An Australian entertainer and footy fan has slammed Foxtel, claiming its pricing has made it too expensive for pubs to show NRL and AFL games.
Fergus Neal is an Australian comedian known for his live shows, viral TikToks and TV appearances. He co-hosts the podcast On It Off It and tours nationally.
In one of his most recent TikTok posts, he said he was ‘hard off’ Australian pubs not showing the footy anymore because they can’t afford it.
‘Why is Rupert Murdoch trying to stop everyday Australians from watching footy at the pub?’ he asked.
‘I went to a pub in Fitzroy yesterday with some friends and all the screens were black.
‘I’m like, OK, is the economy that bad where the TVs are no longer working in the pubs?
Australian comedian Fergus Neal claimed a Fitzroy pub wasn’t showing the Essendon vs Sydney match last Saturday because of the costs associated with screening matches
Neal slammed Foxtel, claiming the pay TV service is charging pubs too much to screen the footy – especially as most games aren’t available free-to-air on Saturdays
‘We go up to the bartender, we say ‘my man, can you please put the Essendon and Sydney game on’.
‘He says ‘I wish I could except Rupert Murdoch is charging us $4000 to play footy at the pub.
‘We’re like what? He said, “We tried to do it sneakily and then Kayo sent us a cease and desist”.’
Australian licensed venues, such as pubs and clubs, typically pay between $1700 and $1800 per month for a Foxtel Business subscription that includes live NRL and AFL broadcasts.
Larger venues in metropolitan areas like Sydney and Melbourne are slugged with higher costs due to factors like venue size and the number of screens, with premium packages potentially exceeding $2000 per month.
For Neal, and the Fitzroy pub he went to, the costs have proved too much to give fans what they want.
‘Why is Rupert Murdoch trying to watch people from watching the footy?’ Neal asked.
‘Can you just let the peasants go to the pub and watch the football. Rupy, let the peasants have a little bit, give us some cake, let us eat some cake and watch the footy.’
NRL fans wanting to watch the thrilling draw between Penrith and North Queensland needed a Kayo or Foxtel subscription, or had to go to a licensed venue showing the match
Neal attracted plenty of support for his appeal.
‘Free the footy,’ one follower posted.
‘Actually devastating that we can’t watch the footy without paying now,’ lamented another.
‘It’s cheaper to go to the actual games now. that’s so messed up,’ pointed out another.
‘Its un-Australian. Can’t even watch our own game,’ posted yet another.
Channel 7, the free-to-air broadcaster of the AFL, also chimed in with a cheeky comment.
‘Live and free on 7,’ the network’s social media team posted with a winking emoji.
Not everyone felt that the pubs were being hard done by, though, pointing out they made plenty of revenue from thirsty footy fans by showing the games.
‘I think at $12 a pint they can afford $4k month for sports. Probably just an international owner and a manager that hates sports fans,’ one footy fan pointed out.
‘I was at the pub and even a bowl of chips now is $17,’ added another.
‘At $8 a schooner u would need to sell 500 to recoup ya money … Release the footy,’ posted yet another.
There could be some respite for pubs and footy fans in the coming months, though, with a new player to be setting the prices for Foxtel and Kayo in Australian pubs.
In April 2025, News Corp completed the sale of its Australian pay-TV and streaming business, Foxtel Group – which includes Kayo Sports – to global sports streaming platform DAZN for $3.4billion.
But it remains unclear if the European giant will make the service more affordable for Aussie pubs.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Foxtel and DAZN for comment.
