Telstra announces Kayo partnership with NRL & AFL Live app integration
Telstra has announced a new long-term partnership with Kayo Sports that will see Foxtel’s Kayo offering made available for Telstra customers at a significant discount.
The NRL and AFL Live apps, which previously provided access to streamed games, will now be integrated with Kayo’s offering, including not only live game coverage but also the platform’s other offerings with analysis shows, Kayo Minis, and more.
Announcing the partnership at a live event on Tuesday, Telstra CEO Andy Penn said streaming has “moved on” since Telstra first launched its Live Pass in 2012.
“We have always been committed to delivering fans the best experience possible across our range of products and services, and sports is a key part of our strategy and offering,” he said.
“While Live Pass has provided a great experience for our customers over time, Kayo has quickly become the premium sports streaming service in Australia, and we’re excited to provide this exclusive offer to our customers, giving them the chance to watch a wider range of sports on their choice of screen.”
The new deal will provide Telstra customers with over 50 sports, and not just on their mobile device, but across all platforms and all devices. It will see the Telstra Live Pass within the AFL Live app and NRL Live app replaced by Kayo.
Kayo Sport’s basic package costs $25 a month, but eligible Telstra Live Pass customers will get a generous $20 off, paying just $5 to access Kayo’s offering, including through the NRL Live app and AFL Live apps.
Other Telstra customers will pay $10 to watch live NRL, AFL and more, accessible through the two aforementioned apps, but also well as via the Kayo app as well.
Foxtel is owned by News Corporation Ltd (65%) and Telstra Corporation Ltd (35%).
Penn said the partnership “enables us to open up the world of sport to Telstra customers with these exclusive offerings”.
“We’re proud to support the AFL and NRL and will continue working with them and our other partners to leverage the latest innovation and technology to offer their fans and our customers the best entertainment experience possible at the game, at home, on the bus, or anywhere our network takes you.”
Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany said the network is “delighted to be supporting Telstra”, calling the new partnership with Kayo “a bold and unique offering… made for the streaming generation”.
AFL CEO Gil McLachlan and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo were also on hand during the announcement, to speak about how the partnership will impact viewers of their respective codes.
McLachlan said the deal will “bring fans closer to the game”, with the club and player content offered through the AFL Live app now combined with Kayo Sports.
Abdo lauded the flexibility the partnership will bring to users of the NRL Live app, which previously only offered limited live streaming on mobile.
“Our fans get more flexibility, value and depth, and are no longer locked to a screen of a certain size, and to a certain platform.”
McLachlan confirmed the deal would not affect the AFL’s current free-to-air rights deal.
This announcement from Kayo, and follows the recent launch of the platform’s ‘freemium’ tier Kayo Freebies.
It also comes just days after new competitor Stan Sport revealed it would be available for $10 a month on top of a regular Stan subscription.
Football-focussed Optus Sport is available for free on most Optus mobile or broadband plans, or for $14.99 for non-Optus customers.
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Zanda Wilson was a reporter and podcast producer at Mumbrella, specialising in radio reporting. He left Mumbrella in September 2021.
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topics
AFL Live App
Andrew Abdo
Andy Penn
Gil McLachlan
kayo
Kayo Minis
Kayo Sport
Kayo Sports
NRL Live App
Patrick Delany
streaming
Telstra
Telstra Live Pass
