BY RICHARD HOGAN

Rugby league matches shown on big screens around New South Wales and Queensland clubs are in jeapordy with tensions building between Fox Sports and the lobby groups for clubs in both states after Fox Sports proposed mammoth subscription increases.

ClubsNSW CEO Anthony Ball said they would challenge the proposals with the competition watchdog.

“We were recently advised by Fox Sports that there will be an increase in subscription fees for clubs,” Ball wrote in the ClubLife magazine.

“For some larger clubs it will mean an additional cost of approximately $30,000 per annum. That’s the equivalent of a 47.8 per cent price rise.

“This can only be described as a gouge, which must be challenged.”

According to recent reports, almost 40 clubs across both states have received subscription increases in the last few months, some of up to $30,000 a year.

“We will keep clubs informed of our progress but as a first step clubs should voice their concerns with their Fox Sports representative,” Ball added.

Clubs Australia are joining both NSW and QLD in a potential boycott of Fox Sports’ services which could be a disaster for rugby league punters across the states.