Foxtel has been Australia’s biggest pay TV service for three decades, but it looks very different in 2026 than it did a few years ago. DAZN completed its AU$3.4 billion acquisition in April 2025. The Telstra partnership for new customers ended in February 2024. Prices have risen multiple times and another increase arrives in September 2026. Whether you’re thinking about subscribing, already paying more than you expected, or wondering whether Binge and Kayo make more sense for your household, here is what the subscription actually covers and what it costs.
Key Answers People Search For First
Foxtel’s structure is more complicated than most streaming services — two different product types, a history of price increases, a new owner, and a cancellation process that involves phone calls and hardware returns. These answers cover the questions that actually come up before people decide what to do.
It depends which Foxtel product you mean. The iQ set-top box service — the traditional Foxtel with a physical box installed at home — starts at approximately AU$83/month for Foxtel Plus (the base entertainment package). Adding the Sport pack brings the total to approximately AU$108/month; adding Movies brings it to approximately AU$103/month; Sport and Movies together runs approximately AU$133/month. The all-inclusive Platinum Plus with Netflix comes in at approximately AU$150/month. A further increase of about AU$5/month is scheduled for September 2026 for Plus and Platinum Plus subscribers — verify your exact rate at foxtel.com.au. Foxtel Now — the streaming-only version requiring no box — starts at AU$35/month for the Starter Bundle, AU$84/month for Sports + Movies, and AU$104/month for the Ultimate Bundle.
DAZN — the global sports streaming platform backed by British billionaire Len Blavatnik — completed its AU$3.4 billion acquisition of Foxtel on April 2, 2025. Previously owned by News Corp (65%) and Telstra (35%), Foxtel now operates as a standalone business within the DAZN group. What has actually changed for subscribers so far: Foxtel’s brand names — Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Binge, and Hubbl — remain unchanged. CEO Patrick Delany continued in the role. Pricing has continued its upward trend regardless of the ownership change. What DAZN has indicated it will bring: additional international sports content and expanded global distribution of Australian sport. No dramatic restructuring of packages or pricing had been announced beyond existing scheduled increases as of mid-2026.
Foxtel iQ (the box service) does not offer a free trial. You pay from the first month. Foxtel Now previously offered a 10-day free trial but discontinued it on 5 October 2023. As of mid-2026, no free trial exists for either Foxtel product. If you want to try Foxtel’s content ecosystem before committing to a paid plan, the closest alternatives are: Binge, which is operated by Foxtel Group and offers a 7-day free trial; and Kayo Sports, which also offers short-period trials for new subscribers. Both Binge and Kayo draw on Foxtel’s content rights for the majority of their programming, giving you a practical sense of what the entertainment and sport libraries look like before committing to a Foxtel subscription.
The same company, two completely different delivery systems. Foxtel iQ is the traditional pay TV experience: a physical set-top box (currently the iQ5, which runs via your home internet rather than a cable dish) is installed or mailed to your home, connected to your TV via HDMI, and gives you live channels, a 4K picture option, a built-in recording function, and access to integrated streaming apps. It costs more — starting at AU$83/month — but offers features a streaming app cannot replicate, including the ability to record multiple programs simultaneously and pause live TV. Foxtel Now is an app you download onto your existing smart TV, phone, tablet, or streaming device. No box, no technician, no hardware. It costs less — starting at AU$35/month — but tops out at 1080p HD and does not include a recording function. If you’re comfortable with apps and don’t need recording, Foxtel Now delivers very similar content at a lower price.
Cancelling the iQ box service requires a phone call. Call Foxtel on 1300 657 346 — you cannot cancel the iQ service through the website or app. The disconnection typically takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle. You will almost certainly need to return the set-top box. Foxtel requires the return of iQ5, iQ4, and iQ3 boxes; older models (iQ2, iQ1) do not need to be returned. Foxtel will advise you on the return process during the cancellation call — return postage is free if you use Foxtel’s provided packaging and drop-off points, but a fee applies if you book Foxtel’s courier collection. Failing to return a required box results in an unreturned equipment charge. For Foxtel Now, cancellation is self-service: log in, go to Settings → Manage Subscription → Cancel Subscription. No hardware to return.
For many Australian households, no — and Foxtel itself owns both Binge and Kayo. The Foxtel Plus iQ plan at AU$83/month — the base entertainment package — compares to Binge Standard at approximately AU$22/month, which covers most of the same drama, HBO content, and entertainment channels. For sport, Kayo Basic runs approximately AU$25/month and streams more than 50 live sports including AFL, NRL, Cricket, F1, Supercars, and NRL. Combined, Binge Standard and Kayo Basic cost roughly AU$47/month — saving approximately AU$36/month against the base Foxtel Plus plan alone. If you need the iQ box’s recording function or want 4K quality and a single-package experience, Foxtel iQ remains the cleaner solution. If you primarily watch through a smart TV or streaming device and don’t record programs, the Binge and Kayo combination delivers more flexibility for less money.
