Foxtel's Streaming Services Kayo and Binge to Disappear in Remote Australia - What You Need to Know!

Foxtel's Disappointment for Remote Users

Foxtel users in “very remote” areas, as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, will soon face a significant change. Starting March 3, access to popular streaming services like Kayo Sports and Binge will be discontinued.

While the timing of this announcement may raise questions, it is reported that these changes are not linked to News Corp’s recent $3.4 billion sale of Foxtel to the British sports streaming giant DAZN. This sale marks the end of News Corp’s 30-year involvement in cable television, paving the way for a new era for this iconic platform.

If you reside in the affected areas, you will no longer have access to these streaming services. However, you can still enjoy your favorite content through a traditional Foxtel subscription or Foxtel Now.

Subscription Cancellations

For current customers relying solely on these apps in very remote regions, subscriptions will be automatically canceled on March 3. Affected users will be notified this month and will receive a refund as part of this process.

This change will also impact those who subscribe in serviced areas but travel frequently, including many fly-in, fly-out mine workers in WA’s Pilbara.

Affected Postcodes

Check below to see if your postcode is impacted by these changes:

| State | Affected Postcodes | |---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Northern Territory | 822, 852, 854, 860, 862, 872, 880, 885 | | New South Wales | 2836, 2838, 2839, 2840, 2878, 2879, 2898 | | Queensland | 4454, 4465, 4467, 4468, 4470, 4472, 4474, 4475, 4477, 4478, 4479, 4480, 4481, 4482, 4486, 4488, 4489, 4490, 4491, 4492, 4493, 4724, 4725, 4726, 4727, 4728, 4730, 4731, 4732, 4733, 4735, 4736, 4801, 4821, 4822, 4823, 4828, 4829, 4830, 4874, 4875, 4876, 4890, 4891 | | South Australia | 5650, 5651, 5652, 5653, 5654, 5655, 5660, 5661, 5670, 5671, 5680, 5690, 5701, 5720, 5722, 5723, 5724, 5731, 5732, 5733, 5734 | | Western Australia | 6346, 6348, 6356, 6359, 6429, 6431, 6434, 6436, 6437, 6438, 6440, 6443, 6445, 6452, 6537, 6612, 6635, 6638, 6639, 6640, 6642, 6646, 6705, 6707, 6710, 6711, 6712, 6716, 6728, 6731, 6733, 6740, 6751, 6753, 6754, 6758, 6760, 6762, 6765, 6770, 6798, 6799 | | Tasmania | 7255, 7256, 7257 |

Alternative Options

Impacted users will be offered a Foxtel subscription at a comparable rate, though the company has not disclosed specific pricing. For context, standard Foxtel plans start at $73 per month, while Foxtel Now begins at $35 and Binge offers a more budget-friendly option starting at $10 per month.

According to WhistleOut, only a small number of customers will be affected, allowing Foxtel to address individual cases, including those with annual subscriptions, special promotions, and Hubbl ownership.

Reason for Changes

When asked about the rationale behind these changes, a Foxtel spokesperson cited a “change in terms and conditions”, but did not provide further details. For the remaining remote customers, there is a slight silver lining: Foxtel Now streaming will still be available as an alternative to traditional subscriptions.

This announcement comes on the heels of another pricing update to Kayo’s flagship plan, which is set to increase to $40 per month starting March 4.