October 10 launch date confirmed for BBC Earth on Foxtel and Fetch https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2019/9/8/launch-date-announced-for-bbc-earth
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The Golden Years of Bill Collins
Join the celebration on Sunday 15 September
âMr Moviesâ, Bill Collins, will be remembered and celebrated at a special event, hosted by Foxtel in Sydney on Sunday, September 15.
Bill passed away peacefully, at the age of 84, in June, bringing down the curtain on a remarkable life.
Billâs passion for cinema led to an early career change from school teacher to television movie host in 1963. From the ABC, he went on to work at the Nine, Seven and Ten Networks before signing with Foxtel for its launch in 1995 and staying for the rest of his working life.
The Saturday night movie presentations, Bill Collinsâ Golden Years of Hollywood , are fondly remembered across generations of Australians and are still available on Foxtel on demand.
Billâs dedication to sharing his love of movies earned him awards and accolades, including the Order of Australia Medal in 1987, the TV WEEK Hall of Fame Logie Award in 2009 and, in July 2013 he was presented with the inaugural ASTRA Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh said: âBill Collins was an iconic figure on Australian television for over 50 years and a treasured member of the Foxtel family.
âIt is only fitting that we remember his extraordinary contribution and celebrate his illustrious career with a special event for work colleagues, friends and fans. It will be a great salute to a television legend.â
The celebration of Billâs life on September 15 will be held at Foxtel on Oxford, in Paddington, Sydney. The afternoon will include memoirs from some of those who worked with Bill over the years, both on and off camera, excerpts from some of his interviews and hostings and a screening of Bill Collins â Mr Movies , a one hour tribute special.
For tickets to attend this special afternoon event please go to foxtelbillcollins.eventbrite.com.au
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Some news from Foxtel
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Interesting changes. I think Fox Crime is used in other Fox International markets, but I donât think Iâve heard of the others.
I presume Arena will be rebranded Lifestyle Arena? Otherwise why would they bother mentioning it will be part of the Lifestyle stable?
Makes sense refocusing the channels and renaming them to better names than 111 Hits and TV Hits which never made sense.
Arena under Lifestyle makes sense as well, I doubt theyâll rename it, if they were going to surely theyâd announce it now (youâd assume to Bravo).
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Why set up Fox One when Foxtel only has to revamp programming on its existing flagship channel, Fox8?
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More tinkering at the edges for foxtel. Theyâre just continually failing and none of this will attract new subscribers. This is what you get after years of anti competitive behavior.
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Presumably, this branding reallignment is happening because Foxtel want their channels to be more easily identifiable as theirs and for something which would work better for a potential transition to online-only services at some point in the future.
The exact same reasons that the major free to air networks have aside from their flagship main channels, moved away from âchannel numberâ brands (Eleven, One, ABC2, ABC3, SBS2, etc.) to more network/genre themed names (10 Peach, 10 Bold, ABC COMEDY, ABC ME, SBS VICELAND, etc.) in recent years.
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They were shared with other providers like Fetch TV so couldnât really be branded with Fox and they assisted with the âillusion of choiceâ with Foxtelâs channel lineup. Just like on FTA, the days of independently branded O&O channels are over but it doesnât mean they never made sense to begin with.
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Shouldâve done this ages ago
Foxtel overhauls entertainment line-up
Four exclusive new FOX-branded channels and Lifestyle refresh
Foxtel today announced the most significant overhaul of its entertainment TV channel line-up in a decade with the introduction of four new and exclusive FOX-branded channels and a wholesale repositioning and refresh of its popular Lifestyle franchise.
The channel changes across entertainment and lifestyle are a further step by Foxtel in providing its customers the best of TV and on demand all in one place, at the best value.
Entertainment Channels
From 7 November, Foxtel customers will enjoy four new and exclusive FOX-branded entertainment channels FOX ONE, FOX FUNNY, FOX HITS and FOX CRIME in addition to existing FOX-branded entertainment channels FOX SHOWCASE, FOX8 and FOX CLASSICS, together with Foxtelâs FOX branded sports channels.
Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany said: âFOX is a breakthrough global entertainment brand known for surprising and shaking things up. These new FOX-branded TV channels allow us to take control of our entertainment programming based on bold channel personalities that keep things fresh and aligned to what our customers want from us. They will also deliver great outcomes for our advertisers.
âThe channels are unapologetically and unmistakably Foxtel. They are exclusive to us and make it even easier for our customers to access our huge range of television, from the latest international and local drama series to the most popular crime and comedies.
âThey add to our existing flagship FOX-branded channels and will be home to thousands of hours of the best live and on demand TV. There is no other collection of channel brands like it on Australian television or streaming platforms.â
- FOX ONE will be a new flagship channel along-side FOX SHOWCASE AND FOX8 and home to the latest premium US network and cable series and contemporary hits including Ballers , Chicago Fire and Mayans M.C. and new season premieres including Prodigal Son , legal drama All Rise and the explosive War of the Worlds .
