The majority of sporting codes to benefit from the first portion of Foxtel's $30 million government handout have previously aired on the subscription broadcaster according to documents released under freedom of information laws.

The documents also show the Department of Communications and the Arts signed off on Foxtel funnelling funds towards men's rugby league games because the New South Wales Cup – which is now called the Intrust Super Premiership – was considered an "emerging" sport on the basis it is a reserve-grade competition.

It's been more than a year since it was revealed Foxtel would receive $30 million in taxpayer money over five years, with the aim of boosting women's, niche and emerging sports.

Now, it has been confirmed that 12 sporting codes benefited from the first instalment of the ad-hoc grant during the 2017-18 financial year: AFL, soccer, rugby union, rugby league, cycling, lawn bowls, surfing, Ironman, surf lifesaving, cricket, basketball and hockey. A number of sports within those codes – such as the AFL's women's league – have run on free-to-air networks with much larger audiences.