Eurobodalla Shire clubs are keeping their Foxtel subscriptions – for now.
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The Bay Post/Moruya Examiner spoke to clubs in our region, after learning that Mittagong RSL axed its Foxtel subscription due to price hikes.
While all clubs said they would keep their subscriptions, some said the costs outweighed the benefits.
“Foxtel doesn’t pay for itself – it’s an amenity to the members,” said Tony Casu, of Club Narooma.
“When it gets too expensive to be an amenity, we won’t have it any more.
“It’s not an attraction – if it’s on they’ll watch it, and if it’s not they won’t. You get the odd few that will come particularly to watch it, but it’s not many.”
Paul Biddlestone, at Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, agreed.
“Last year was touch and go,” he said.
“For us, the benefits are the NRL or AFL. Metro clubs probably do better with international sports.
“It’s great to see codes getting record payments, but it gets passed on to the consumer. It’s one of those things you have to have, but it doesn’t really make money.”
Moruya Golf Club said they were in talks with their Foxtel rep over the cost.
“It’s getting too expensive to have it on,” a spokesperson said.
Mr Biddlestone said a changing media landscape made having a club subscription less valuable.
“Most people have their own Foxtel subscription at home, and it can be delivered directly to the punter via mobile,” he said.
“It’s certainly losing its lustre.”
Mittagong RSL has relinquished its commercial Foxtel subscription after a major price hike proved unafforable for the club.
General manager Craig Madsen said the club was first notified of the price hike in August 2018 and decided to switch off the pay TV service after several months consideration.
Foxtel undertook a reassessment for how it bills venues, taking into consideration variables such as venue capacity and the number of poker machines.
Mr Madsen said the club had been facing rising operating costs and couldn’t justify the more than 76 per cent price increase from $54,000 to $95,000 a year.
“It would mean cutting into our sponsorships and club grants and that’s not something we were willing to do,” he said.
