Participant Observations 15/11/18 - Kayo KO'd for now

As outlined in my last post, I signed up for Kayo a week ago. Since then, I spent a few nights watching via the new platform, and not a whole lot changed other than what I wrote about. However, I did experience some instability on the platform using the multiscreen function.

But I have now ended my free trial with the platform, and the main reason is that I get specific content with Foxtel Now that doesn't come on Kayo - that is, my non sports content - and until I know exactly what is going to happen with Foxtel Now, I'll keep using it so I can get channel like the Comedy Channel and Showcase, where I get a small but important amount of content.

For example, Westworld (my favourite non-sports show on all of television) is only available on Foxtel in Australia, as it is a HBO production, and Foxtel have the license for all HBO content in Australia.

The same goes for Mr Robot, and Game of Thrones. Some comedy shows such as Broad City, Veep, and Curb seem to appear first on Foxtel as well in Australia, and given the uncertainty of them appearing on other platforms in a timely manner, I'm not willing to completely forgo Foxtel Now and solely invest in Kayo while an option still exists for me to have that certainty.

However, I also feel like I did my bit while I had Kayo. I took part in no less than THREE (!) surveys in six days. One qualitative, one quantitative, and an exit survey that was also largely quantitative.

I diligently filled them out, pointing out the positives and negatives of the service. I also posted something on Twitter about it, and someone responded to my Tweet, expressing much the same sentiment, so I feel like it was somewhat justified (although that reply now seems to have been deleted...)

#Kayo platform goes ok. Split screen and key moments a real plus. EPG could be better, and no app to Chromecast from, but overall 👍. Monthly subscription for sport gone from $120 to $35 in just over 12 months. @Foxtel @FOXSportsAUS pic.twitter.com/fhTlf0nnlR

— Ed Reddin (@ed_reddin) November 9, 2018

https://twitter.com/ed_reddin/status/1060836456237740033 

It's not to say I won't be back, just I don't want to lose the non-sport content I get now, without knowing if I can get it anywhere else, or if Foxtel will launch a similar product to Kayo that hosts non-sport content and how much that would cost.