It doesn’t appear that News had to seek external funding, rather Foxtel asked for yet another loan
There will also be some crafty accounting going on here too, this will be super tax efficent and is probably helping both companies limit tax payments (not that either have a great track record there)
Regardless… Fox should be shut down. It’s struggling and clearly the business model is flawed.
Plenty of businesses operate with a poor or flimsy business model - admittedly the majority don’t have an owner with as deeper pockets then News. It seems to be the way now
for which Telstra said no to for their equity share ownership value.
News borrowed the money from their existing funding agreement (most likely the Saudi’s) and while they can continue to do that they will eventually have to pay it back, basically its another $213 million they cant put towards trying to keep AFL or NRL, they will have to sacrifice one because no way can they fight off the onslaught tidal wade of streaming options that are about to explode.
I’ll say it again the old man made an error when he sent “The Australian” after Rudd’s NBN FTTP, how he miss understood that IP and not DTH (S or C) was the future still is amazing.
Granted they have figured out their is no future in DTH C since Telstra sold the network to NBN (had no choice) and they had to buy capacity from Optus for satellite (which Optus is more than happy to sell them).
But how he misunderstood the IP broadcast side, amazing, in fact all of them save for the non traditional players messed up with that big time.
i love foxtel always have and always will and much better then fta 
so im happy to give them my money:)
how do I give that a THUMBS DOWN 
I got rid of pay TV way back in 2011 and have not looked back, do commercials bug me? not in the slightest.
I would argue that FTA with so many primary and multi-channels has long surpassed pay TV, the last remaining reason to have pay TV is speciality content, sports + news (and even the news front is slipping away to digital media distribution).
If Fox Sports continue to scale back then that is the end of Foxtel as the speciality content can be found via other providers like Fetch or via direct methods.
Looking forward to this great future. How many subscriptions will I need to watch my favourite teams?
ah yes, the issue that IP faces is so many choices
Realistically speaking why should you as a subscriber subsidise something you have no interest in watching? it’s 2019 and the technology is now at the point where a black box with smart card is no longer needed.
Why should one company hold everyone to ransom … perfect example with T20 tonight, no one cares because the vast majority don’t know about it, but that is the issue as I said above, without sporting rights Foxtel as a company is dead.
thats you and not me and i disagree fta is rubbish and pay tv is better:( and no other opinion is going to change mine:)
Think this is worth linking to - Foxtel have published a list of all the shows moving channels as part of the new entertainment channel lineup being introduced tomorrow. For example, Modern Family & The Big Bang Theory are going from The Comedy Channel to Fox Funny
What is the difference between The Comedy Channel and Fox Funny? Isn’t it duplication?
Well, doesn’t The Comedy Channel feature mostly licenced content from the US channel and around the world?
111 funny is just US sitcoms. The Comedy Channel is a mix of US and UK sitcoms as well as animations, stand-up, mockumentaries, clip shows, etc.
From tomorrow, it appears Fox Funny will take on current/recent US sitcoms and mockumentaries while the older turn of the century sitcoms will go to Fox Hits. The Comedy Channel will still have a point of difference.
You can now enjoy 9 new channels* including great drama, comedies, the best movies and sports also in Ultra HD.~
Immerse yourself in great TV, like nowhere else in Australia, with the launch of our new dedicated Ultra HD channels.~
Get the best live sport and more movies, crime, hits, and favourite shows, there’s always something for everyone to enjoy. Only on Foxtel.
Foxtel’s line-up of great entertainment now includes four new channels,** with new dramas, comedies and the world’s favourite shows. Fox One, Fox Hits, Fox Funny and Fox Crime are waiting for you to enjoy.
Drama First: Home to the world’s most addictive and entertaining dramas
Best way to do crime: FOX Crime is your partner in Crime and the destination for thrills, mystery and murder.
The laughs are on us: It’s the place to go for comedies and sitcoms that can be watched time and time again
Let the good times LOL: Home of the best sitcoms. It’s a channel full of good vibes and great laughs
Foxtel Movies now features four new and exclusive channels^ where you can watch the best movies. Try them out on Foxtel Movies Kids, Foxtel Movies Hits, Foxtel Movies Drama and Foxtel Movies Ultra HD.~ Thousands of hours of Live On demand movies at the touch of a button, all in one place.
^New channels include replacements for Disney Movies, Movies Masterpiece and Movies More.
~Requires iQ4, compatible Ultra HD TV and Movies + HD packs
Kids: A world of fun just for kids, all in one safe place.
Hits: The home of movie events and popular must-see flicks.
Drama: Powerful and award-winning dramatic films.
Ultra HD: A dedicated 24/7 movie channel delivered in Ultra HD.
Get the best view of Australia’s favourite live sports in Ultra HD, plus a dedicated 24/7 channel delivering an immersive movie experience.
Fox Sports: Feel immersed in the greatest variety of live sports to watch in Australia in Ultra HD.*
#Replaces current 4K Ultra HD channel.
Foxtel Movies: A dedicated 24/7 movie channel delivered in Ultra HD.*
*Requires iQ4, compatible Ultra HD TV and Movies + HD packs
meh.
I miss the old days of “The Movie Network” and “Movie Greats” that is all you really needed.
or if you were Galaxy sub:
Showtime and Encore
I do miss the Showtime brand. They had some cool idents!
Foxtel’s O&O movie channels have been crap - just a constant shuffle every couple years, weak brands - just crap. Movie Network was excellent. As was TV1 … I could go on.
I suspect The Comedy Channel is on its way out … watch this space for Comedy Central …?
Comedy Central has been on Fetch for a while
Maybe not, why would News Corp dump a brand that has been on pay TV since October 1995*, it was one of the 1st Foxtel owned channels from that era of pay TV for a channel which is owned by Viacom Media which is about to be merged with CBS Corporation.
Makes no sense at all to do that.
*Is that right?, I did not have Galaxy or Foxtel back then so my direct knowledge is lacking o that one, then again it’s News Corp who knows.
Edit"
A little research goes a long way:
The Comedy channel launched June 30 1996
The original ownership group were:
Australis Media 40% (Galaxy Pay TV)
Artist Services 20% (I think that was Steve Vizards company, any way today this company is now part of iTV Studios)
Foxtel 40% (News/Telstra)
Since 2002 Foxtel has 100% ownership of “The Comedy Channel” brand for AU market.
it really was, don’t misunderstand me Showtime was good but back in the mid to 90’s “The Movie Network & Movie Great” before it became Movie Network channels Movie one, Movie Extra & Movie Greats it was special solid stuff the one key difference between Foxtel and then Optus Vision, once it became Movie ONE,Extra and then FMC, Starpics it was too sanitised and lacked what made it special, I think it was all the “Foxtel” ads that ruined it.
Indeed, a lot of good channels flushed down the toilet because News Corp need for the “FOX” brand which really means nothing here even after all these years.
I think you answered your own question re The Comedy Channel.
It’s not a Fox branded channel.
There is no love lost from Foxtel with regards to legacy brands unfortunately.
Comedy Central is a global brand - as per other posts above, much of the content of The Comedy Channel is licenced - just sublet Comedy Central in.
