Foxtel Reveals New Board After News Corp Sale to Dazn

Foxtel has undergone a new board restructuring following its acquisition by global sports streaming group Dazn earlier this year.

Former federal communications minister Stephen Conroy, and Amaysim co-founder Peter O’Connell, have been appointed to the Foxtel board, joining Dazn executives and long-serving Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany under the company’s new ownership.

The appointments focuses Dazn’s shift to tighter operational oversight after acquiring Foxtel from News Corp and Telstra in a deal valued at approximately $3.4 billion.

The revised board now includes Dazn global chief executive Shay Segev and chief financial officer Darren Waterman, aligning the broadcaster more closely with Dazn’s international streaming-led strategy.

Conroy’s appointment drew industry attention due to his political background and current chair roles at TG Public Affairs and Australian Professional Leagues (APL).

Conroy said he intends to recuse himself from any A-League-related broadcast negotiations that may involve Foxtel.

He highlighted the opportunity to expand the reach of Australian sport under the new ownership structure.

“The new ownership gives us an opportunity to spread the love of Australian sport internationally,” Conroy said.

Foxtel, which operates both traditional pay television and streaming services Kayo Sports and Binge, remains a major player in Australian sport broadcasting, holding rights across the AFL, NRL, cricket and Formula 1.

According to corporate filings, Foxtel recorded AUD2.9 billion in revenue in the year to June 30, with growth in streaming offsetting a decline in legacy pay TV subscriptions.

However, the company posted a AUD214.1 million loss, up from AUD96.4 million the previous year, and reduced headcount by 220 roles, bringing total staff to around 1200.

Foxtel Reshaping a Broader Realignment in Media Landscape

Prior to the sale, Foxtel board seats were held by senior News Corp and Telstra executives. Meanwhile, former APL and current SURJ Sports Investment executive Danny Townsend, who led a major investment into Dazn earlier this year, maintains strong links between Dazn and Australian football governance networks.

Dazn continues to pursue its ambition to become a global sports entertainment platform integrating streaming, betting, e-commerce and live sport.

However, it remains capital intensive: British-Ukrainian billionaire Len Blavatnik has invested more than USD7.3 billion (AUD11.2 billion) into the platform over the past decade, with losses narrowing to USD936 million (AUD1.4 billion) in 2024.

News Corp and Telstra retain minority stakes in Dazn of 6 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively, following the Foxtel sale.

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