.com.

Contents

History

In March 2018 it was reported Foxtel were investigating an over-the-top sports streaming service to appeal to customers not willing to subscribe to traditional satellite or cable. At the time the service had reportedly been in development for more than nine months but was yet to be green lit. It was reported the new service would not use the Foxtel branding. [4] In August 2018 it was reported Foxtel had green lit this new sports streaming service, which was code named Project Martian. It was predicted the service would launch in late 2018 coinciding with a cricket event following Foxtel's recent new six year broadcasting deal with Cricket Australia. [5] [6] In October 2018, it was reported the service was originally planned to launch in early November but was delayed until early December in order to conduct further testing to avoid technical issues similar to those experienced by Optus Sport for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. [7] On 5 November 2018 it was reported Foxtel were exploring including ESPN and beIN Sports in the service which was rumored to be called Kayo Sports. [8]

On 9 November 2018, it was formally announced the new service would be called Kayo Sports and launched in beta that day. At launch, the service offered over 50 sports from Fox Sports, ESPN and beIN Sports networks live and on demand. Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany described the service as the "Netflix of sport". [9] Following a positive reception to the beta launch, Kayo Sports officially launched on 26 November 2018. [10] [11]

On 6 May 2019 Kayo Sports added Racing.com. [12]

In February 2021 it was announced Telstra (part owner of parent company Foxtel) would be replacing their Telstra Live Pass service in the National Rugby League and Australian Football League mobile apps which offered streaming of games with access to Kayo Sports. [13]

As of May 2021 it was announced that Kayo Sports has exceeded 1 million total subscribers, with paying subscribers expected to reach that milestone imminently. [14]

In May 2023, it was announced that beIN Sports content would no longer be available on either Foxtel or Kayo Sports platforms from 1st July 2023. [15]

Subscribers

DatePaying SubscribersTotal SubscribersRef
As of February 2019100,000115,000 [16]
As of 30 June 2019331,000382,000 [16]
As of November 2019402,000443,000 [17]
As of 5 February 2020340,000 [lower-alpha 1] [18]
As of 31 March 2020404,000440,000 [19]
As of 2 May 2020272,000 [lower-alpha 2] [19]
As of 30 June 2020419,000 [lower-alpha 3] 465,000 [20]
As of 4 August 2020542,000590,000 [20]
As of 31 December 2020624,000 [21]
As of 31 March 2021851,000914,000 [22]
As of 7 May 20211,000,000+ [23]
As of 8 August 20221,293,0001,312,000+ [24]
As of 11 August 20231,401,0001,411,000+ [25]
  1. The decline was attributed to it being a "low sports season" in Australia. [18]
  2. The decline was attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports. [19]
  3. The increase was attributed to the return of most major sports. [20]

Channels

The following channels are available on Kayo Sports: [26]

Content

Original programming

Kayo Sports' first original program Below the Bonnet premiered on 25 March 2021. The weekly Supercars Championship themed talk show is hosted by David Reynolds and Michael Caruso. [27]

Availability

Kayo Sports offers a three tier subscription model (one, basic or premium), the difference being the number of simultaneous device streams(1 for one, 2 for basic, 3 for premium). [28] Kayo Sports is available via web browser, mobile app (Android and iOS), and on selected smart televisions and media consoles. [29]

Kayo Freebies

In January 2021 Kayo Sports announced they would be offering free access to selected sports and programs under the banner Kayo Freebies as a way of increasing subscribers. [30] Sports included under the banner include: the Mount Panorama 500, [30] selected A-League games, [30] selected W-League games, [30] two Suncorp Super Netball games a round plus Australian Diamonds games, [31] and all sports supported under the Federal Government's Women's, Niche and Other Under-Represented Sports grants. [32]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Network 10</span> Australian television network

Network 10 is an Australian commercial television network owned by Ten Network Holdings, a division of the Paramount Networks UK & Australia subsidiary of Paramount Global. One of five national free-to-air networks, 10's owned-and-operated stations can be found in the state capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth while affiliates extend the network to regional areas of the country.

Foxtel is an Australian pay television company—operating in cable television, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April 2018, superseding an earlier company from 1995. The service was established as a 50/50 joint venture between News Corporation and Telstra, with News Corp and Telstra holding 65% and 35% ownership shares respectively.

