When did they change the name to ‘funny’?
that channel has a constant identity crisis.
Earlier this year I think with the last logo change, they dropped the “hits” (or was it greats?) and added “very funny” to some parts of the presentation, now it looks like it’s more permanent but not as funny.
Why do you say that? 111 Greats/Hits/Very Funny/Funny is great! Must be up to a new logo again in a few weeks.
It was strange, I was about to go to bed and then saw when Reba started just before midnight that it looked like a new watermark and checked the +2 channel which definitely had the old one.
It’s hilarious how many times they’ve tinkered with it, but it also speaks to a general habit Foxtel have of not letting channels develop their own identities or just being plain indecisive about what channel does what.
W was constantly tinkered with until they threw that brand out and replaced it with SoHo, which was to become their cheaper ‘premium’ drama channel in addition to Showcase. They then moved Showcase to General Entertainment in order to appease GoT fans, even though GoT reruns aired on SoHo and they could have aired new episodes on there and kept Showcase in the Premium section. Foxtel then began airing reruns of their bigger drama titles on Boxsets. This meant SoHo, Showcase, Boxsets and also FX were targeting the same specific niche of young male-skewing dramas. Fucking baffling.
The same is true with certain shows. Foxtel also used to bounce sitcoms around channels. I remember Friends, Raymond, Malcolm and a couple of other sitcoms I can’t recall the name of having been on TV1, 111 Hits/Greats/Whatever, FOX8 and the Comedy Channel at various times. Like, FFS, put them on a single channel and leave them there.
Both issues could be solved if they cut down the number of channels and started focussing on quality over quantity. There’s so much filler shit on even FOX8, let alone the lesser channels, that I don’t understand why they don’t shut half of the channels down. More logos look nicer on a brochure I guess…
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Seems odd for FOX8 to air an advisory like this for Family Guy for the past few years and not for any other shows that I am aware of…
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###Foxtel revamps its streaming video service
Presto customers invited to move to Foxtel Play
##foxtel Street TV shines the spotlight on young film talent
Creative short films from youths in crisis inspire others to live healthier lives
Students from Foxtel’s Street TV will take to the stage this evening to shine the light on a series of short films created as part of Foxtel’s annual program for disadvanged young people from The Salvation Army’s Oasis Youth Support Network.
The intense three month Street TV course provides a creative outlet for self-expression and is designed to help students by building their confidence while teaching them new skills in TV and film production. Each film is a unique artistic expression from the participants that have been inspired by the individual experiences of the students involved.
Now in its 14th year, Street TV is a collaboration between Foxtel and the Oasis Street Media Program that immerses students in every aspect of TV and film production from creative development, script drafting and sound editing to film direction and post production. Foxtel staff volunteers offer their time, talents and professional experience to help mentor students through their entire journey from concept to completion.
Foxtel will screen the final cut of each film this evening at a special gala event that celebrates the students and their creations. This year’s films are:
• Game Over?: Takes a look into the mental health of a gaming addict who struggles to separate himself from the gaming world in order to reconnect with family and friends;
• Rhythm of Life: Explores the power of music and the different ways people tap into it to create positive impacts on their lives; and
• Faded: Using stop-motion photography, Faded follows an individual’s personal journey of loss and the self-motiviation needed to achieve a happy outcome.
Bruce Meagher, Foxtel’s Group Director of Corporate Affairs, said, “Each year, the students from Street TV create thought-provoking films that delight and inspire and this year we’ve seen some truly remarkable storytelling from a talented group of courageous young people. We look forward to sharing the fruits of their hard work during our gala evening and shining the spotlight on their creations.”
Chris McKendrick, Oasis Youth Support Network Centre Manager said, “Street TV is one of the stand out programs across our network. It provides a structured, hands on learning environment led by experts in their field. Add to that opportunities for our young people to unlock hidden talents, express themselves, and grow towards future aspirations. Many thanks to the Foxtel staff volunteers for working so closely with us on this valuable experience.”
Street TV is part of Foxtel’s commitment to the community, which, since 2002, has supported youth, including long-term unemployed and those living on the streets. The program represents a longstanding partnership between Foxtel and Oasis and provides a supportive environment for young people to work alongside Foxtel employees to learn the art of film making.
By the end of this year’s program, Foxtel employees will have volunteered around 2000 hours helping the students create their films.
Hillsong channel has been added to channel 183
SBN (another religious channel) on 186
i have it on good authority that the reason why foxtel is getting so many religious channels is two fold - first, they get a carriage fee paid by the channel operators.
secondly, the subscription rate amongst religious households increased when they added daystar. they are hoping to replicate this with hillsong
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So you’re saying a cable operator would carry a channel because
- It drives subscription take up; and
- provides income.