- FOX FUNNY will showcase the latest contemporary comedy including The Big Bang Theory , Modern Family , The Office , 30 Rock and How I Met Your Mother .
- FOX HITS is a new comedy channel that will deliver classic comedy favourites from the 80s and 90s such as Friends , Will and Grace , Frasier and Malcolm in the Middle .
- FOX CRIME is a new channel featuring the best crime series on television including NCIS , Criminal Minds , CSI and Bones .
Foxtel Lifestyle Group
The Foxtel Lifestyle Group, which recently came under the control of Wendy Moore who joined Foxtel this year from Pacific Magazines, has undergone a brand revision and revitalisation which now also includes Foxtelâs Arena channel which has been repositioned and refreshed.
Mr Delany said: âOur female audiences are incredibly important and this wholesale revision and revitalisation of the Lifestyle Group doubles-down on delivering more value through relevant and contemporary programming for Australian women and their families.
âWe know that seeing your own lives and dreams beam directly to your home is a powerful motivator. Our Lifestyle channels have built a strong emotional connection with women by inspiring them with whatâs on-trend and whatâs possible.
âWe know however that life is about the perfect mixture of sugar and spice. Part of viewer enjoyment and well-being involves indulging their guilty pleasures.
âThis is where the repositioning and refresh of the Arena channel fits in as the home of risquĂŠ reality, glamour and salacious gossip and drama. This will see the channel air a fresh, new series of Australiaâs Real Housewives of Melbourne in 2020.â
From 25 September, Foxtelâs Lifestyle channels will see a brand revision and revitalisation to align with the lives and aspirations of contemporary Australian women. The refresh will be accompanied by the arrival of the new Foxtel Original series, Find Me a Beach House and the return of Lifestyle favourites, Love It or List It Australia and The Great Australian Bake Off .
- Lifestyle bringing local and international experts into Australian homes including Selling Houses Australia , Grand Designs Australia , Love It or List It Australia and new series Find Me a Beach House starring Deborah Hutton.
- Lifestyle Food celebrating the variety and cultural beauty of food including The Great Australian Bake Off , Masterchef UK and Hellâs Kitchen .
- Lifestyle Home , the ultimate destination for 24/7 home and property entertainment including Love It or List It , A Place in The Sun and Coast v Country .
- Arena , the home of guilty pleasures, glamour and fame featuring The Real Housewives franchise, Project Runway and Vanderpump Rules .
The channel changes follow yesterdayâs announcement that the BBCâs new premium factual channel BBC Earth will launch on Foxtel on 10 October, bringing viewers incredible stories about the world around us including four of Sir David Attenboroughâs biggest titles - Blue Planet II , Planet Earth II , Frozen Planet and The Hunt . BBC Earth will replace the existing channel BBC Knowledge and will include a significant increase in on demand programming.
⢠High Definition. All FOX channels, with the exception of 80s and 90s comedy channel FOX HITS and FOX CLASSICS will be available to customers in High Definition.
⢠Existing Channels. The new FOX channels will also result in other changes. FOX FUNNY and FOX HITS will take the place of 111 FUNNY while FOX CRIME will replace TVH!TS and with three FOX flagship channels, Binge will also be removed.
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They should rename BoxSets to FoxSets! 
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Thatâs my big issue as well - Fox Oneâs positioning seems similar to (if not virtually identical to) Fox 8âs. Itâs unclear what the difference between the two are.
Also, Iâm sorry but the idea of having three âflagshipâ channels is ludicrous - they should either have one such channel or go down the Sky UK route with Sky One & Sky Atlantic and have 2 clearly differentiated flagships
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Apparently Foxtel Now is being let go of and the service will instead be merged into Foxtel Go.
(According to some new upcoming updates to the Go app for Android 10)
So TVHits and 111Funny are out???
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Was there actually a media event tonight? Or was this just a announcement?
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Are they dumping the comedy channel or is fox funny in addition to it?
And once again they have not bothered with stuff from the '50s 60s and 70âs - the stuff that used to be on Nick at night.
I love Lucy, Mary Tyler Moore, Mr. Ed, My 3 sons, etc. The great shows from the black and white days.
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There was. Mumbrella has a photo from this event.
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I wish Foxtel would have a Soap channel that played all the free to air dramas of the 70s, 80s and 90s:
- Melrose Place
- Young Doctors
- Dallas
- Beverly Hills 90210
- The Sullivans
- The Restless Years
- Dynasty
- Central Park West
- Skyways
- Models Inc
- Carsons Law
If such a channel existed, I would never leave my home againâŚit would be soap 24-7 and I would be in heavenâŚ
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