As the start of the AFL season gets closer, Fox Footy is making most of the changes on field this year. The broadcaster is promising every AFL game it covers live this year (which is everything except the AFL Grand Final) will be available in 4K Ultra HD. The 4K cameras have already had a workout with AFL pre-season matches also getting the treatment.
Fox Footy made a splash at its official 2023 launch last week with its talent line-up joining current stars of the game in Melbourne to celebrate the start of the Toyota AFL Premiership season on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
Jonathan Brown underwater at Foxtel Fox Footy Launch at Arbory Afloat in Southbank. Picture: Alex Coppel
The launch event was held at Arbory Afloat on the Yarra with the faces of Friday night football coverage Jonathan Brown, Garry Lyon and new addition Jordan Lewis joining legends 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.
Fox Footy noted this season is shaping to be the biggest ever on the channel 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 37%.
Changes off the field at the channel will see just a handful of episodes of the Saturday night show Best on Ground. The format won’t return until Round 5 when it will go to air at 6pm from Adelaide.
In other talent moves, Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley returns for his second year at the channel to join On the Couch to unpack all the major storylines and talking points alongside Garry Lyon and Jonathan Brown.
Fox Footy class of 2023
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 Tuesdays – along with Jack Riewoldt, Christian Petracca, Tom Hawkins, Lachie Neale, Travis Boak and more.
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 that 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.”
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.
See also: NRL audiences reach record highs in the first round of 2023 season