Is Kayo part of Foxtel? Will the Kayo app suffer Foxtel's app issues? And what does Kayo beta actually mean? We've heard the feedback and we've got the answers in our Kayo FAQ.
Just over a week ago, the Kayo live sports streaming service launched. Dubbed the "Netflix for sport" it's nothing short of an evolution in the way sports are broadcast not only here in Australia, but also around the world. A disrupter that is a genuine step forward into the future of how we will consume our beloved sports content.
In a nutshell, Kayo allows users to browse live broadcasts from approximately 50 different sports and instantly watch whatever they want on almost any device. There's on-demand content and general programming, too, including discussion panels and entertainment shows.
Best of all are the sports-centric features that bring game day to life. Picture-in-a-picture mode; the ability to split the screen four ways and stream four sports at once; jump to start, hide scores; highlight moments; choose your own camera view and more are either already available or coming soon. All for $25 a month.
Following on from our live hands-on review of the Kayo Sports streaming experience, we got a lot of feedback from sports fans about the service. While for the most part there seems to be genuine positivity around what Kayo is attempting to deliver, there were three questions, or perhaps misconceptions, that kept arising. Let's jump in to the Finder Kayo FAQ…
| Store | Discount | |
|---|---|---|
|
Stream Kayo Sports for 14 days FREE and no lock-in contract Take Kayo Sports' Basic or Premium plan for a spin and stream over 50 sports live completely free for 14 days. Last verified |
Get deal |
Is Kayo a Foxtel product? Answered
Kayo offers an almost identical suite of live sport and programming to Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go and Foxtel IQ. On Kayo you will find all the FOX SPORTS channels, the two EPSN channels and three beIN channels. All that is missing is the Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United Premier League club channels, Eurosport and Sky Racing.
However, Kayo is not a Foxtel product. It's confusing, no doubt. Kayo is a service built by a separate company within the broader organisation that includes Foxtel and Telstra. Think of it like Kmart and Target - they sell much of the same product and are effectively competing against each other, but both are owned by the same organisation in Wesfarmers.
Moving back to streaming TV, despite operating in the same space and targeting an overlapping audience to Foxtel, Kayo Sports is not the same company. However, the new streaming sports app has – effectively by default – access to the broadcasting rights acquired by its sister company.
Get to know Kayo with our guides
- Try Kayo for free for 14 days
Will the Kayo app suffer Foxtel app issues? Answered.
At the risk of sticking the boot in, the fact is many people (not all) have had significant issues with Foxtel apps in the past. Foxtel Now and Foxtel Play have been plagued by crashes and freezes, while Presto was lynched altogether. Much of the negative feedback we have seen around the launch of Kayo seems to have stemmed from a fear that such issues will migrate across to Kayo.
However, as discussed above, Kayo and Foxtel are different companies. They're working on a separate technology. In fact, Kayo may even be seen as an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and build again from the ground up.
While that doesn't necessarily exclude Kayo from having crashes and other issues in its future, if these occur, it won't be because they're legacy issues migrating across from the Foxtel family of apps.
Taking an innocent until proven guilty approach, Kayo should be approached open-minded in this respect. However, we will be watching very closely through 2019 to make sure that the service can withstand the viewer demand of a big NRL or AFL match, and do so on a 4G network.
What does the beta mean in Kayo Beta? Answered.
While a term commonly used in the technology world with respect to software, in particular games, the notion of a "beta" is foreign to many mainstream Australians. That has been made clear by some of the feedback we have been receiving and seeing around the Kayo launch. It's important you understand what a beta is.
The use of the word beta alongside the launch of Kayo indicates that it isn't really a "launch" at all. It's effectively a test version of the final product, released with a suitable number of features in order for the creators to monitor server load and listen to user feedback.
By using the word "beta," a company is effectively saying to the users of its product, "we need your help finding bugs, breaking the software so we can fix it and letting us know what needs to improve." As in, don't judge us yet as this is not our final product.
Kayo, however, does muddy the waters of what a beta would traditionally be by charging $25 a month for Kayo Basic and $35 for Kayo Premium. At those prices consumers have a right to expect a finished product.
Plus, it instils a fear – one we have picked up in feedback to our articles – that the price will go up once the beta finishes. A fear heightened by the previously mentioned assumption that many sports fans think Kayo is a Foxtel product – a premium service charged out at a premium cost.
Thankfully, as you can see in the live demo at the top of this story, Kayo is very close to a final product. Most of the touted features are in play, and the vast bulk of the content is available. Since Kayo is not Foxtel, there is also no specific pressure to balance the ledger - so to speak - with anything happening with its sister company. This should offer some comfort to those worried about the price going up after the beta.
From what we've experienced thus far, we're happy to recommend Kayo to sports fans in Australia, even though it's a significant price for beta software. Why? It's still the best bang for buck and its sports-centric features are more than gimmicks, their godsends. Which leaves us with only one question…
When will Kayo come out of beta?
It is out of beta! Hooray! The beta was actually quite short, and on November 26 the full Kayo Sports streaming service launched.
I would like to use the Kayo service to watch the RWC on my LG smart TV. Is this possible?