Not for new customers. Telstra stopped offering Foxtel plans to new subscribers from 1 February 2024. Existing Foxtel from Telstra customers who signed up before that date may still be on those plans, though Telstra raised prices for those subscribers in March 2026 (Platinum increased AU$5.50/month, Platinum Plus increased AU$2.50/month). If you’re looking to get Foxtel now, you subscribe directly through foxtel.com.au or through Foxtel Now. If you’re a current Foxtel from Telstra subscriber wondering what to do, your existing plan remains available for now — but if you cancel or change it, you would not be able to return to the Foxtel from Telstra arrangement and would need to subscribe through Foxtel directly.
Foxtel offers both contract and no-contract options. A 12-month contract typically comes with a discounted monthly rate and waived or reduced hardware setup costs — historically saving subscribers $20 or more per month for the first year. A no-contract (month-to-month) arrangement avoids the 12-month commitment but usually costs more per month and requires paying for hardware setup. Foxtel Now is entirely contract-free — cancel anytime online with no early exit charge and no hardware to return. For Foxtel iQ, leaving a 12-month contract early can result in an early termination fee. Check your specific contract terms at sign-up and confirm what applies before agreeing to any commitment.
Foxtel iQ Box Plans — Prices and What Each One Covers
The iQ box service is the traditional Foxtel experience: a physical box connecting through your home internet, with live channels, built-in recording, and 4K capability on select content. Prices below reflect rates before the September 2026 increase — verify current pricing at foxtel.com.au.
The base package — mandatory for all iQ subscribers. Foxtel Plus covers more than 60 live channels across entertainment, drama, lifestyle, news, kids content, and general programming. It includes FOX8, Arena, Showcase, Sky News, BBC channels, National Geographic, and others. On-demand access to thousands of titles is included. HD quality and simultaneous viewing on up to two screens are included at no extra charge — these were previously billed as add-ons and have been absorbed into the base plan since February 2024. The iQ5 box, which receives content via your home internet rather than a satellite dish, is provided as part of the subscription. A September 2026 price increase of approximately AU$5/month is scheduled for Plus subscribers — confirm your current rate with Foxtel directly.
Foxtel Plus with the Sport add-on is what most subscribers who care about live Australian sport sign up for. The Sport pack adds Fox Sports channels (Fox Sports 1–5, Fox League, Fox Footy, Fox Cricket), ESPN and ESPN2, Sky Racing, and BeIN Sports. You get live AFL every round, NRL every game, international cricket, Super Rugby, A-League, MotoGP, Supercars, Formula 1, and more. AFL and NRL are Foxtel’s most-watched content — Foxtel holds broadcast rights for both through the end of the decade. For subscribers who follow multiple sports throughout the year rather than a single code, the breadth of coverage across all Fox Sports channels is the clearest argument for Foxtel over Kayo alone.
Foxtel Plus with the Movies add-on covers Fox Classics, Fox Movies, Fox Showcase, and the full on-demand movie library — over 1,000 films available at any time. For households that love cinema and don’t follow live sport, this combination gives more depth in film content than any standalone streaming service in Australia. The Movies add-on also includes premium drama channels — Showcase carries first-run content from HBO and other premium international studios. Note that since HBO Max (now back to HBO Max) launched separately in Australia in early 2025, some previously Foxtel-exclusive HBO content has moved to that service. Confirm which specific HBO titles remain on Foxtel’s platform versus what’s only on HBO Max before subscribing if particular dramas are your reason to join.
Everything Foxtel has — all entertainment channels, the Sport pack, the Movies pack, and a Netflix Standard subscription — bundled into one monthly bill. Netflix is included as a genuine add-on, not just a billing consolidation: you access it through the iQ5 interface or the Netflix app independently, and it includes Netflix’s full library. The Netflix tier included is Standard (HD, two simultaneous streams, no 4K). Platinum Plus historically sat at AU$145/month with Netflix added, before the most recent rounds of increases. As of July 2026, the Australian Financial Review reported Platinum Plus customers being advised of a AU$5/month increase from September — bringing it to approximately AU$150/month. Verify your current rate. For households already paying for Foxtel Plus with Sport and a separate Netflix subscription, Platinum Plus often makes arithmetic sense.
Foxtel Now — The Streaming Option With No Box
Foxtel Now is the same content accessed through an app — no technician, no hardware, no return process when you leave. Three bundles, all commitment-free. A 10-day free trial was removed in October 2023; no trial currently exists for new subscribers.
