Kayo Sports price rise: Will you be paying more?
Basic streaming package goes up 10%, but you do have other options - here's what you need to know.
Sports streaming service Kayo is putting up prices on some packages by 10%.
The price of the original Kayo Basic package is increasing, but a new Kayo One option means you can still pay the same amount each month. And the 14-day free trial period for Kayo Sports isn't changing either.
So should you switch packages to get a better deal? Let's break it down.
What is Kayo One?
Kayo One is a new subscription package being introduced on 9 May 2022 by Kayo Sports. It offers 1 concurrent stream, as opposed to the 2 streams in the existing Basic package and 3 streams offered Premium.
Foxtel previously tested a similar product, Kayo Lite, but it wasn't available to most viewers. If you already have Kayo Lite, it will be rebranded to Kayo One and the price will now be $25 a month.
Why has Kayo Basic's price gone up?
The Basic package features a 10% increase for direct billing, now costing $27.50 a month from 9 May 2022. The $2.50 a month price rise adds up to $30 more a year for Kayo Basic.
One reason for the price rise could be inflation. Kayo's cost base is also going up. For instance, Foxtel CEO Patrick Delaney said that Kayo would get some form of access to F1 as part of a recent F1 broadcast renewal announcement.
Kayo hasn't given a detailed explanation for the price rise. "As we continually look to bring you the best sporting content globally and improve your Kayo experience, we are making an adjustment to the Basic subscription price," its on-site FAQ notes.
One possible factor is Kayo's introduction of Kayo Freebies early in 2021, which made some sports including the World Surfing League, select NBL and Super Netball games and V8 Supercars races available to view for free. With some viewers coming on for free, Kayo still needs to generate revenue.
How can I avoid the Kayo price rise?
A big factor is how you use your account. If you subscribe to Kayo Basic and you're the only person using it, it might make sense to downgrade to Kayo One as you won't need 2 streams at once.
If you already subscribe to Kayo Premium, the price of that hasn't changed. If you are currently on an offer, your Kayo Basic price will remain unchanged until the end of your offer period, unless you cancel.
Stream Kayo FREE for 7 days
Why is Kayo cheaper direct than through Apple?
One word of warning: If your Kayo Basic subscription is billed through Apple, you will face a slightly bigger price increase.If you get your Kayo Basic subscription through Apple, your new monthly cost will be $27.99 a month, charged 30 days after the first bill date from 9 May 2022. Not only does Apple charge a commission, but it requires a $XX.99 price point – hence the higher cost.
That means Kayo will be hoping more people subscribe directly, putting more revenue into its own pocket rather than Apple. It doesn't seem to be related to Apple's automatic subscription hike for app subscriptions.
Is Kayo still good value for money?
Ultimately it depends on which sports you are interested in and what is available on Kayo Sports. There are over 50 sports available on the service, so no matter what you're into, there's a good chance you will find it there. Also, Kayo Sports offers a 14-day free trial, which is one of the most generous of the sports streaming services.
A Foxtel subscription featuring sport will cost you $74. If you're more into rugby union, UEFA Champions League or the major tennis championships, then you might want to only subscribe to Stan Sport. Live for football and not much else? Optus Sport has the English Premier League, J. League, FA Women's Super League and more.
If you're into just the European football leagues and ATP and WTA tennis tournaments, then beIN SPORTS DIRECT could be all you need.
Still undecided? Finder has a detailed comparison of the features of Kayo Sports. Or check out the video review below (which was produced before the price change but still gives a solid overview)
If you want even more info on sports streaming in Australia, check out our complete guide.