Discussion of Foxtel’s IPTV subscription streaming service
##foxtel revamps its streaming video service
Presto customers invited to move to Foxtel Play
Foxtel today confirmed the new look Foxtel Play streaming service, which will roll out from December 2016. Low prices and flexible packages will offer consumers greater choice and ease of access to Foxtel’s premium content, without the need to sign up to a fixed term contract.
Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh said, “Foxtel Play will be a simpler, cheaper and more flexible IP delivered product, which will create much better value for Australian consumers. It is the logical step for us to take in the evolution of Foxtel’s service. The new offering will mirror the successful launch of HBO Now in the US and Now TV by Sky in the UK.
“Customers who use an IP connection, with their own device and bandwidth will have access to this great new offering. Consumers will be able to sign up by downloading the app to their eligible connected TV, laptop, PC or games console.
The new service will have five different entry level tiers to match viewers’ interests including Drama and Entertainment packs priced at $15 per month each or $25 for both, while at the $10 per month level, there will be one option for Lifestyle, one for Documentary and one for Kids. In addition, customers will be able to take the Sports tier for an extra $25 per month and the Movies tier for an additional $20 per month, effectively reducing the cost of Sport to as little as $35 per month.
Subscribers will have access to all linear channels in the tier along with all of the on-demand, catch up and library content available to that tier plus mobile and tablet access via Foxtel Go.
From December, existing Foxtel Play customers will be transferred to the new pricing, with the package that best aligns with their current service.
“I am sure that existing and potential customers will be delighted at the flexibility that the new Foxtel Play will offer. For example, Foxtel is the Home of HBO and Showcase will be included in both the Drama and Entertainment tiers, which means that shows like Game of Thrones will now be available for $15 per month,” said Mr Tonagh.
“I recently announced that from January 2017 we will significantly increase the amount of HBO content that will be available on demand and in full to anyone who subscribes to Showcase. All Foxtel drama tier subscribers will benefit from this great library of programs.”
The announcement comes on the same day as Foxtel revealed that it had acquired Seven West Media’s shares in the Presto TV joint venture.
Presto customers will be invited to transition to the new Foxtel Play packages from December 2016 and the Presto service will cease on 31 January 2017. All Presto entitlements will be honoured; should any promotional entitlements remain after 31 January, Presto customers will be offered appropriate alternative content.
When they move to the new Foxtel Play offering, Presto customers will get access to more premium first run television programs and more recent movies than ever before.
I have Foxtel through Telstra and since they got rid of SoHo it’s worthless to me.
This might be a good option for watching dramas like Wentworth, A Place to Call Home, Secret City and The Kettering Incident etc.
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Will existing Foxtel users get access to this? Or would it be at those extra prices? I rarely stream and it doesn’t appeal to me but occasionally if I missed or forgot to record a show on Foxtel I would use it.
Foxtel GO offers all the same things for existing customers.
I think what you want is Foxtel Go which is included in most packages for no extra charge
https://www.foxtel.com.au/got/support/tv/apps-extras/foxtel-go.html
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No mention of HD on Foxtel Play. Presto is HD.
Surely Presto subscribers won’t have to revert back to SD now that it migrates over to Foxtel Play?
Presto to shut down in January after Seven West Media sells to Foxtel
Subscription video service Presto will shut down in January, after Seven West Media announced plans to sell its share to Foxtel.
Foxtel’s chief executive Peter Tonagh said Presto subscribers will get access to Foxtel Play from December. “Presto will cease on 31 January 2017,” Foxtel said through a press release on Tuesday morning.
Apparently, HD will be available from “early 2017”.
This is one of the biggest things about the ‘revamped’ service that has gone ‘under the radar’, it seems the disparity between channels available to residential subscribers compared to those Play subscribers have access to via Foxtel Go is all but eliminated. For example, CNN, BBC World News and CNBC are currently unavailable through Play but will be under the new packages as ‘bonus channels’ on top of any package.
Think the new pricing structure is pretty decent with some nice things to tempt potential subscribers like Showcase being part of the Entrtainment pack & the $10 Docos/Lifestyle packs being great options for those who just want a package in order to add Sports or Movies on top. In saying that, Play really needs to be available on more devices (eg; Apple TV, Chromecast, etc) to make it easier for people to access. It won’t be good enough if the ‘Streaming Stick’ that Foxtel are currently developing is the only new device they allow the service to be used on on top of the options already available
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There’s quite a few channels on normal Foxtel that you can’t get on Foxtel Play, including quite a few news channels:
- 111
- Fox Classics
- Expo
- ACCTV
- Aurora
- TCM
- Sky Racing 1
- Sky Racing 2
- Sky Thoroughbred Central
- FOX News
- A-Pac
- Bloomberg
- Al Jazeera
- CCTV News
- CCTV 9 Documentary
- NHK World
- RT
- MTV Music
- MTV Dance
For me, Play is no cheaper than normal Foxtel as I’ve negotiated a discount with them. I get Entertainment + Docos + Drama + HD for $26/month (down from the regular pricing of $66/month).