The entry point to Foxtel Now — and the mandatory base for any Foxtel Now subscription. The Starter Bundle includes entertainment, lifestyle, drama, reality TV, and news channels: approximately 46 live channels in total, plus more than 1,000 on-demand movies. It includes FOX8, Arena, Sky News, Lifestyle channels, and similar general entertainment programming. Streaming quality tops out at 1080p HD — Foxtel Now does not currently offer 4K, which is one meaningful difference from the iQ box service. Two simultaneous HD streams are included. No recording function — if a program airs and you miss it, it must be available in the on-demand library or you have to catch the next broadcast. Sport and Movies content require upgrading to the next bundle tier.
The Starter Bundle plus Sport and Movies channels combined. You get live sport across Fox Sports channels, AFL, NRL, cricket, F1, and more — alongside the full movie library and premium drama content from Showcase. This is the most popular Foxtel Now tier for households that want both live sport and entertainment without a physical box. At AU$84/month it sits AU$24 below the equivalent iQ Sport + Movies combination (before the September 2026 increase), though the iQ service includes 4K and recording capabilities that Foxtel Now does not. Two simultaneous streams. No lock-in contract — cancel through the app anytime.
Everything in Foxtel Now — all channels and content across entertainment, sport, lifestyle, drama, and movies — in one subscription. At AU$104/month it is the most expensive streaming service available in Australia. Two simultaneous HD streams and no 4K, same as all Foxtel Now tiers. The honest comparison: the Foxtel iQ Platinum Plus with Netflix (approximately AU$150/month) beats the Foxtel Now Ultimate Bundle on picture quality (4K vs HD), functionality (recording vs no recording), and Netflix inclusion — for AU$46 more per month. If the price difference matters and you don’t need the recording function, the Foxtel Now Ultimate Bundle covers most of the same programming for less. If you’re considering this tier, also evaluate Binge + Kayo + a standalone Netflix subscription, which covers similar ground for approximately AU$65–$75/month.
All Foxtel Plans Side by Side
iQ box and Foxtel Now plans compared. Prices are approximate and pre-September 2026 increase for iQ plans — confirm exact current pricing at foxtel.com.au before subscribing.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Box? | Quality | Recording | Sport | Movies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foxtel Now Starter | AU$35 | No box | HD 1080p | No | Not included | Limited |
| Foxtel Now Sport + Movies | AU$84 | No box | HD 1080p | No | Yes | Yes |
| Foxtel Now Ultimate | AU$104 | No box | HD 1080p | No | Yes | Yes |
| Foxtel iQ Plus | ~AU$83 | iQ5 included | Up to 4K | Yes | Not included | Not included |
| Foxtel iQ Plus + Sport | ~AU$108 | iQ5 included | Up to 4K | Yes | Yes | Not included |
| Foxtel iQ Plus + Movies | ~AU$103 | iQ5 included | Up to 4K | Yes | Not included | Yes |
| Foxtel iQ Sport + Movies | ~AU$133 | iQ5 included | Up to 4K | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Foxtel Platinum Plus (Netflix incl.) | ~AU$150 | iQ5 included | Up to 4K | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Cheaper Alternatives — Binge, Kayo, and When They Make Sense
Foxtel owns both Binge and Kayo. That means the same content rights flow through all three services — the main differences are price, the delivery method, and which specific channels or features you lose.
Binge is Foxtel’s streaming service focused on TV shows, movies, and drama — including HBO content (Game of Thrones, Succession, The White Lotus, House of the Dragon), the Showcase library, FX series, documentary channels, and general entertainment. Plans start at AU$4.99/month for Basic (with ads, one stream), AU$10/month for Standard (no ads, two streams), and AU$18/month for Premium (no ads, four streams, 1080p). A 7-day free trial is available for new Binge subscribers. Binge also carries 29 Foxtel channels live, including Showcase and FOX8. For households that primarily watch drama, documentaries, and on-demand content rather than live sport, Binge covers the entertainment side of Foxtel’s lineup at a fraction of the cost.
Kayo is Foxtel’s dedicated sports streaming service covering more than 50 live sports. AFL, NRL, Cricket, Formula 1, Supercars, MotoGP, A-League, Super Rugby, NFL, NBA, golf, tennis, and more — all accessible without a set-top box, cancellable anytime. Kayo Basic runs AU$25/month for one stream; Kayo Standard is AU$29/month for two simultaneous streams; Kayo Premium is AU$35/month for three streams and 4K capability. The combination of Binge Standard (AU$10) and Kayo Standard (AU$29) costs AU$39/month total — dramatically less than the Foxtel iQ Plus Sport combination at approximately AU$108/month — and covers the vast majority of what most sport-watching, drama-watching Australian households actually need from Foxtel. The main things you lose: the physical recording function, 4K on entertainment content, and the bundled Netflix in Platinum Plus.
