Kayo Sports' Julian Ogrin on the DAZN partnership and AFL's Gather Round

Kayo Sports is going all-in for South Australian footy fans during the 2025 AFL Gather Round, launching a special offer of $1 for 30 days for new subscribers.

The limited-time deal gives fans access to every match of Gather Round live and ad-break free during play, streamed in stunning 4K quality.

The initiative aligns with Fox Footy's massive on-the-ground presence across all three venues, Adelaide Oval, Barossa Park, and Norwood Oval, featuring an unrivalled commentary and presenter line-up.

The weekend culminates in a Super Saturday Live quadruple header, exclusive to Fox Footy on Kayo Sports, featuring Brisbane vs Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast vs North Melbourne.

Kath Loughnan will anchor the day's coverage with a team of 17 Fox Footy experts. Other talent includes  Eddie Betts, Jonathan Brown, Dermott Brereton, Sarah Jones, Garry Lyon, Jack Riewoldt, Kelli Underwood, and Gerard Whateley, with live programming from AFL 360, Bounce, and exclusive match coverage throughout the round.

Adelaide Oval,

CEO of the Foxtel Group's streaming and advertising division, Julian Ogrin, told Mediaweek it's all about delivering "a complete game changer [experience]" for AFL fans.

"We’re talking about 35 hours of AFL footy a week, three or four games of exclusively live coverage on a Saturday, midday to midnight," he said. "It's a festival, and people love having the TV on all day. We've leaned into that and created something special."

Tailored commentary and a broadcast edge

Fox Footy's Saturday exclusivity in Victoria and Tasmania has turbocharged sign-ups for Kayo, but Gather Round promises even more impact in South Australia.

"If you live in Adelaide or travel there, you can catch the games live, otherwise, it's Kayo," said Ogrin.

"That's why we've got the $1 for 30 days offer running right now. We really want South Australians to get on board and experience it for themselves.

"We’re confident that when people get on, they stay. Plus, if they jump on, they don’t just get the AFL because this week is special: We've got the Saudi Formula One and The Masters", he said.

Ogrin said Kayo's broadcast innovation has played a key role in growth, highlighting tailored commentary and new-look graphics.

"We've designed the commentary around different themes for each night, so it's not just one-size-fits-all," he said.

Ogrin revealed the services has uncovered a new kind of audience: the midday to midnight viewers.

"What we are seeing is, firstly, with all those sign-ups and the growth, you're getting a bigger audience exponentially every month, So that's the first bit, but what we're seeing is the midday to midnight viewers. It's a festival, and people just like to have, you know, the good old days, instead of the TV on all day, leaked to the TV, but the TV is on all day," he explained.

That commitment to quality storytelling across the day has also paid off on the advertising front. "From an advertiser's point of view, it's fantastic," Ogrin said.

"But if you think of Fox Sports Australia and Fox Sports America, they are also considered some of the best sports storytellers in the world. That's why it's so important to bring the Fox Sports production element into the full Saturday festival," he said.

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