Hi Michael,
Thanks for getting in touch! Kayo is currently not supported on all SMART TV’s. This is why you may not find an app available to download, and why Kayo is unable to be streamed via a web browser on your SMART TV.
Currently, Kayo is available on TV’s running an Android TV OS as well as Telstra TV (Roku TV). If you have a SMART TV that’s running an operating system (OS) that isn’t supported by Kayo, an app for your TV is most likely on our roadmap to be developed.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nikki
I purchased then installed the Apple Chromecast app on my iPad then installed the unit on my Samsung Smart TV. Chromecast came up on the TV after I registered the TV but when I try to stream from the iPad to the TV the TV is not given as a choice What next?
Hi Geoff,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
Sorry to hear you’re having trouble casting from your iPad to your new Chromecast. Please keep in mind that you’ll need to make sure your Chromecast is configured on iPad through the Google Home app and that you’re connected to your WiFi on your iPad. Are you able to cast streams from other apps (like Youtube, Netflix, Stan, ect) to your new Chromecast, or are you only having issues with trying to cast from the Kayo Sports app? If you need further assistance on watching Kayo Sports, please get in touch with them directly.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Why does Kayo stop after a certain amount of time?
Hi Seels,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I’m sorry to hear about the problem you are encountering.
While I can’t tell you for sure why you are encountering an error, there are a few things that might be causing the problem.
It could be:
– Device compatibility
– Internet connection
– Unsupported browser
– Video network error
– and others…
Generally, what you can do is refresh your stream, restart your device, or uninstall/install the app.
Now, if nothing seems to fix the problem, I highly recommend that you directly get in touch with Kayo. I’m sure they are more than willing to assist you.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
How do I contact Kayo Sports by telephone to discuss my problem
Hi Norm,
Thank you for reaching out to Finder.
Though Kayo currently has no phone support team, you may contact them via the methods below:
Kayo Contacts How to contact Kayo?
Live Chat Have a chat with one of Kayo Support Crew, in real time. They’ll be able to guide you through any issues you may be having.
Submit a form online Tell Kayo a brief summary of your enquiry and Kayo will email you back.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
can i watch kayo on two macs in our house at the same time
Hi Tom,
Yes, you can on the basic $25 subscription. For the record, you could stream on three Macs at the same time if you had the premium $35 package. But it sounds like the basic subscription is all you need to have two stream running concurrently.
Cheers
Chris
We currently have Foxtel with two boxes, and are only on basic Foxtel connection with HD TV, but now wish to have access to Sports.
We are a Telstra client.
What do we need to use Kayo? Do the Foxtel connections remain in place if we subscribe to Kayo?
Hi Rick,
Foxtel and Kayo are actually two separate companies, so what you do with one has no impact on the other. You don’t need to be a Telstra customer or a Foxtel customer to use Kayo, and there is no benefit at this stage to being one either.
If you want to keep Foxtel for its non-sport channels, and have sports as well, you might be better off just adding the Sports Package to your current Foxtel subscription. Kayo Sports is best suited to people who don’t have Foxtel, but want to access just its sport channels.
Cheers
Chris
I previously cancelled my subscription to foxtel play because the IP I was issued by my ISP (ORIGIN) was geo-blocked even though I am in Australia and they failed to whitelist my IP after several months. Would I have the same issue if I subscribed to Kayo?
Hi Shiney,
What a very strange situation; so unfortunate.
I cannot confirm this for you, however, it would not impact you unless you were using your home Wi-Fi. While out and about and using your phone’s 3G or 4G connection, you would be using a different IP address.
It’s also worth pointing out that Foxtel and Kayo are different companies, so if the geo-blocking was done locally by Foxtel (rather than automatically triggered by your ISP) then Kayo would not know about the blacklisting.
There is 14-day trial that is easy to cancel, so you can always give it a go?
Cheers
Chris
Hi, I have 2 questions
1. When will the Kayo app be made available for smart tv, (Samsung or Hisense in particular).
2. I’m currently streaming through my laptop, using HDMI to the tv but noticed a lot of lag and constant pauses (reloading). I don’t have this issue with Netflix or any other streaming service even if through my laptop. Is this an issue specific to your website, or can I expect the same from the App?
Hi Mathew,
Thank you for reaching out.
1. My understanding is that a native app released to Smart TVs is expected in 2019, but there is not an official date. I have also not heard Hisense mentioned at any point. Which doesn’t mean it is not on the list, just worth mentioning.
2. We’re not in control of Kayo unfortunately, we’re a comparison site that offers advice about your different sports streaming options. We haven’t had any problems streaming Kayo ourselves, but it could be anything in that chain – from your internet speed, to the distance from the servers, to your laptop’s age. Have you considered trying ChromeCast? Ultimately, you will need to touch base with Kayo’s direct help and support team to try and work out where the issue is coming from.
Cheers
Chris
How do I cancel Kayo?
I live in Australia.
I want to watch AFL.
As I work on the weekends,I need to watch the games, the week following the games.
I presume that they can be watched through the on demand feature?
HI Mick,
Yes on demand games and replays will be available. There are also highlight videos and mini-games (extended highlights) given what we have seen so far from Kayo’s approach.
Cheers
Chris