The savings are real, but so are the trade-offs. No recording: with Foxtel iQ you can set series recordings and keep episodes; with Binge and Kayo you catch programs on-demand after broadcast if available, or miss them. No pause on live TV: the iQ box lets you pause and rewind live broadcasts — streaming apps do not. No 4K on entertainment: Foxtel iQ supports 4K on select content; Binge and Foxtel Now top out at 1080p; Kayo Premium offers 4K for sport. Some channel gaps: not every Foxtel channel is replicated exactly in Binge or Kayo — international news channels, some lifestyle channels, and niche content may differ. For most viewers, these trade-offs are worth the savings. For households that regularly use the recording function — especially to time-shift news, sport, or ongoing drama series — the iQ box remains the cleaner solution.
Find Your Situation
Kayo Standard at AU$29/month is the clearest answer for someone who wants live AFL and NRL without paying for channels they don’t watch. Two simultaneous streams, no lock-in contract, no hardware to return if you leave. If you also want drama and entertainment — enough to justify a second subscription — add Binge Basic at AU$4.99/month for a combined total of AU$33.99. That covers both live sport and most of the entertainment programming that Foxtel’s base plan includes, at roughly one-third the cost of Foxtel iQ Plus with Sport. The only thing Kayo doesn’t include that Foxtel does: recording capability and a small number of niche live channels. For most AFL and NRL fans, those are not meaningful losses.
The September 2026 increase of approximately AU$5/month is an opportunity to review your plan rather than just accepting the higher charge. Before calling to cancel, check how much of your current Foxtel subscription you actually use: if you’re mainly watching drama and sport, calculate whether Binge Standard (AU$10) plus Kayo Standard (AU$29) — a total of AU$39/month — covers your viewing habits. If it does, switching saves you AU$44–$94/month depending on your current Foxtel plan, year on year. If you call Foxtel to cancel, they will typically make a retention offer — a temporary discount or plan change. These offers are real and sometimes substantial. Ask explicitly what they can do before committing to leave, but also ask what price you’ll pay after the retention period ends, since many offers revert to full price after 6 or 12 months.
For recording live Foxtel channels, yes — the iQ box is the only option within the Foxtel ecosystem. Foxtel Now, Binge, and Kayo do not include recording functions. If recording is genuinely important to your household — for time-shifting news, recording sport when you can’t watch live, or building a library of ongoing drama series — the iQ box service is worth the premium over the streaming alternatives. Before committing to the full iQ Plus plan, consider whether a personal video recorder (PVR) connected to a free-to-air antenna covers most of what you record. Many Australians who record heavily do so for free-to-air programming — Seven, Nine, Ten, ABC, SBS — which requires no Foxtel subscription at all.
Cancellation of the iQ service legally requires a phone call, not an online form. Call 1300 657 346 and state clearly that you want to cancel, giving the disconnection date as your next billing cycle date. Foxtel representatives are trained to offer retention alternatives — cheaper plans, temporary discounts, or a pause option — before processing a cancellation. These offers are optional; you are entitled to cancel without accepting any of them. Ask the representative to confirm your cancellation in writing via email after the call, and note the date and the name of the person you spoke to. If the next billing charge appears after you’ve cancelled, dispute it directly with your bank or card provider as an unauthorized charge with the written cancellation as evidence. You cannot cancel through any app, website portal, or by returning the box alone — the phone call must happen first.
Kids’ content is included in the Foxtel Plus base plan — channels like Boomerang, Cartoon Network, and family-oriented programming sit within the Plus package without requiring a separate add-on. However, if the kids’ channels are the primary or sole reason you’re paying AU$83/month, that is expensive children’s programming. Disney+ at AU$17.99/month carries the full Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and National Geographic library and is purpose-built for children and families. Netflix’s Standard plan at approximately AU$20.99/month has a rich kids’ section. Stan, Binge Basic, or Amazon Prime Video also include substantial family content. For a household watching mainly children’s television, one of these dedicated streaming services almost certainly covers what you need at a fraction of Foxtel’s cost.
Contact Foxtel or Sign Up
Verify all pricing at foxtel.com.au before subscribing — prices are subject to change and a September 2026 increase is confirmed for some plans.
Pricing and plan details are sourced from Foxtel’s official website, Finder.com.au’s Foxtel pricing coverage (including the February 2024 pricing restructure), TV Tonight’s July 2026 reporting on the September 2026 price increase, and Telstra’s published March 2026 price change notice. DAZN acquisition completion (April 2, 2025) is sourced from DAZN and Foxtel’s official announcements and Senal News coverage. Foxtel Now trial removal (October 5, 2023) verified via Finder.com.au. iQ box plan prices shown are approximate based on published rates before the September 2026 increase — exact current pricing must be verified at foxtel.com.au before subscribing. Binge and Kayo pricing based on their respective official websites. This page is independent and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Foxtel, DAZN, News Corp, Telstra, or any related entity. Subscription prices, plan structure, and included content are subject to change.