“On 1 July 2023, beIN SPORTS channels (Ch. 513, 514 and 515) will no longer be available on Foxtel’s linear channels and On Demand,” reads the start of a brief note on Foxtel’s website.
“We constantly evaluate programming and channels and have made the decision not to renew our partnership with beIN SPORTS,” continues last month’s statement.
That’s bad news for anyone who, like me, has spent the past few years watching a raft of European domestic leagues through a Foxtel set-top box.
Lucky we already saw Ange Postecoglou win the treble with Celtic this season before departing for Tottenham, because those are scenes Foxtel has decided they can live without.
Napoli winning the Scudetto? Borussia Dortmund’s calamitous final-day Bundesliga collapse? Lionel Messi getting booed off the park in his final Paris Saint-Germain appearance?
These were all events many of us pay Foxtel a hefty subscription fee to watch.
(Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Now the broadcaster, which calls itself “Australia’s sports leader,” has jettisoned the world’s most popular sport entirely on the eve of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
It harks back to a time in 2015 when News Corp chairman Robert Thomson shrugged off Foxtel’s loss of the English Premier League to Optus by labelling Aussie fans of the EPL “insomniacs”.
Foxtel responded to the loss of EPL rights by strengthening its commitment to the A-League, only to turn its back on Australia’s domestic competition in 2021.
Now their latest chief executive Patrick Delany has taken to labelling the A-League “a third-tier sport” and routinely trumpeting Foxtel’s broadcast of what he calls “top tier content” – which to Delany, basically means the AFL and NRL.
There’s always been a bit of a myth among football fans that few people watch Fox Sports – a point belied by the fact that Foxtel’s top-rating weekend broadcasts are almost always footy games.
But it’s also not hard to argue that Foxtel hasn’t made some miscalculations along the way – paying a sizeable fortune for AFL broadcast rights at a time when the NRL was playing hard-ball, and reportedly adding few new subscribers through its expensive acquisition of cricket content.
And the costs, as always, are passed directly on to consumers – with Foxtel announcing yet another price hike just last month in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
It’s almost as if the company is daring long-term set-top box subscribers like me to finally cut the cord.
Which is easier said than done if you’re in my boots, because my household has long been home to two set-top boxes, as well as a broadband internet subscription through Foxtel.
But the loss of European football might just be the final straw. Not only did I watch the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 highlights shows every week, I also watched whatever the most appealing Sunday lunchtime kick-off in Europe was every weekend while writing this column.
Now I’ll have to add yet another $120 subscription to the $159 I pay Optus Sport – up from last year’s promo rate of $99 – along with the cost of subscriptions to Paramount, Stan, Netflix, and Apple TV.
When Foxtel lost the EPL rights to Optus in 2015, many fans applauded what they believed was a reduction in the cost of accessing top-flight football in Australia.
(Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
But anyone could see that the fragmentation of the streaming market was only ever going to cost consumers more in the long run.
Now we live in a world where Foxtel has decided that not only are fans of English Football League clubs, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and South American football irrelevant to their business model, but so too are viewers who tune into the ATP and WTA tennis tours, along with European rugby.
Yes, the simple solution is to add an additional beIN Sports streaming subscription to the list. But we shouldn’t have to.
In a nation where almost 30 per cent of residents were born overseas, Foxtel’s decision not to renew its beIN Sports partnership is another slap in the face to those with little interest in watching Collingwood play Carlton for the 300th time.
