Review was updated on 14th January, 2020
For over two decades, Main Event has been broadcasting some of the biggest sporting events and live concerts from around the globe directly into Australian living rooms. Here we review the best ways to watch Main Event on your home TV, PC or mobile device.
Main Event Review
Launched in 1997, Main Event is the only pay-per-view channel in Australia. Essentially, what this means is that rather than pay for the channel in its entirety, you’re able to simply pay for one-off events, primarily from the combat sports such as International Boxing, UFC and WWE.
Previously, Main Event was exclusively available to Foxtel customers, meaning that you needed a Foxtel box (iQ3, iQ4) and a subscription to one or more Foxtel packages. However, that is all set to change with Main Event now available to Kayo customers, meaning you can pay for the Main Event content you want without the need for a satellite installation or a 12-month commitment.
In this Review
What Makes Main Event Unique?
Virtually all of the biggest events from the WWE, UFC, as well as local and international boxing can be found on Main Event. Some of the biggest fights in history over the past 20 years have appeared on the channel. Perhaps the most notable of those was the boxing bout between Anthony Mundine and Danny Green in 2006 – an event that broke all pay-per-view records in Australia.
Other historic Main Event highlights include Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao in 2015, the “Battle of Brisbane” between Australian Jeff Horn and Pacquiao two years later, and more recently, the highly anticipated clash between Tim Tszyu and Bowyn Morgan. The channel also broadcasts various music concerts live and direct, from the likes of Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, and Dutch violinist Andre Rieu.
Main Event offers both live programming and replays of the same events in the hours and days that follow. Subscribers are able to record the featured broadcast if they can’t watch it live, after which it is available for 72 hours in total and 24 hours after the time they press select to view. Each event is also ad-free, meaning you can enjoy events as if you were actually there.
Watch Main Event on Kayo
You can now watch and stream pay per view events via Main Event on Kayo. Some of the biggest combat sports bouts appear regularly on Main Event, a channel that was previously exclusive to Foxtel customers. You can get access to UFC, WWE and the upcoming all-Aussie boxing clash between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr as well as other special one-off events.
Buying access to a Main Event on Kayo gives you full high definition streaming, the ability to replay the event for several days afterwards, and a valuable perk – full access to everything on Kayo for the duration, even if you’re not a Kayo subscriber. There’s no catch – you can simply pay for an event, then enjoy your access for the duration with no ongoing charges.
Stream Main Event PPVs via Kayo Sports
Watch and Stream UFC 257: Poirier vs McGregor 2 Live on Main Event via the Kayo Sports app. No Kayo Sports account required. Each separate card is charged as PPV.
What Sports are on Main Event?
Main Event only broadcasts those global blockbuster, must-see events that cause a stir around the world. To give you an idea of what to expect, we have listed both previous and upcoming content available on the channel below.
Conor McGregor v Dustin Poirier 2 on Main Event
Irishman Conor McGregor is easily the biggest name in MMA. He’s brash, full of himself, talks the talk and walks the walk. His comeback fight against Dustin Poirier on January 24th is the first UFC super fight of 2021, and the two mixed martial artists have a fair bit of previous to settle in the Octagon.
Both fighters met all the way back in 2014, when a young McGregor was first making his name in the ‘fight game’. That fight lasted only a matter of seconds with McGregor knocking his American counterpart out with one of his trademark left hook counters. That was Poirier’s last fight at Featherweight. The American has since gone on to rebuild his career at Lightweight, and will get his long-awaited second pop at McGregor in the 135 lbs weight class.
How much does Main Event cost?
Each event broadcast on the Main Event channel is priced individually, so there is no set cost for every broadcast. WWE shows are generally the cheapest options, costing between $20-$30. UFC and boxing events tend to be more expensive, costing between $50-$60.
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Main Event on Optus
Optus formerly partnered with Foxtel to provide Optus TV Featuring Foxtel, a service that’s no longer sold. But if you’re an Optus customer looking to watch a Main Event, don’t worry – you can now buy streaming access on Kayo without a subscription. Just pick your event, create an account and pay, and you’ll be set to stream your event as well as enjoying full access to all of Kayo Sports for the duration.
