Let’s hope Sky Glass TVs aren’t just rebranded Changhong, Linsar or Chiq TVs. 
2 Likes
The proposed prices and specifications for Sky Glass suggest they will be mid-priced models compared to more expensive TVs from Samsung, LG and Sony. Although Sky Glass will be designed and produced in-house by Sky, it will be interesting to see where Sky sources the key components from.
Also, Foxtel will have to re-train its technicians to provide warranty support and repairs before and when Sky Glass arrives in Australia in late 2023.
1 Like
Foxtel iQ5 has won a Good Design Award in the Product Design category, in recognition for outstanding design and innovation.
2 Likes
Let’s see how it does in the real world
1 Like
Foxtel Group and ViacomCBS announce major content distribution and apps deal
Agreements cover an expansive entertainment portfolio including Paramount Pictures movies, drama series, channels and apps.
New deal to see Paramount+ and 10 Play apps on Foxtel set tops in 2022 bringing together more world-class streaming entertainment in one place.
The Foxtel Group today announced a series of multi-year agreements with ViacomCBS to provide blockbuster and catalogue Paramount Pictures movies, a large range of hit TV series, the Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and MTV channels, along with integration of the Paramount+ and 10 Play apps onto Foxtel set top boxes in 2022 for Australia.
With the inclusion of app integration, the Foxtel Group and ViacomCBS relationship is now evolving to deliver more content to subscribers than ever before.
The agreements cover thousands of hours of world-class entertainment including movies such as the highly anticipated Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible 7 starring Tom Cruise coming in 2022, along with blockbuster franchises such as Transformers, Shrek, Madagascar and Star Trek. The agreements also deliver hugely popular TV dramas including the pay TV premiere of Blue Bloods, BULL, FBI, FBI: Most Wanted, NCIS and the classic hit series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
This deal ensures that Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. content will continue to be available to Foxtel and BINGE subscribers, including much-loved kids’ series such as PAW Patrol. The ever-popular MTV channel will also remain available to Foxtel and BINGE subscribers, including hit shows like Ridiculousness.
These agreements with ViacomCBS also accelerate Foxtel’s streaming aggregation strategy to bring together the best of TV, live and on-demand, all in one place. It will see the recently launched Paramount+ app, and the 10 Play app, integrated into iQ3, iQ4, and the brand new iQ5 set top boxes.
Patrick Delany, Foxtel Group Chief Executive Officer said: “We are pleased to extend our long-term partnership with ViacomCBS, with more of the world’s best entertainment to power Foxtel and BINGE , and more apps for our Foxtel customers to enjoy, all in one place.
“The breadth of these agreements is strategically significant for the Foxtel Group. They highlight our strength as a local partner of choice for leading global studios and confirm there are new ways to partner with international media companies who have direct-to-consumer strategies for the benefit of customers.”
Foxtel Group’s Chief Commercial and Content Officer, Amanda Laing, added: “These deals give our customers more of the amazing entertainment they love, from one of the world’s best producers of media and entertainment content, along with more great local content. We are especially excited to offer our subscribers an amazing library of Paramount Pictures movies, as well as an exciting slate of Paramount’s upcoming blockbusters. Paramount has been delivering audiences the world’s best cinema for more than 100 years, and Foxtel is thrilled to be part of continuing that tradition – especially for highly anticipated releases like Top Gun: Maverick .
“We are also delighted to continue to deliver Nickelodeon kids content to our subscribers – Nick Jr. is consistently amongst our top 10 channels, keeping kids across Australia entertained. Our subscribers will also continue to enjoy MTV’s irreverent music and hugely popular reality programming, with shows like Catfish and The Hills: New Beginnings ”.
“We are thrilled to extend our longstanding partnership with Foxtel Group,” said Dan Cohen, President, ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group. “Through their suite of platforms, we can reach viewers no matter how they choose to consume our world-class series and feature films. This partnership is consistent with our strategy to maximize the value of our content by licensing to third parties while still supplying programming to our own platforms.”
“We are pleased to partner with The Foxtel group to make available the Paramount+ app and the 10 Play app on the iQ3, iQ4 and the brand new iQ5 set top boxes”, said Jarrod Villani, Chief Operating and Commercial Officer and Executive Vice President, ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand.
Adding to the existing suite of app-based streaming platforms Paramount+ and 10 Play will join Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, ABC iView and SBS On Demand cementing the Foxtel set top boxes as the ‘all in one place’ destination for the world’s best streaming content.
1 Like
“Hugely popular TV dramas… Bull”.
It would be interesting to see how Bull goes on Paramount+.
All this love between Foxtel and ViacomCBS, and still no 10Shake on Foxtel.
I guess it’s a case of just watch it through the 10play app once it gets on there.
3 Likes
Better quality on there anyway.
2 Likes
Brisbane sports bar with some old technology. Looks like they may have lost the signal due to the heavy rain.
4 Likes
Happened to me a few times during the AFL Season as the Eagles were in a losing position
happened to me as the kids were watching Cebeebies. had a bit of a meltdown but we dealt
2 Likes
I hope Foxtel have coded the iQ5 box to automatically flick to IP channels when satellite signal isn’t available.
6 Likes
Few Foxtel mentions in News Corp’s full year results
https://investors.newscorp.com/static-files/0516b3f6-6d30-4a16-9d39-fdd631d69b3b
We also saw record subscriber growth at Foxtel, where, at the end of June, our paid streaming subscribers
reached over 2 million, an increase year-on-year of 155 percent. That sterling performance has clearly given us much optionality as we consider Foxtel’s future, which is certainly bright, given that revenues rose 33 percent in the Fourth Quarter.
More streaming customers then sat/cable customers:
As of June 30, 2021, Foxtel’s total closing paid subscribers were 3.891 million, a 40% increase compared to the prior year, primarily due to growth in BINGE and Kayo subscribers and higher commercial subscribers, partially offset by lower residential broadcast subscribers. 1.885 million of the total closing paid subscribers were residential and commercial broadcast subscribers, and the remaining 2.006 million consisted of Kayo, Binge and Foxtel Now subscribers.
As of June 30, 2021, there were 1.079 million Kayo subscribers (1.054 million paying), compared to 465,000 subscribers (419,000 paying) in the prior year. BINGE, which launched in May 2020, had 827,000 subscribers (733,000 paying) as of June 30, 2021, compared to 80,000 subscribers (56,000 paying) in the prior year. As of June 30, 2021, there were 228,000 Foxtel Now subscribers (219,000 paying), compared to 336,000 subscribers (313,000 paying) in the prior year. Broadcast subscriber churn in the quarter was 17.1% compared to 13.2% in the prior year, due to fewer promotions, the roll-off of lower value subscribers, as well as the lapping of various measures implemented due to COVID-19 in the prior year. Broadcast ARPU for the quarter increased 4% to A$81 (US$63).
Also - looks like Nickelodeon is no longer a JV in Australia:
The improvement was partially offset by higher equity losses of affiliates due to the $54 million non-cash write down of Foxtel’s investment in Nickelodeon Australia Joint Venture, which will be wound down as the content is now covered through a separate affiliate agreement.
2 Likes
Hmm… interesting. So it’s still going to be running as a channel? Just not controlled by Fox anymore?
1 Like
ViacomCBS have taken over operation of the channel I believe
3 Likes