BBC World News is available on Livestation for US$2 a month. Al Jazeera, France 24, RT etc. are also available on the site for free.
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According to the chart posted a few posts above, it seems like the only time you must have at least two packages is if you want Sports and/or Movies (it plus one of the $10/$15 packages).
To take your situation as an example, I think you can just get the Documentary package by itself and it will come with all the channels you want (including CNBC as a ‘bonus channel’)
##foxtel Play now on Telstra TV
Foxtel Play’s arrival on Telstra TV ushers in live HD streaming for subscribers
Foxtel today announced that it has brought its internet delivered service, Foxtel Play, to Telstra TV with live HD streaming available on the device. The news comes on the heels of Foxtel’s recently launched new pricing and packaging that sees Foxtel Play subscriptions now available for as low as $10 per month.
The addition of Telstra TV to Foxtel Play’s device line up brings even greater flexibility to subscribers looking to access Foxtel’s great programming and offers Presto subscribers another way to take a look at what Foxtel Play has to offer.
The arrival of live HD streaming on Telstra TV is the first step in Foxtel’s push to broaden HD access to Foxtel Play subscribers with additional devices slated to offer HD streaming in 2017.
Foxtel Play’s move to Telstra TV features a brand new user interface that aligns more closely with the Foxtel iQ3 and Foxtel Go lay out. The new app also includes improved search and discovery so subscribers can navigate Foxtel’s live and on-demand programming more easily.
Deanne Weir, Foxtel’s Managing Director - Content Aggregation and Wholesale, said, “Earlier this year, we announced a revolutionary new approach to offer more flexible pricing and delivery of Foxtel that allows Australians to design a subscription that works for them. Today’s arrival of Foxtel Play on Telstra TV takes that a big step further by adding a popular device to enjoy our unbeatable content on coupled with the addition of live HD streaming. With further updates to Foxtel Play on the horizon, we’re confident this will have more eyes turning to Foxtel in the weeks and months to come.”
Foxtel Play comes to Telstra TV as a host of great programming airs live and on demand including HBO’s sci-fi epic, Westworld; the new comedy, Insecure, starring Issa Rae and the upcoming Home and Away special event screening of Home and Away: Revenge along with hit movies Deadpool, Sisters, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and more.
Foxtel Play’s new pricing and packaging features five different entry level tiers to match viewers’ interests including Drama and Pop packs priced at $15 per month each or $25 for both, while at the $10 per month level, there will be one option for Lifestyle, one for Documentary and one for Kids. In addition, customers will be able to take the Sports tier for an extra $29~ per month and the Movies tier for an additional $20 per month. New Foxtel Play subscribers can also sign up for a free two week trial* to explore all that it has to offer.
Foxtel Play enables customers with a broadband connection to stream and watch programs from Foxtel’s amazing range of sports, drama, entertainment, documentary and movie channels live or on demand.
Foxtel Play customers can enjoy their programming via eligible Samsung, Sony and LG Smart TVs, Xbox One, PlayStation 3 & 4, selected Samsung Blu-Ray and home theatre systems, PC and Mac computers and, from today, Telstra TV.
Foxtel Play customers also have access to all live and on demand content from the channels in their subscription on selected smart phones and tablets by downloading the Foxtel Go^ app at no extra cost.
~$25 per month until 1 February 2017.
*New residential customers only. Just connect your compatible device to the internet. Shows only available if they’re in your pack, some shows/channels not available. Data charges may apply. Ongoing monthly fees apply after the free trial unless you cancel. During the trial you have access to all packs. Your ongoing fees will be based on whatever packs you select before the end of the free trial. Access on compatible smartphones and tablets via Foxtel Go. Only available in Australia.
^Foxtel Go available on compatible smartphone and tablet devices with an eligible operating system. See full list at foxtel.com.au/foxtelgo: You must subscribe to the relevant channel/tier in your Foxtel Play pack to access corresponding content on Foxtel Go. Not all channels/content available on all devices with Foxtel Go. Video quality may vary.
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They should add it to Fetch TV too, that’d be interesting.
HD streaming from Foxtel. I thought the day would never come.
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I’d imagine hell would freeze over before that happened. Definitely should be on the ATV4 though asap.