Well, yes! LOL
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More Religious channels? no thanks, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
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well don’t watch them than. thats the thing about foxtel. theres channels for everyone.
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Religious channels aren’t my thing personally, but obviously Foxtel sees value in putting more of them on the platform.
I’m just thankful that a FTA broadcaster hasn’t gotten the idea to put one on their multiplex yet, like they’ve done with the home shopping channels.
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don’t they take up bandwidth?
don’t they take up bandwidth?
thats not being used elsewhere. do you think that if the choice came between having someone pay to be carried on the service and therefore also increase subscribers, or spend money and create a new channel a new channel would win? i doubt it
Foxtel invites viewers to taste before they binge with free access to new HBO shows
Select screenings of first episodes of Westworld, Quarry, Divorce, Insecure and High Maintenance free on foxtel.com.au
Foxtel is offering Australians hungry for great drama a unique opportunity to experience the first episode from a host of HBO programs for free via the Foxtel website. The unprecedented move comes following an initial free screening of the first episode of HBO’s new, and already critically acclaimed, sci-fi drama Westworld, which received an overwhelmingly popular response from both subscribers and non-subscribers alike.
In addition to Westworld, Foxtel is also screening HBO’s Divorce and Quarry, with plans to add upcoming shows Insecure and High Maintenance, which viewers can watch at: www.foxtel.com.au/watch/dramas.html
Westworld (Episode one available until November 2) is a reality bending drama, starring Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs), Evan Rachel Wood (American Gothic, True Blood) and James Marsden (X-Men). Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, Westworld, based on the 1973 film, is a dark odyssey that looks at the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin and explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged.
Divorce (Episode one available until November 2) starring Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City) and Thomas Haden Church (Sideways, Broken Trail), centres on Frances, who, after more than a decade of marriage and two children, has suddenly begun to reassess her life and her strained relationship with her husband Robert. Other cast regulars include Molly Shannon (Enlightened, Saturday Night Live) as Frances’ high- strung friend Diane, who has a successful husband, a beautiful house and no children; Talia Balsam (Mad Men) as Frances’ close friend Dallas, who has been both widowed and divorced; Tracy Letts (Homeland) as Diane’s husband Nick; Sterling Jerins (World War Z) as Frances’ and Robert’s daughter Lila; and Charlie Kilgore (Moonrise Kingdom) as their son Tom. Season one guests include Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords), Dean Winters (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Joanna Adler (Orange Is the New Black), Robert Forster (Twin Peaks).
Quarry (Episode one available until November 2) is set during a tumultuous period in the early 1970s, and tells the story of Mac Conway, a US Marine who returns home to Memphis from Vietnam in 1972 and finds himself shunned by those he loves and demonised by the public. As he struggles to cope with his experiences at war, Conway is drawn into a network of killing and corruption that spans the length of the Mississippi River. Starring Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus, 24, Spider-Man: Homecoming) as Mac Conway, whose decision to return to Vietnam cost him a “normal” life; Jodi Balfour (Final Destination 5) as Mac’s wife Joni, whose job at a local newspaper led to a regrettable decision during Mac’s absence; Peter Mullan (Olive Kitteridge) as The Broker, whose promises come with cruel demands; Nikki Amuka-Bird (Luther) as Ruth Solomon, wife to Mac’s Marine pal Arthur and mother of two; and Australia’s own Damon Herriman (Justified) as Buddy, an eccentric member of The Broker’s team.
Additional free first episodes arrive from November 4 – December 3 with the debut of new HBO series Insecure and High Maintenance
Insecure (Episode one available November 4 – December 3) is a new half-hour comedy that explores the friendship of two modern-day African American women, as well as all their uncomfortable experiences and racy tribulations. Insecure was created by, and stars, Issa Rae who brings her fresh voice to HBO with this painfully funny new comedy series, which follows best friends Issa (Rae) and Molly (Yvonne Orji) as they navigate the tricky professional and personal terrain of Los Angeles, while facing the challenges of being two African American women who defy all stereotypes.
High Maintenance (Episode one available November 4 – December 3) follows an NYC pot dealer with a list of clients with neuroses as diverse as the city itself and provides a glimpse into the private lives of customers – and how they light things up. Created, written and directed by the husband-and-wife team Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, the new half-hour episode series explores the intriguing, often eccentric private lives of dozens of New Yorkers with one connection: their weed dealer. Guest stars include Michael Cyril Creighton (Horace and Pete), Australian actress Yael Stone (Orange is the New Black), Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey), Heléne Yorke (Masters of Sex), Greta Lee (Girls), Hannibal Burress (Broad City), Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone), Miriam Shor (Younger), Lee Tergesen (Outcast, Oz) and Peter Friedman (The Affair).
