Fetch TV

[danielgonline]

The table on this page on the Fetch website compares the current and new pricing.

The new Premium Access and Ultimate Access plans seem to be better value than the current pricing - if the monthly movie rental credit is factored in. It also looks like some things that are currently free (FTA channels over IP, the FAST - sorry, ‘included’ - channels) will now incur a charge with the $3.99/month Access Pass base plan.

I’m currently paying $27.98/month for the Ultimate Pack and Movie Box, and I’m not that interested in the monthly movie rental credit. I’ll save $1/month if I don’t move to Ultimate Access.

I wonder whether the Access Pass will be mandatory in order to use Fetch, and how hobbled the service will be if you get the decision not to pay.

1st EDIT: The account terms of use explicitly state:

IMPORTANT - CUSTOMERS JOINING ON OR AFTER 1 DECEMBER 2025
If you do not pay the Fetch Access Monthly Fee (which will start to be charged to you on 1 February 2026) your Fetch Box will not function.

At least they’re waiving the Access Pass monthly fee for a couple of months as an introductory offer.

2nd EDIT: From further down in the account terms of use. It’s basically a service fee.

3.6. Fetch Access Monthly Fee - COMMENCING ON 1 December 2025

New Customers who activate an account on and from 1 December 2025 new customers will need to pay the Fetch Access Monthly Fee to to use Fetch. Fetch will not charge you for the Fetch Access Monthly Fee until 1 February 2026.

This modest ongoing subscription fee helps us cover the ongoing costs of keeping your Set-Top Box and the Fetch Service running smoothly and enhancing your entertainment experience. This includes important things like the licensing fees for your TV Guide (the Electronic Program Guide (EPG)) - so you always know what’s on - as well as content encoding, content delivery, system maintenance, and the continuous development that brings you access to valuable features like free-to-air channels over internet, games and our growing library of free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) channels.

When you pay the Fetch Access Monthly Fee you get: access to the TV Guide and universal search, 30 family friendly online games, plus other content including live and on-demand TV channels, and Movie Box with 30 on-demand movies each month and access to supported streaming apps (cost of subscriptions not included).

If the Fetch Access Monthly Fee applies to you, to ensure uninterrupted access to all these services, including your EPG, free-to-air, and FAST channels, simply keep your monthly fee up to date.

If you were formerly an iiNet Customer you already pay the Fetch Access Monthly Fee.

Hopefully the current plans will be grandfathered like the Entertainment Pack (i.e., you can voluntarily move to a new plan, but once you do, you can’t move back to your old plan).

[Global]

This only applies to Fetch retail customers, not Fetch customers who are renting it through a telco.

[ElCapitanCranky]

So what’s the point of Fetch Access? I can already get multiple FTA channels streaming, the FAST channels I can get easily enough, and my Plex collection is freaking awesome.

[danielgonline]

I reckon that you’d be paying that $3.99/month for convenience of the service, and maintenance of the technology. I’m guessing that there must be a helluva lot of users who are only using the FTA and FAST channels, and thus aren’t generating any revenue for Fetch.

[JCK98]

Is any telco other than Telstra still offering Fetch?

[danielgonline]

No - those who got their Fetch through iiNet were transferred to retail accounts a month ago.
I don’t know how Telstra is arranged - its website still lists the ‘old’ plans.

[JBar]

@danielgonline

I reckon that you’d be paying that $3.99/month for convenience of the service, and maintenance of the technology. I’m guessing that there must be a helluva lot of users who are only using the FTA and FAST channels, and thus aren’t generating any revenue for Fetch.

It’s a bit rude to make people pay a monthly access fee if they are only using the box to record FTA and connect to streaming services. It would be a disincentive for new customers.

Here’s the letter sent out to Fetch users today:

[danielgonline]

Maybe Fetch might use some of that Access Pass income to finally UPDATE THE NAME OF CHANNEL 171 TO MS NOW

[LegitimateChannel808]

Has there been a change in management at fetch? This is the only explanation has to why they are increasing and adding these odd charges.

[danielgonline]

Fetch TV

[captaincupcake]

Charging for the most basic of features such as accessing and recording free to air TV is certainly quite the strategy choice.

[JBar]

It makes no sense to me.

I bought a Fetch box to specifically record FTA programs. I later picked up and dropped the channel packages and movie offerings, whenever I wanted to try them out for a while.

If you turn off viewers from purchasing the box in the first place, with these monthly charges, then you risk losing potential customers of the other offerings.

[bacco007]

@captaincupcake

Charging for the most basic of features such as accessing and recording free to air TV is certainly quite the strategy choice.

Suggests that they’re carrying cost that they are unable to recoup in any reasonable fashion. Will be interesting to see what impact it has given they occupy a pretty unique spot in the market

[Global]

@LegitimateChannel808

Has there been a change in management at fetch? This is the only explanation has to why they are increasing and adding these odd charges.

It has been bought by Telstra and has a new CEO.

[2265MHZ]

I’d imagine the channel packs are getting less and less profitable considering they’ve never upped the price. Even with channels getting dropped, the ones they do have would be more expensive than they used to be.

[danielgonline]

@2265MHZ

I’d imagine the channel packs are getting less and less profitable considering they’ve never upped the price.

There was a small price increase on September 1. The individual channel packs went from $6/month each to $7.99/month each, and the Ultimate Pack went from $20/month to $24.99/month.

Charitably, this was the first price increase since 2017. Less charitably, nine Paramount channels left Fetch since then, and the replacement channels just aren’t of equivalent standard.

[2265MHZ]

Oh I missed that. Thanks! I remember when they started leaking channels really badly they always said “but we’ve never increased the price!” or something along those lines. The Telstra influence is really setting in now then

[JohnsonTV]

EXCLUSIVE: Another Telstra Fetch TV Deal Goes Pear Shaped After Harvey Norman...

Telstra’s $51 million move to acquire a controlling stake in Fetch TV has suffered another major setback, with Harvey Norman dumping the product from its stores.

ChannelNews understands the decision followed Telstra’s attempt to introduce a new monthly fee for Fetch TV users—charging them simply to access the platform and record free-to-air programs.

According to Harvey Norman insiders, the retailer’s sales process effectively shifted from selling a simple streaming box to trying to sell a contract.

When the issue was raised with Telstra, Harvey Norman was told, “We can supply you with a sticker for the boxes still in stores.”

Unimpressed, Harvey Norman management chose to discontinue Fetch TV entirely.

[JBar]

Fair enough too. I wonder if other retailers will follow Harvey Norman. This could have a major impact on the future of Fetch.

I think Telstra/Fetch need to rethink this access charge. Make it an optional offering for streaming or certain fast channels but don’t make it mandatory for just recording FTA.

[Daniel_Del_Borrello]

I agree , not even going to be bothered with my fetch box now. I did like having access to some packages and I enjoyed it but now to just pay 3 bux or so just to have access to free to air seems stupid to me. See ya fetch box back in the cupboard you go.
I get better value for money keeping my Disney plus, Netflix and paramount plus subscription