rover
Roar Rookie
It took me an hour to get through yesterday, then they said it would take 12 minutes to disconnect. Ten of the 12 was devoted to trying to get me to stay with the promise of the basics with movies for 42 bucks, and I’ve seen Forest Gump more than enough. They just don’t get it. I told them over and over I had it for the world game, which they hold in contempt, and finally I don’t have it anymore. I have an Optus account so it’s the premier league. I was happy to stay if they had beinsports, given my teams, Blackburn and Lazio were on that platform. But after nearly twenty years with Foxtel, it’s time to move on. I see I can still subscribe to beinsports for 13 bucks a month and save quite a bit. Time to move with the times.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
FF, I think I am jumping on Optus, you see they have just announced they have the right to broadcast 70 matches of the Women's World cup, for a very affordable fee. The only one missing is the Final. Stokes and Murdoch must be fuming. That has made my day
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Thanks for the comment, Lou. Like you, I watched all of those leagues every week for years. beIN are offering current Foxtel subscribers a discounted price of $120 per month. You have to redeem by June 30. https://connect-au.beinsports.com/en/campaign/fx-202305-23469
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Keepup have all the coverage now, Australia cup , NPl, womens world cup.etc. Where is the coverage on this website. No one buys your vinegar man boob rubbish, go back to your QLD state of origin rugby league which is your real love.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Your username is such a contradiction. By gee you can make some comments that absolutely scream nil consideration or thought before your fingers hit the keyboard. Papas is not a loser. Either you are an over-achiever and good at absolutely everything you do, or you are human and there are things or tasks you are not good at. Papas has a big future and will achieve some amazing things, but this particular line of effort may not have been at the right time for Papas. Additionally, he was working at the poorest club in the league. He couldn't buy the players he needed, players that would fit the mold. You are capable of posts that are so much more considered
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Very disappointed. Regular watcher or Serie A, Bundesliga and Championship and sometimes Scottish league. Taking 3 (incl French) of the big 5 leagues in world football means a big downgrade in Fox's sports package and that should reflect in lower prices...fat chance. I'm hoping another provider picks up BEIN. Ideally Optus as they have EPL and La Liga.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
i mainly watched championship and scottish premier league. Now i will just watch highlights of every league i want to on You Tube. Have dumped kayo but may get it back for NFL, maybe.
Bendtner52
Roar Pro
You make a good point here. I’m irritated with Optus as they've removed the Optus channels from Fetch TV. Meaning you cannot record, pause, rewind etc as it’s all streaming now. This is an intangible disadvantage that is similar to what you’ve described with FOXTEL
Elmono
Roar Rookie
To be fair the is will affect the youngsters through their Kayo subscriptions which they will keep to watch American sports. To be honest its American sport which is actually on the ascendancy here.
Elmono
Roar Rookie
When Foxtel had the rights to everything everything life was great. I used to love to watch the New Zealand leg of the Super Rugby before I switched over to the later NRL matches. During summer I could watch the Big Bash during the week, but then watch the A League over the weekend rather than get burnt out on Twenty 20 cricket. Don't ask me why but I used to love the set up where the same Foxtel hosts were in the studio for the A League and then the Premier League. And while I am not a Football expert the BEIN offering still gave me something to watch between the end of the last NRL game on Saturday night until I fell asleep. Now everything is on its own subscription service I can't really warrant these extra costs for these small joys. .
Garry
Roar Rookie
"The beIN SPORTS channels, including Live and On Demand content will be no longer available on Kayo Sports after 30 June 2023"
Garry
Roar Rookie
"1. Manchester City Actual league position: 1st Equal share: £79m Facility fees: £26.3m Merit payment: £53.1m Commercial revenue: £5.6m Total: £164m 2020-21 payment: £153.9m Difference: +£10.1m"
Tiger Toon
Roar Rookie
Oof - I have Kayo because I had no interest in the other Foxtel content (way overpriced IMO) but assume as Kayo is part of Foxtel, Kayo will lose this content as well. Was just thinking the other day I might cancel some of my streaming subscriptions. Self fulfilling prophecy of sorts!
Garry
Roar Rookie
“Each club is given an equal share of £79million from the domestic and overseas TV deals, with an extra facility fee depending on how many times they are broadcast. They then receive a £5.6million share of the Premier League’s combined commercial income.” “Premier League clubs also receive an extra share of overseas TV rights income, with the value increasing depending on how high up the table they finish and this is referred to as merit payments.”
Tiger Toon
Roar Rookie
"its a win win as you hurt the tv network as well as the faceless corporation of a club (eg man city) that doesnt care about fans" Not a City fan but unsure how it impacts City (or any other specific club) - aren't EPL TV rights shared equally among member clubs? I think in La Liga, the TV rights are determined by popularity and interest in each club (hence the Madrid clubs and Barca can have huge TV income relative to everyone else).
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The Jets have appointed Sydney FC's former youth coach and assistant at the Barcelona all stars game Stanton. A lot more sensible than Papas who turned out to be a loser.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
disappointing that this tournament hasn't made any sports reports on the FTA TV or radio too. It's a long slow road but we're on the way
chris1
Roar Rookie
I've read that Lachlan is not a shoe in once dad croaks it. The other siblings are waiting in the wings and from what's been reported, are much more reasonable. Time will tell I guess.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Such a shame that we are not always making the World Cup in this age group. It’s amazing how if they had made it, the country and various governments would jump on the bandwagon, even though they contributed little to any success. We get beaten by teams like Japan who have heavy investment in their game. We have to always overcome more hurdles than other participants. The most popular sport in Australia for participation (by a looong way) deserves better funding.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I’m with you on that score. It is possible to watch anything and everything if you so desire!