Seems to be a problem on Binge as well.
You’d really expect them to be able to do films in 24fps, but at least a 3:2 pull-down doesn’t wreck the content like 50hz does.
As far as I can tell, Binge uses the exact same streams that Foxtel uses. Probably the exact same content servers and files just with different front ends. Meaning unnecessary PAL conversion and terrible compression. Would be interesting to hear why Foxtel insists on doing this to their content anyway. I’m sure they have the capacity to hold two different copies of a program, one for broadcast and one for On Demand. And at least not compress it to oblivion either.
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Oh so that explains it!! When I used to have Foxtel I’d binge the Simpsons on weekends and then when I started watching it online I was so confused. Took me 5 years to finally know why!
I mean I’d assume it’d be veerrrrrrry similar
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Foxtel and Discovery sign multi-year content deal
The Foxtel Group and Discovery, Inc. today announced a new multi-year partnership to supply the Foxtel Group with factual, documentary and reality content from the flagship Discovery Channel as well as the TLC, Investigation Discovery, Discovery Turbo and Animal Planet channels.
The agreement includes thousands of hours of popular local and international content live and on demand, including:
- Outback Opal Hunters, Aussie Gold Hunters, Deadliest Catch, Fast N’ Loud, Gold Rush, Naked and Afraid, 90 Day Fiancé, Dr Pimple Popper, Say Yes to the Dress and Crikey! It’s the Irwins.
- Lifestyle content from Discovery’s HGTV channel including Good Bones, Home Town, Fixer to Fabulous, My Lottery Dream Home, Windy City and Flip or Flop
Content from the Discovery Channel and Investigation Discovery, TLC, Discovery Turbo, Animal Planet will be available for subscribers to stream on demand on Foxtel and BINGE, including in a range of box sets.
Foxtel Group Chief Content and Commercial Officer, Amanda Laing, said: “We are incredibly pleased to extend our long-term partnership with Discovery, enabling us to deliver even more of the world’s best factual, documentary and reality content that our Foxtel and BINGE subscribers love – including more great local content.
“The Discovery agreement is also strategically significant for us as we strengthen our loyal Foxtel customer base and experience rapid growth with BINGE. As Australia’s largest and fastest-growing subscription television company with over four million subscribers, we can provide Discovery’s incredible content with more reach in this market than ever before.
“Our partnership with Discovery follows the renewal of our multi-year agreement with ViacomCBS last year. It reinforces our position as a local partner of choice for leading global studios and confirms that there are new and mutually beneficial ways for us to partner with international media companies that have their own direct-to-consumer strategies.”
Discovery Senior Vice President & General Manager, Australia, New Zealand & Pacific Islands, Glen Kyne said, “I’m delighted we’ve renewed this deal. Our relationship with Foxtel has been going strong for more than 25 years now, giving Australian viewers the shows they know and love.
“This partnership has performed extremely well for both Discovery and Foxtel and I’m excited for what the future may bring – for both our companies, and Australians.”
Foxtel Media has also renewed its agreement as the exclusive Australian advertising partner for Discovery, Inc.
Wonder if any of this will affect the Discovery channels broadcast on Fetch?
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The Australian is reporting Sam Neill will front the first stage of a year long Foxtel marketing and rebranding campaign starting tomorrow. Consideration was given to changing the company’s name but they’ve decided to try to fix the issues consumers are upset about and evolve the brand for the streaming era.
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I feel like we’ve heard this before.
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Overcharging and ripping off viewers as well as being owned by Murdoch. So there’s a couple of things no marketing campaign is going to fix.
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Just saw the new Sam Neill ad tonight during Winter Olympics telecast on Seven. It showed the first generation set top box connected to a small TV in the garage, then the recently released iQ5 connected to a 4K TV at the lounge room. Sam used the Foxtel voice remote to ask the iQ5 to play the original Jurassic Park movie.
UPDATE: here is the commercial
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How does Foxtel compare in price to pay TV in markets like Canada, US, NZ, UK etc
My basic Sky package with HD is A$60 a month in the UK
In the US my DirecTV basic with DVR was a little more
does it say what foxtel was going to consider changing to?
US has way more variety than UK or Australia in pay options from my experience
It’s about the same - though looks like you can again buy Foxtel with SD only - as seemingly the base “Foxtel Plus” for $49 is still only SD, with $10 extra for HD. The channel selection in the base package is dreadful though, padded out with a lot of crap no one would ever pay for, so I’d expect most households would be adding a channel pack or two, likely Kids + Sports and therefore getting upsold to the Premium, and thus nearer the $100 mark.
People would be crazy to buy the base package as there’s extensive discounting - but I’m sure some people do end up paying the list price.
Kayo/Binge are significantly better value than the traditional Foxtel offering, and things like a few select HBO shows and 4K sports aren’t enough of a unique value add for “Foxtel” over what their streaming offers. Especially when you can just turn it on and off whenever.
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Have to remember to they also have multiple Pay tv companies, Plus streaming options. Not just the one Like us.
The ad screened earlier on 9Life this afternoon.
I think the link to Fox needs to be dropped. It has negative connotations. Problem is they’ve branded all their channels with Fox now.
could have gone with Sky, unless there’s an issue with Sky Racing.
Their streaming offerings (which are across four(!!) brands) now outpace Foxtel subscription numbers - how do you evolve a brand that you’ve basically sidelined
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Could they just rebrand it as Binge TV?
So you have the streaming service but those who still want the TV channels it’s an offshoot or add on.