How to Watch Sport Online in Australia
More and more sport in Australia is shown online rather than only on a traditional TV channel. That sounds like a hurdle, but it can actually be simpler and cheaper, because you can pay only for the weeks there’s something you want to watch.
Whether it’s the footy, the cricket or the rugby, here’s how watching sport online works, what’s free, and what’s worth paying for. No jargon, just the practical bits. If you are choosing a new television too, our guide to the best smart TVs for seniors is a good place to start.
Quick answer
A lot of sport is free. The free-to-air apps, 7plus, 9Now, 10 play, ABC iview and SBS On Demand, stream plenty of live sport at no cost, and by law the biggest events must stay free. For most live football, league and cricket in one place, the main online home is Kayo Sports, which you can buy month to month with no contract. Rugby union lives mainly on Stan Sport. If you already have Foxtel, the Foxtel Go app lets you watch on a tablet at no extra charge.
Where to find each sport
| What you want to watch | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| AFL | Some games free on Channel 7 and 7plus; every game on Kayo or Foxtel |
| NRL (rugby league) | Some games free on Channel 9 and 9Now; every game on Kayo or Foxtel |
| Cricket (Australia’s matches) | Free on Channel 7 and 7plus; also on Kayo or Foxtel |
| Rugby union (Wallabies, Super Rugby) | Stan Sport, with some matches free on Channel 9 and 9Now |
| Most live sport, all in one place | Kayo Sports |
| A one-off big match or tournament | Check the free apps first, then a one-month Kayo pass |
The free options first
Before paying for anything, it’s worth knowing what you can watch for nothing. The free-to-air channels all have their own apps: 7plus, 9Now, 10 play, ABC iview and SBS On Demand. Between them they stream a great deal of live sport at no cost, including plenty of AFL and NRL, cricket featuring Australia, and big events like the Melbourne Cup and the Olympics. If the match you want happens to be on one of these, you needn’t pay at all. It’s always worth checking the free apps before signing up to anything.
Kayo Sports, the main online home of sport
Kayo Sports is a streaming service that brings most of Australia’s live sport together in one place, with no satellite dish required. It carries the full AFL and NRL seasons, cricket, motorsport, basketball and much more. The useful part for many people is the flexibility: plans run month to month, from around $25 to $30 for the standard option up to a dearer premium plan, with no long contract, so you can sign up for the season or just the month a big tournament is on, then stop.
You watch it through the Kayo app on a smart TV, a streaming device, a tablet or a computer. If your television is older and doesn’t have apps, a small streaming device is the easy way to add it.
Rugby union: Stan Sport
If rugby union is your game, the main home is Stan Sport, which streams all the Wallabies and Super Rugby matches live and ad-free, along with tennis and some football. It is an add-on to a Stan subscription, for about $20 a month extra. Some rugby is also shown free on Channel 9 and 9Now, so check there first if you only follow the big matches.
Already have Foxtel? Use Foxtel Go
If you’re already a Foxtel customer, you don’t need to pay twice. The Foxtel Go app comes with your subscription and lets you watch the sport you already get on a tablet or phone, handy for the other room or away from home. It’s included, so there’s nothing more to buy.
What you can always watch free in Australia
Here is a reassuring piece of Australian law worth knowing. Australia has what are called anti-siphoning rules, a list of major events that must be made available free on free-to-air television rather than locked behind a paid service. The list includes every AFL and NRL premiership and finals match, cricket test matches involving Australia, the Melbourne Cup, the major tennis, and the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
Better still, since the rules were updated in late 2024 they now cover online streaming too, not just the television set. That means you can follow the biggest sporting moments of the year on the free apps, 7plus, 9Now, 10 play and the rest, without paying a cent. A paid service like Kayo is really for people who want every single game, not just the marquee ones.
What you need to get started
You’ll need home internet and a screen that can run apps, whether that’s a smart TV, a streaming device, a tablet or a computer. A wired or strong Wi-Fi connection gives the smoothest picture for live sport, since live action needs a steady signal. Beyond that, it’s a matter of setting up an account with the service you choose and signing in. Once you’ve done it once, it’s the same each time.
Before you finish
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FAQ: watching sport online in Australia
Do I need Foxtel or a dish to watch sport online?
No. Kayo Sports streams over the internet with no dish, and the free-to-air apps need nothing but a connection. A Foxtel subscription is only one option among several.
Can I pay for just one month?
Yes. Kayo runs month to month with no lock-in contract, which suits anyone who only wants a single tournament or a busy patch of the season. You can cancel when it’s over.
Is any sport free to watch?
Plenty. The free apps, 7plus, 9Now, 10 play, ABC iview and SBS On Demand, stream a lot of live sport, and by law the biggest events must be shown free. It’s worth checking these before you pay.
Will the picture freeze during a live match?
Live sport needs a steady connection. A strong Wi-Fi signal or a wired connection gives the smoothest picture and reduces any freezing.
Can I watch on the big telly, not just a tablet?
Yes. If your TV runs apps, or you add a small streaming device, you can watch on the main screen in the lounge.
