Updated July 16, 2026 — 3:33pm,first published 3:11pmFoxtel has told customers it is raising the price of its subscription TV packages just days after announcing a multibillion-dollar deal to retain the broadcast rights to the NRL.The price of Foxtel Plus, the entry-level package for cable customers, as well as its premium package, will rise by $5 a month on September 1, the company informed its subscribers this week.Foxtel boss Patrick Delany with Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys.Dominic LorrimerThe company did not say that it will be increasing the cost of subscriptions to its digital Kayo sport streaming service, after it upped the price of Kayo Premium earlier this year.The NRL announced its record-breaking $5.3 billion broadcast deal last week, with Foxtel paying the major share of the cost and far more than it contributed to the previous rights agreement. Nine, which owns this masthead, will remain the free-to-air partner, paying significantly less.The new seven-year deal begins in 2028. Nine recently told investors it will pay $145 million each year in cash plus free advertising space, with Foxtel expected to be paying around $520 million annually. New Zealand broadcaster Sky will also pay $50 million per year.Foxtel also has AFL rights in conjunction with Seven under a 2022 deal that lasts until 2031. Under the new AFL deal, Foxtel and Kayo have exclusive rights to Saturday football in Victoria and use their own commentators for all matches, rather than taking the Seven call for games that are on both networks.When announcing the deal last week, Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys said he wanted to ensure fans of the game did not pay the price for the massive jump in broadcast fees.“I am a migrant kid from Wollongong. I never forgot my roots, and I ensured that the price point will be protected,” he said.“It’s commercially sensitive, naturally. But all I know is DAZN [Foxtel’s owner] is a brilliant partner. They are professional. They honour their word and this is no different.”Foxtel boss Patrick Delany said at the same press conference that he was focused on affordability and argued that his company could add more subscribers to manage the cost of the NRL rights.“We’re completely aligned in making sure it’s affordable,” Delany said. “I think we’ve got a good track record. It is very well priced.”Industry sources believe Foxtel, as opposed to Kayo, has around 1 million paying customers. Customers of Foxtel’s cable service are far more lucrative than those paying for either Binge or Kayo.Subscription streaming services often increase the price for customers in line with the rising cost of sports rights. When Nine secured the rights to the English Premier League for its Stan Sport service last year, it too upped prices.Foxtel Plus is currently $78 per month while Platinum Plus is $150, though the company is currently offering a 12-month contract at $99 per month.With Sam McClureThe Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.From our partners