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Main Event Pros and Cons
The Good
The Gotchas
Main Event Summary: Perfect For Fight Fans
There is no doubt that the combat game is Main Event’s real strength. Most of the UFC and International Boxing fights on the channel are hugely anticipated shows that send the sports world into a frenzy. Some of the biggest ‘where were you when…’ moments have been broadcast live, including the incredible fights between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, as well as Conor McGregor v Floyd Mayweather.
The fact that Main Event is now available through Kayo removes a huge barrier for real sports fans and makes these big events even more accessible to Australians. It’s an exciting time for combat sports with some mouthwatering fights coming up, and it’s literally never been easier to watch them.
What People are Asking about Main Event
Since its launch over two decades ago, access to Main Event has always required access to Foxtel (or, in earlier years, Optus Vision and Austar). But with the huge success of Kayo at delivering high definition live and on-demand sports coverage via streaming, it made sense for Main Event to join forces with Kayo to deliver the same premium events to a streaming audience. A subscription to Kayo is not required, and you’ll have access to all of Kayo during the access window for your event. It makes it easier than ever to get a bunch of friends together to watch the big fight in the comfort of your lounge room.
Yes it is! Kayo did a test of hosting a Main Event boxing showdown earlier in 2020, and it was a big enough success that Kayo will now be another way of accessing all events on the channel, at the same price you’d pay to buy it on Foxtel. The main differences with Kayo are potentially better picture quality, and the ability to stream the event on demand after it’s over without having to record it or wait for a rebroadcast.
Launched not long after Foxtel’s arrival, Main Event is Australia’s only pay-per-view broadcast channel, and has been delivering premium events ranging from boxing, wrestling and UFC to music concerts on a pay-to-access basis for over 20 years. You pay a one-time fee to access the event, after which you can watch it live and either record it to watch again later during your access time (on Foxtel) or stream it on-demand for that same length of time (on Kayo). All the sports and other events on Main Event are exclusive to the channel and can’t be seen anywhere else.
The price of any individual event varies – from around $20 to $30 for events like WWE wrestling, through to around $50-60 for the big boxing meets. Each event is a one-time payment and your access ends once the date range for the event does (you’ll be given the access dates on the page where you buy the event). The pricing is the same on both Foxtel and Kayo.
Yes – but only limited events or previews of them are available to stream as part of the standard Kayo subscription. The big-ticket events sometimes also show up on regular Kayo, but Main Event broadcasts the headline ones. When those happen, they’ll be accessible via your existing Kayo account by paying the Main Event ticket price, so you won’t miss out on the action.
While Kayo is part of the Foxtel group of companies, it’s run separately and works very differently. While Foxtel and its streaming counterpart Foxtel Now work like regular TV – with a range of live channels to choose from, and catch-up streaming for stuff you missed – Kayo is a full streaming service, where you access live and on-demand coverage by sport, rather than channel. Kayo also has many enhanced streaming features that Foxtel can’t match, including the ability to watch multiple sports on the screen at one time.
At the moment, you’ll pay exactly the same for Main Event fixtures, regardless of whether you want to watch on Foxtel or Kayo. It’s worth mentioning, though, that to access Main Event on Foxtel you need a basic Foxtel subscription active – while with Kayo, you don’t need a subscription at all. That makes Kayo a better choice if you don’t already have Foxtel installed. But if you’ve already got Foxtel, that might be the more convenient way to watch a Main Event because there’s no need to worry about streaming.
If you’re not already a Kayo subscriber, you’ll need to create a free Kayo account to buy a Main Event – but once you’ve paid for the event, you’ll have full access to all of Kayo Sports – all the live sports streams, and all on-demand content. That access continues until several days after your event has finished.
Whether it’s Main Event or Kayo’s huge range of other sports, the best way to stream it is by using a streaming device that has a Kayo app available. Apple TV, Telstra TV and Chromecast with Google TV are all great choices. Alternatively, you can cast the stream from your phone or tablet with a Chromecast Ultra on your TV, or use the built-in Kayo app on recent Samsung smart TVs and Sony Android TVs.
Yes – once you’ve paid for access to the event, you’ll be able to stream it via the Foxtel Go app on your phone or tablet wherever you are, as well as via the Foxtel website on your laptop or desktop PC or Mac.
No – you’ll need to buy the event from Kayo’s own Main Even page if you’d prefer the extra streaming access that Kayo grants you during the event period. The price is the same as Foxtel’s, so pick the one that works better for you – easy access via broadcast on Foxtel, or extra streaming options on Kayo.
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