FOXTEL and KAYO customers set to lose access to BeIN SPORTS from June 30

In a move likely to frustrate Australian sport fans, Foxtel has confirmed a decision to remove BeIN Sports content from its pay-tv and Kayo Sports platforms from June 30.

Foxtel has been providing access to three High Definition BeIN Sports channels as part of its sports package since 2016 in a move designed to increase the subscription broadcasters focus on European sporting competitions, particularly football.

However, increased competition from rival competitors including Stan Sport, Paramount+ and Optus Sport has seen a number of key sporting competitions including International Rugby, Six Nations Rugby, Champions League and LaLiga all depart BeIN Sports in recent years making the channels no longer financially viable for the Foxtel Group.

Foxtel has recently integrated Optus Sport and Paramount+ apps into its iQ4 and iQ5 set top boxes, providing access to football competitions including the Premier League, A-League, FA Cup, Barclays Women’s Super League, Spain’s LaLiga, J.League and more, as well as tournaments like the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and the upcoming UEFA Euro 2024.

A spokesperson for the Foxtel Group confirmed the decision telling TV Blackbox:

“As part of our constant evaluation of programming and channels, we have made the decision not to renew our partnership with beIN Sports. Our beIN SPORTS channels will be available to customers until 30 June 2023.

We continue be the home of Australia’s biggest and fastest growing sports including NRL, AFL, Cricket, Netball, NBL, Motorsports and many others which we distribute through a wide variety of channels across Foxtel and stream on Kayo Sports.”

While BeIN content is set to depart Foxtel and Kayo platforms, TV Blackbox can confirm the sports broadcaster intends to keep a presence in Australia. A spokesperson for Fetch TV has confirmed the channel is set to remain available on its platform for the long term.

Additionally, BeIN Sports is offering Foxtel customers a limited-time discounted pricing offer for sports fans eager to continue watching BeIN content via a dedicated standalone app.

In addition to the removal of BeIN Sports, Foxtel has also confirmed the departure of the PBS Kids channel from its pay-tv platform. A spokesperson explaining the decision telling TV Blackbox:

“Foxtel Group offers a wide range of popular kids content via DreamWorks, Cartoon Network, CBeebies and Boomerang including popular returning and premiering titles: Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous and Boss Baby: Back in Action (DreamWorks), Teen Titans Go! (Cartoon Network), Hey Duggee (CBeebies) and Batwheels (Boomerang).

Customers also have access to even more kids content via the suite of integrated apps including some of the biggest kids titles in the world: Bluey (ABC iView), Peppa Pig (ABC iView), Spidey & His Amazing Friends (Disney+), Frozen (Disney+) and Paw Patrol The Movie (Netflix).

We constantly review the performance and popularity of this content and have made the decision to close our PBS Kids channel.

PBS Kids will be available to customers until 30 June 2023.”

The reduction in services come at the same time as Foxtel recently confirmed price increases for some of its channel packages.

“As we continue to bring our customers the world’s best sports and entertainment content and continually improve the viewing experience, we are making an adjustment to Foxtel prices from 1 July 2023.

The prices of our base packs (Essentials, Entertainment and Foxtel Plus) are increasing by $3 per month. The BYO Platinum HD package (in the Entertainment package structure) is also increasing by $2 per month.

We do not make the decision to raise prices easily, which is why we have kept the increase at a minimum level.

This will ensure our continued investment in bringing our customers the world’s best entertainment and sport as well as improvements to the user experience including more integrated streaming apps into our set top boxes.”