Sky News Australia is an Australian conservative news channel owned by News Corp Australia. Originally launched on 19 February 1996, it broadcasts rolling news coverage throughout the day, while its prime time lineup is dedicated to opinion-based programs featuring a line-up of conservative commentators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian News Channel</span>

Australian News Channel Pty Ltd. is an Australian privately held subsidiary of News Corp Australia which owns media properties operating in Australia and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox Sports (Australia)</span> Australia group of sports channels

Fox Sports Australia Pty Limited is the division of Foxtel that owns and operates the Fox Sports television networks and digital properties in Australia. The group operates nine Fox Sports Channels as well as Fox Sports News, Fox Cricket, Fox League, Fox Footy, Watch AFL and Watch NRL. Fox Sports channels such as Fox Netball are available via Foxtel or Kayo. The group's main competitors are beIN Sports, ESPN, Optus Sport and Stan Sport. Unlike The American Fox Sports, the group is not owned directly by the Fox Corporation. However News Corp which holds a 65% stake in Foxtel is Fox Corporation's sister company.

There are several sports broadcasting contracts in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky News Extra</span> Australian television channel

Sky News Extra is an Australian 24-hour cable and satellite public affairs news channel owned by Foxtel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fetch TV</span> Australian provider of Internet Protocol Television

Fetch TV is an Australian IPTV provider that offers a subscription television service over a user's regular internet connection. It is majority owned by Telstra, who acquired a 51.4% stake in the company on the 2nd of August 2022. Fetch TV was initially launched in July 2010 by Malaysian Astro Malaysia Holdings.

Showcase is an Australian premium drama cable and satellite television channel. It was initially part of the Showtime Australia channels and was managed by PMP chief executive officer Peter Rose. In 2007 Rose said Showcase "provides a real home at last for quality drama in Australia, and this list of outstanding event television is just the start". Showcase launched with the Australian TV premieres of Dexter and Australian-made series Satisfaction.

<i>The Great Australian Bake Off</i> Australian television baking series

The Great Australian Bake Off is an Australian television baking series that is based on the BBC baking competition The Great British Bake Off.

Syfy was an Australian pay television channel dedicated to science fiction and fantasy television shows and movies. The channel was launched on 1 January 2014, replacing SF.

Stan is an Australian over-the-top streaming service. It was launched on 26 January 2015. Stan originally was founded as StreamCo Media, a 50/50 joint venture between Nine Entertainment Co. and Fairfax Media. In August 2014, each company invested A$50 million in StreamCo. StreamCo was renamed Stan Entertainment in December 2014, prior to the January 2015 launch of the streaming service. Nine Entertainment would ultimately acquire Fairfax Media in 2018, making Stan a wholly owned subsidiary of Nine Digital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presto (streaming company)</span>

Presto was an Australian media streaming company which offered subscriptions to unlimited viewing of selected films, and from 2015, TV series. The service, initially owned wholly by Foxtel, launched on 13 March 2014 featuring films exclusively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foxtel Now</span>

Foxtel Now is an Australian internet television service which offers subscriptions to over 50 live channels and hundreds of video on-demand titles. The service is owned by Foxtel, and officially launched on 11 August 2013 as Foxtel Play.

This is a list of Australian television events and premieres that occurred in 2015, the 60th year of continuous operation of television in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Binge (TV channel)</span> Australian TV channel

Binge was an Australian 24-hour pay television channel available on the Foxtel platform. Originally scheduled to launch on 1 October 2016, the channel instead launched on 5 October 2016. The channel, similar to sister channel BoxSets, broadcast multiple episodes of drama and comedy programs, allowing viewers to binge-watch a series. Binge was part of the drama pack on channel 119.

This is a list of Australian television-related events, debuts, finales, and cancellations that are scheduled to occur in 2018, the 63rd year of continuous operation of television in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime (TV channel)</span> Television channel

Crime is an Australian subscription television channel primarily screening crime drama television series. The channel launched on 7 November 2019, replacing TVHits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Binge (streaming service)</span> Australian streaming service owned by Foxtel

Binge is a video streaming subscription service available in Australia, owned by Hubbl. The service offers on demand and live entertainment, lifestyle, reality and movie programming.

Streamotion Pty Ltd, currently doing business as Hubbl, is an over-the-top streaming subscription provider and aggregation service, wholly owned by Australian pay television conglomerate Foxtel. The company has developed and operates the local streaming services Kayo Sports, Binge, and Flash, as well as operating the WatchAFL and WatchNRL services in international markets.

