The Foxtel on Xbox solution has been the best way for Rugby Union fans to get their sporting fix for the past couple of years, but now AFL fans will be able to enjoy the the game via the Pay TV service on their consoles as well.

Yesterday, Foxtel launched a dedicated AFL channel, Footy Play, for Foxtel on Xbox customers. It offers eight matches from every round of the season live, with the ninth match on delay. Up to five of those matches will be completely ad-free as well.

In addition, the channel will offer exclusive AFL magazine programs, plus 25 NAB Cup matches Live, with the Grand Final and four other matches available on delay.

The new channel will cost $20 a month, in addition to the sports pack, which means paying at least $50 a month. Alternatively, Foxtel is offering a season pass for $100, which is the equivalent of getting two months for free.

In addition to the dedicated AFL channel, Foxtel has added ESPN2 to its Sports package for no additional cost, bringing sports like the NBA, UEFA Champions League, NFL, ATP Tennis, X Games, Six Nations Rugby and Major League Baseball to the video games console. Parents of small children will also appreciate the addition of The Cartoon Network to the base package.

Coupled with Telstra’s AFL mobile handset streaming prices we saw earlier this week, it seems that networks are starting to see the benefits in offering IPTV solutions for major sports, even if they still need to work on the pricing a little bit.

Price: From $19.50 a month
Web: Foxtel