It was fun while it lasted.
We had a good run, but nobody could have seen this coming.
The start of summer used to mean the beginning of the social season — Christmas parties, barbecues, and beers in the sun.
These were a few of my favourite things.
Unfortunately, I have to hereby announce my unavailability for the rest of summer — the entire year, actually.
If you need me between now and next November you can find me leaning on the edge of my lounge, glued to Kayo Sports.
In your defence, nothing could compete with the holy grail of sport we’ve just discovered.
Like any new relationship, I’m trying desperately not to get too excited after the first date, but after one weekend on the new Fox Sports powered premium sports streaming service I know deep down that this is the one — and I don’t care who knows it.
It’s the one Aussie sports nuts have been crying out for.
Yes, it’s all happening so fast, but after one quick spin navigating the 50 different sports available on the Kayo Sports Beta site, it’s impossible not to let your imagination run wild.
The site has launched to near universal cheers from sports enthusiasts.
On sporting chat rooms across the internet, Kayo Sports has done something no athlete in history has done — unite rival codes and clubs in universal admiration.
After a successful web trial launch two weeks ago, Kayo Sports apps for Android and iOS have now been released in trial form and are available in their respective app stores.
The responses have been emphatic.
A-League fans, Aussie cricket fans, AFL supporters, and NRL fanatics, have all taken to Reddit chat rooms to endorse the new app.
Aussie sport commentators have been equally blown away.
The entire summer of cricket is there, waiting. Twenty20s internationals, ODI’s, tests, Sheffield Shield and Big Bash.
Just as promised, it is cricket like never before.
Unlike recent sporting apps to launch in the Australian marketplace, Kayo Sports delivers live streaming and on-demand play without ad breaks.
The deluxe 1080p/50fps stream quality is a noticeable leap in high definition streaming.
The split screen function means your summer just changed.
There is no longer such a thing as a scheduling clash.
During the busy new years sports calendar, Kayo Sports will allows spectators to stream test cricket, Big Bash, A-League and NBL all at the same time (a maximum of four sports at one time).
The biggest game changer is the instant “key moment” bookmark feature that gives viewers the ability to easily flick back and check out all the highlights from earlier in games before seamlessly returning to live action.
You can also choose to skip through all the main highlights before entering live streaming so you don’t miss a thing.
Spoiler mode means you can also navigate through from the home page through to an on-demand sporting event without any mention of the scores or final result. The game ends when you say it does.
Vitally, the action doesn’t stop at the full time siren.
The full arsenal of Fox Sports, ESPN and beIN Sports are all included in the standard Kayo Sports package. Every live Fox Sports, ESPN and beIN sports event as well as every panel show, documentary and a library of iconic sporting contests. From AFL 360 to ESPN’s Sports Centre — they’re all there.
It’s not just the mainstream sporting codes, either.
There’s cricket (including next year’s World Cup in England), AFL, NRL, NFL, NBA, NBL, MLB, darts, A-League, Socceroos internationals, All four golf majors, UFC fight nights, MotoGP, Formula 1, V8 Supercars, Super Rugby, Wallabies internationals and every tennis grand slam (except the Australian Open).
All up, it’s a total of 50 different sporting types.
And they’re all available to stream onto your TV through Apple TV and Chromecast devices.
Kayo Sports also functions as a desktop website, similar to Netflix and Foxtel Go.
You can sign up for a Kayo Sports subscription for as little as $ 25 per month, including a free 14-day trial, which allows access to two screens at the same time.
A $ 35 monthly package also allows viewers to screen on three devices at the same time.
Customers are able to cancel their subscription at any time.
The only thing left for Aussie sports fans is to cancel their summer plans — everything changes when Kayo Sports fires up on your tele.