##foxtel brings you more of the BBC
Foxtel and BBC Worldwide offer Australia the best in British drama on demand
Foxtel today announced it has extended its relationship with BBC Worldwide ANZ to bring subscribers even more of the highly acclaimed British TV they love. The new arrangement provides a significant boost of the BBC’s signature programming to Foxtel’s on demand service, and strengthens Foxtel’s position as a home of great British drama.
Full seasons of widely hailed BBC First and UKTV series have already started to land on Foxtel on demand including Top of the Lake (season 1), Detectorists, War and Peace, The Honourable Woman, Thirteen, Banished, Capital and Undercover. New arrivals slated to join in November feature Call the Midwife, Happy Valley (seasons 1-2), Maigret, and The Living and the Dead.
Future seasons lined up to arrive will include the already critically praised period drama: Victoria, as well as Taboo, Dickensian, The Musketeers (seasons 1-3), SS-GB and One of US.
Brian Walsh, Foxtel’s Executive Director of Television, said, “For decades the BBC has created some of the world’s most celebrated programming and has established a deep connection with Foxtel subscribers. We’re delighted to build on that connection by bringing a host of brilliant BBC dramas and comedies to Foxtel’s library for fans of this incredible entertainment brand to enjoy anytime, on demand.”
Tim Christlieb, Director of Channels BBC Worldwide ANZ, said: “These are some of the best, most popular dramas to come out of the UK and we’re pleased to support Foxtel’s initiative to give their customers access to more of our channels’ content anytime, anyplace.”
Foxtel’s expanded BBC programming is available on demand to Foxtel residential and Foxtel Play subscribers and via Foxtel Go to customers with the Foxtel Drama pack
##foxtel launches nbn™ services
Foxtel announces the first of its nbn™ services plus competitive broadband, TV and home phone bundles
Foxtel today announced that it has begun offering services on the nbn™ network to Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) serviceable customers+. The move marks Foxtel’s initial push to offer nbn™ services to new and current subscribers, which will accelerate in the coming months.
nbn™ services will strengthen Foxtel’s commitment to deliver high quality, reliable streaming of its internet delivered services across iQ3, Foxtel Go, Foxtel’s on demand programming and other popular video steaming, social media and gaming applications.
Andrew Lorken, Executive Director of Broadband said, “With today’s launch on the nbn™ network, we’re taking our broadband service to the next level. When our customers couple Foxtel’s premium movies, TV shows and sport with our unlimited broadband bundles they will receive their content on broadband that is purpose built for entertainment. We think this truly differentiates Foxtel from other broadband providers in an increasingly competitive market and we aim to be the broadband supplier of choice for those customers seeking a combination of the highest quality internet access and the best content.”
Foxtel is now offering its best ever value range of broadband, TV and home phone bundles, with access to the nbn™ network for FTTP serviceable customers, and via ADSL connections.
New customers can currently sign up to an unlimited broadband, home phone and TV bundle, with the Entertainment pack, from as little as $111 per month on a 24 month plan. Existing Foxtel TV subscribers can add an unlimited broadband bundle to a non-Platinum HD pack from only $85 extra per month on a 24 month plan, or only $75^ extra per month on a 24 month plan when added to a Platinum HD pack.
Foxtel also confirmed that its ADSL broadband bundles are ‘nbn™ from Foxtel Ready’, meaning current and new customers on Foxtel ADSL broadband plans today will be able to easily switch their service to an nbn™ from Foxtel service, without needing to recontract, once the nbnTM from Foxtel service becomes available at their home.
Foxtel’s broadband bundles feature:
• Unlimited or 100GB broadband1 plans (Foxtel’s 100GB plan comes with a bonus* 100GB of data for a limited time (200GB total)
• The Foxtel Hub – a WiFi modem designed for fast WiFi speeds#, great in-home coverage and easy streaming to all your devices
• Unlimited standard local calls2 included in all broadband bundles and unlimited standard national calls included in unlimited broadband bundles;
• No data download limits for Foxtel content, including via Foxtel Go and Anytime when connected to Foxtel Broadband3
• ADSL services delivered on one of Australia’s largest telecommunications networks and nbn™ FTTP services delivered over a network designed to provide Australians with all the benefits of fast and reliable broadband
• Easy management of all Foxtel services via MyAccount, the convenience of a single bill and 24/7 technical support
Foxtel broadband, via select FTTP nbn™ serviceable locations, is available from today.
For more information please visit: www.foxtel.com.au. To check nbn™ from Foxtel FTTP serviceable areas please visit: https://www.foxtel.com.au/get/broadband-bundles/nbn.html
I’m assuming even if you have NBN FTTP and want to sign up to one of the bundles, you’ll still need a satellite dish or cable to access Foxtel tv? And they wonder why only 30% of households are subscribers.