Fox Footy made a splash at its official 2023 launch with an unrivalled talent line-up and current stars of the game gathering in Melbourne to celebrate the start of the Toyota AFL Premiership season on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
Young fans flocked to Arbory Afloat on the Yarra to meet and greet their heroes which saw the faces of Friday night football Jonathan Brown, Garry Lyon and new addition Jordan Lewis join icons of the game such as Jason Dunstall, Dermott Brereton and Eddie Betts.
Fox Footy hosts Kath Loughnan, Sarah Jones and commentator Kelli Underwood also attended the event alongside a suite of other on-air personalities and star players such as Christian Petracca and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
In a big win for viewers, it was announced that every game of every round throughout the AFL season will be made available in 4K Ultra HD to Foxtel customers, for the first time.
This season is shaping to be the biggest ever on Fox Footy off the back of a landmark seven-year AFL rights deal from 2025, announced last September, while audiences were up 19% YoY on Foxtel and Kayo Sports with streaming up a staggering 37% alone.
Fox Sports Executive Director Steve Crawley said:
“The feeling at Fox Footy is one of great excitement and expectation after a record-breaking season last year. We have a new rights deal which is signed and waiting to commence, giving us greater opportunity to entertain our growing audiences. At day’s end, you’re only as good as the football and AFL football is the best of the best.”
In other news, after a highly anticipated debut year on Fox Footy, Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley returns bigger and better than ever – set to join On the Couch to unpack all the major storylines and talking points alongside Garry Lyon and Jonathan Brown.
Meanwhile newly appointed GWS Giants captain Toby Greene has been recruited to the AFL 360 desk alongside Gerard Whateley and Mark Robinson as a rotating guest panellist for Player’s Night on Tuesday’s – along with the likes of Jack Riewoldt, Christian Petracca, Tom Hawkins, Lachie Neale, Travis Boak and more.
Fox Footy will also hit the road in 2023, taking production in Round 5 to Adelaide for the inaugural Gather Round which will see more than 30 hours of live shows and match coverage broadcast from the City of Churches.
Catch every game of every round live and ad-break free during play on Fox Footy, available on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.