Fox Sports season launch draws big names from sport, politics and business

Stars from the AFL, NRL, cricket, netball and motorsport gathered alongside sports executives and politicians at Parliament House on Tuesday night to launch the Fox Sports season.

07/2/2023: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Australian sports people and politicians as they gather at Parliament House on Tuesday night to launch the Fox Sports season. Picture: Paul Chapman

Past and present stars from the AFL, NRL, cricket, netball and motorsport gathered alongside sports powerbrokers and politicians at Parliament House on Tuesday night to launch the Fox Sports season.

The 150-strong guest list included cricket great Adam Gilchrist, former NRL stars Matty Johns and Braith Anasta, AFLW champion Chloe Molloy, multiple AFL premiership winner Jonathan Brown, several netball high flyers led by one of the sport’s greats, Cath Cox, and motorsport king Mark Skaife.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland and Sports Minister Annika Wells also attended, with Foxtel Group chief executive Patrick Delany delivering the keynote speech, speaking about the unparalleled success of Foxtel’s sports streaming platform Kayo Sports.

“For 25 years we have revolutionised the way Australians access and watch their sport, it’s hard to believe back in 1995 live sport was almost non-existent,” Mr Delany said.

“There were only two rugby league games televised a week on Nine and they weren’t live. Like every other sport at the time, broadcasts were delayed and cut down.

“We changed the landscape forever. We broke the rules. We set a new standard. The standard of every game of every round is live.

“Nowhere else in the world can you see as much sport live.”

Ms Rowland also addressed the function, observing how important sport was to Australians of all walks of life.

“The 2022 Television Consumer Survey showed that two thirds of Australians watched sport in the six months leading up to the survey. And half had watched or listened to sports broadcasts in the previous week,” she said.

“In terms of platforms, television remains king – but we know viewers are increasingly streaming sports online.

“Seeing elite sports men and women on-screen inspires young Australians to play, and to dream. After all, you can’t be what you can’t see.

“Participating in sport is healthy and it builds community. In this regard, Foxtel has made a significant contribution as part of the broadcasting mix in our country.”

Foxtel Group is the largest broadcaster of Australian sport with more than over 100,000 hours produced and broadcast every year.

“We are known for being Foxtel, with satellite and cable, but we are also Kayo Sports,” Mr Delany said. “Streaming to all of Australia. Kayo is an extraordinary innovation.

“There is nothing like it, and it has been awarded and recognised around the world. Available to the whole of Australia with internet access, at a truly affordable price. But we took it further.

“Kayo Freebies now brings more than 35 major sporting events free to all Australians every year. Including being the only place you can watch the Women’s T20 World Cup this month.”

There will be 315 games of AFL this season – all on Fox Footy and the AFL is also launching a new Gather Round event in Adelaide (12-16 April 12-16).

The AFL’s Travis Auld said he was excited for the year to come. “Footy’s bounce back in 2022 was remarkable, with two AFLW seasons and one the of best AFL seasons in recent memory, and our great partners at Foxtel and Kayo were an integral part of taking the game to millions of fans around the country,” Mr Auld said.

“The momentum for season 2023 is already building, and that momentum continues with our broadcast partners as we strive to give footy fans an elite game day experience through the broadcast and ultimately being able to watch the footy wherever they want – so they can never miss a moment.”

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said rugby league was growing bigger and stronger. The new-look NRL pre-season competition starts on Thursday with 18 teams taking part.

“We are all very excited for another exciting year of rugby league, in 2023 we celebrate growth; an 18 team Pre Season Challenge, the introduction of the Dolphins in the NRL Telstra Premiership and an expanded 10 team NRLW Telstra Premiership,” Mr Abdo said.

“More teams, more matches, more rivalries and of course, more excitement for fans.”

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan said the netball World Cup in South Africa will be the centrepiece of the netball season starting in late July.

“Netball Australia and the Foxtel Group have a shared vision to grow the sport of netball, which is the cornerstone of women’s sport in Australia,” Ms Ryan said.

“As we enter the second year of our landmark broadcast partnership, we will continue to engage with our growing base of fans and ensure elite netball remains highly visible.

“Through dedicated netball shows and innovation in broadcasting, the Foxtel Group will showcase the world’s best netball competition the Suncorp Super Netball League and the world’s top ranked team the Origin Australian Diamonds, who will set out to reclaim the Netball World Cup this year.”

Foxtel also enjoyed a bumper cricket ratings season. The BBL had its 3rd highest rating season ever on Fox Sports (which was up 39 per cent on the 2021/22 tournament) and last weekend’s final broke viewing records.