References

  1. Knox, David (13 August 2020). "Amanda Laing to oversee Foxtel content". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  2. Al Zaidi, Seja (8 August 2022). "Foxtel's streaming subscriber base up 31% in Group Q4 and full-year fiscal 2022 results". Mumbrella. pp. 9 Aug 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  3. Manning, James (29 December 2023). "Foxtel Group's Hubbl launch: Binge, Kayo Sports accounts moving to new platform in February". Mediaweek . Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  4. Mason, Max (25 March 2018). "Foxtel executives crunching the numbers on standalone Fox Sports streaming service" . Australian Financial Review . Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  5. Tyeson, Cam (7 August 2018). "Foxtel Might Ditch 'Now' In Yet Another Shakeup Of Their Streaming Services". Pedestrian. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  6. Duke, Jennifer (13 April 2018). "Cricket heads to pay TV in landmark deal with Seven and Foxtel". Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  7. Knox, David (29 October 2018). "Foxtel sports-streaming tipped for December". TV Tonight . Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  8. Knox, David (5 November 2018). "Report: ESPN and beIN SPORTS to join Foxtel sports streaming?". TV Tonight . Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  9. Knox, David (9 November 2018). "Kayo Sports is a game-changer". TV Tonight . Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  10. Knox, David (26 November 2018). "Game on for Kayo Sports". TV Tonight . Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  11. "Kayo: Fox Sports launches streaming service". news.com.au. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  12. Knox, David (6 May 2019). "Kayo Sports adds Racing.com". TV Tonight . Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  13. Knox, David (2 February 2021). "Telstra Live Pass to switch to Kayo". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  14. Pash, Chris (10 May 2021). "Foxtel's pandemic resurgence pushes subscribers to record 3.5 million - AdNews". www.adnews.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2021. In recent days, Kayo exceeded 1 million total subscribers, with paying subscribers expected to reach that milestone imminently. A strong summer of cricket and the start of the dominant winter sports saw Kayo generate more momentum.
  15. Week, Media (24 May 2023). "Foxtel to drop BeIN Sports and PBS Kids channels from July 1". Mediaweek. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  16. 1 2 Knox, David (2 September 2019). "Kayo growing subscriber base". TV Tonight. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  17. Knox, David (29 November 2019). "Kayo marks first anniversary". TV Tonight. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  18. 1 2 Mason, Max (7 February 2020). "Kayo loses subscribers, pressure increases on Foxtel". Australian Financial Review . Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  19. 1 2 3 Hodson, Joshua. "Kayo Loses 136,000 Paying Subscribers Amid COVID-19". Ministry of Sport. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  20. 1 2 3 Knox, David (10 August 2020). "Kayo, Binge, Foxtel Now paid subscribers top 900,000". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  21. Duckett, Chris (5 February 2021). "Foxtel customers up 12% thanks to Kayo and Binge as namesake brands drop". ZDNet. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  22. "News Corp reports: Kayo audiences doubles, Binge climbs to new high". Mediaweek. 6 May 2021.
  23. Pash, Chris (10 May 2021). "Foxtel's pandemic resurgence pushes subscribers to record 3.5 million - AdNews". www.adnews.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2021. In recent days, Kayo exceeded 1 million total subscribers, with paying subscribers expected to reach that milestone imminently. A strong summer of cricket and the start of the dominant winter sports saw Kayo generate more momentum.
  24. Al Zaidi, Seja (9 August 2022). "Foxtel's streaming subscriber base up 31% in Group Q4 and full-year fiscal 2022 results - Mumbrella". Mumbrella. Retrieved 13 September 2022. News Corp today released its fiscal Q4 results and full year earnings, including Foxtel financials highlighting growth in the subscription video services segment.
  25. Song, Darcy (10 August 2023). "Kayo, Binge and Foxtel Now paid subscribers cross three million mark". Mumbrella. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  26. "What Live Channels are available on Kayo?". Kayo Sports. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  27. Knox, David (25 March 2021). "Airdate: Below the Bonnet". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  28. "What are my subscription options on Kayo?". Kayo Sports. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  29. "What devices and browsers can I use to stream Kayo?". Kayo Sports. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  30. 1 2 3 4 Knox, David (25 January 2021). "Kayo to offer free streaming events". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  31. Knox, David (3 February 2021). "Foxtel / Kayo sign new deal for Super Netball". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  32. Knox, David (8 March 2021). "Foxtel boosts sports on International Women's Day". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 April 2021.