Subscribers have complained on social media of technology issues, with freezing, buffering and app crashes, particularly when there is high demand.
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But Delany said the problems could be related to weather impacting satellites, or a household’s bandwidth.
“I would say this, most of the issues end up being inside a consumer’s home because there is no coincidence between running a 4K livestream of sport and the kids being on their computers and everybody else doing things,” he said.
“It’s not necessarily because there are a lot of users from our end. It’s usually because in the home, either the Wi-Fi or the broadband is being stretched. That’s not to say we are perfect. That is one of the things in and around streaming, specifically in sports. It’s more complicated to stream but, by and large, while we are not perfect, I think we are pretty good, and I would urge people to just check out their home set-ups. You could be getting a home signal, but you may not be getting much through the pipe, or not enough, and modern households use a lot of bandwidth.”
The streaming service has this month hiked its premium service from $40 to $45.99 per month, citing the hundreds of millions of dollars it has spent on a raft of major sports. Kayo’s standard tier price point will remain at $29.99 per month. A premium subscription allows viewers to stream sport on two devices at the same time and in 4K.
There was a $5 increase to Kayo Sports’ standard and premium packages in early 2025.
“It reflects our continuing investment in really quality sports rights. You have got to remember Kayo isn’t just any streamer. It’s actually probably the best streamer in the world, 50 sports live. No one has got that anywhere in the world. No one in Australia comes anywhere close,” Delany said.
Foxtel broadcasts Australia’s two biggest codes, the NRL and the AFL.Credit: Artwork by Marija Ercegovac
“It’s one thing to have 50 sports. It’s one thing to have the top-tier of AFL, NRL, cricket and motorsports. These things are expensive. But what we have done is maintain great value, and we have kept our baseline price pretty low.”
Delany said Foxtel contributed “an extraordinary amount of money” to the sport. Industry sources, who wished to remain anonymous to speak freely, said Foxtel contributes about 70 per cent of the broadcast rights.
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The AFL has added more products to its schedule in order to help broadcasters, including the return of State of Origin and a new wildcard round, extending the finals to 10 teams.
The AFL trialled one Monday-night football match in each season from 2009 to 2014, ensuring there was one less game on the previous day’s slate of Mother’s Day games, which struggled for attendance and viewership. But the Monday-night concept eventually experienced the same issue.
Sunday-night games also failed a decade ago, but Seven’s sports boss Chris Jones said this week the timeslot now ranked alongside Thursday- and Friday- night games.
Asked if there was scope for matches to be held from Monday to Wednesday, as was the case in the pandemic, Delany replied: “It’s an interesting idea. We would like sport on every night.
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“Going back to the value of the subscription, it makes it more value for the subscription.
“I think there is always a balance that has got to be struck between when it is convenient for subscribers and fans to watch the game, both in terms of available hours at home but also being able to get to the game.
“These things you have got to balance. There might be scope for it, but it’s something we haven’t been discussing with the AFL.”
Weddle wedded to Hawks for four more years
Peter Ryan
Emerging Hawthorn star Josh Weddle said he expects his team’s midfield to “prove people wrong” this year after he signed a four-year extension that will earn him close to $900,000 a season next year.
Josh Weddle is set to sign a deal tying him to the Hawks until 2030.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
The loss of Will Day to injury for the first half of the season and the failed bid to recruit Essendon’s Zach Merrett has many pundits sceptical that the Hawks will match the best opposition in the midfield.
However, Weddle, who declared a willingness to eventually play in the midfield, said the doubters were only providing motivation for that group.
“We get a little bit of stick [from people] who think our weakest area of the ground is the midfield,” Weddle said. “I think we will prove people wrong and be very strong in there.”
On Wednesday, the club confirmed the 21-year-old’s decision, which came after Essendon made a bold bid for the powerful Hawk including a seven-year offer that would have earned him about $10 million.
Weddle, who will be a free agent when he next comes out of contract, has made a huge impact since he made his debut in 2023, playing 60 matches in various positions.
Although he plays mainly in defence, his performance in the final quarter of last year’s elimination final, when he was switched into attack against GWS, turned the game Hawthorn’s way. He said he was happy to develop his versatility at this stage of his career.
Hawthorn football boss Rob McCartney said Weddle was a key part of their plans.
“He is an important part of what we are aspiring to achieve, and we are extremely confident that his best is yet to come,” McCartney said in a club statement.
“In the early years of his career, Josh has shown a capacity to produce some special moments that can change a game or lift his teammates back into the contest.
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“While his explosive running power has been well documented, the evolution of Josh’s game as a defender to playing on the wing, in the ruck and even up forward, highlights his versatility and selflessness to play any role required to make us better.”
Weddle has been trialled in the midfield and on the wing, but he is expected to continue to build his game from defence where his withering runs and strength make him a dangerous opponent. Although he did not finish in the top 10 of the club’s best and fairest in 2025 after missing eight matches, he is considered a matchwinner with huge potential.
Weddle was in demand during the 2022 national draft with the Hawks trading picks with Sydney to move up the draft order ahead of the Giants, who were also keen on the athletic youngster. He was selected with pick 18.
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