Was Cartoon Network and TNT/TCM a timeshared channel on Optus between 1999 and 2001 just like Austar Analogue or were they seperated like Foxtel?
2 Likes
Were Fox Soap, Talk, Travel and History (outside of their respective Seperate Branding, when they were branded together) commonly branded as Channel 29(1996)/31(1997)?
As far as I recall, they were just always promoted as 4 seperate channels that were sharing the one number.
there is an ad with all 4 seperate brands but they had the same number
see for yourself: https://archive.org/details/1997-promo-for-channel-31
1 Like
Does anyone have or know of any decent sources of channel lineups for Foxtel from 2004 onward?
I’m working on an interactive channel timeline, the analog era has been relatively easy, but the digital era has been a bit of a challenge
Here is a very early version - it’s very much a work in progress at the moment: https://webepg.xyz/channellist/history
3 Likes
My TVCL Foxtel Timeline Page has the History of the lineup from 2004 up until 2012
1 Like
I spent a bit of time yesterday updating the Foxtel pages - it’s not perfect and I’m sure there are still errors, but it’s much more comprehensive
https://webepg.xyz/channellist/history/foxteldigital
If anyone finds any errors, please dont hesitate to let me know 
1 Like
are you going to do the Free TV Timeline 2001-2026 in the future?
1 Like
I can if there is interest - populating it, especially the early years may be tricky
so must nostalgia. I worked at Fox at the launch of Digital - the channel line up was quite exciting at the time
2 Likes
Brings back great memories. I worked there for 15 years, pre-digital, right thru to iq3 or 4, so look forward to reviewing this. I must see if I have any old documents/tv spots/reels etc laying around from my time there
3 Likes
Done - https://webepg.xyz/channellist/history/freeview_metro
Fair to say, there will be errors
Entertainment Plus on Foxtel had the Following Channels in 1995-1997:
26: thecomedychannel, 27: Hallmark Entertainment Network, 28: FX/FXM: Movies From Fox, 29: Fox Soap/Talk/Travel/History, 30: TVSN, Nightmoves, World Movies (Launched in 1995) and Event TV were their own seperate packages in 1997 Basic is everything Else
The Following Changes in 1998/1999:
Antenna Pacific and RAI Internazionale added as Add-Ons, Fox Channel 31 renamed to The History Channekl (Fox Soap/Talk Programming Moved to FX (turned into a Female Channel, FXM renamed to FX Movies), Fox Kids Moves to both Entertainment Plus and The History Channel Making Fox8 a 24 Hour Channel), TVSN Moves to Basics, Showtime and Encore are Bundled as Movies
Changes for 2000:
Fox Kids and Fox Classics (Formerly FX Movies) Move to a New Channel Slot so that both Channels are still time-sharing but with each other and both move to the Basic Pack, TCM Moves to Entertainment Plus, FX and The History Channel become Full-Time Channels, Showtime 2 added to Movies
Changes Between 2001-2003:
Changes for 2001:
Disney Channel (Optus) Joins Entertainment Plus making TCM move to the Movies Pack
Changes for 2002 and 2003:
Sports Plus is Created which adds the New Fox Footy Channel (2002-2006) Movie Network (Movie One, Movie Extra and Movie Greats) join Foxtel under a Second Movie Pack, ESPN joins on Sports Plus as well as Entertainment Plus, Ovation and MTV join (both channels on Optus) followed by Animal Planet in 2003 all in Entertainment Plus
1 Like
I’ve recently watched a documentary on Brian Walsh on BINGE and there was a snippet of the pre-launch of FOXTEL played at a conference in March 1995, I wonder if I can find the full video of it, plus i added a pic of the sports found on news reports -
4 Likes
anymore foxtel content pre-october 1995
Sorry for the late response, no unfortunately, I posted these if anyone knows where I can access the promotional tape (for example the NFSA or state libraries across Australia)
1 Like
The precursor to The Weather Channel.
I assume overnight, it’s just a loop of these graphics and some jazz music.
Full of the world’s most popular typeface at the time, Univers.
(The ticker didn’t show warnings very well.)
The channel did premiere something on 22 May 1999.
In a first for public media weather presentation in Australia, Weather 21, Foxtel’s weather channel, has introduced simplified upper air charts for viewers.
The charts show jetsteams, and their effect on the movement of upper systems, cloudbands and blocking systems. The upper atmosphere is seldom mentioned in the Australian press or electronic media, or in Bureau public weather statements, apart from occasional references to “upper air disturbances”. Weather 21 is predominantly received by rural viewers, who are likely to appreciate the greater understanding of the weather that comes with an appreciation of upper air meteorology.
This wasn’t a precursor, this was the Weather Channel. It was on Austar 21, duh, changed it’s name to The Weather Channel in about June 2000 when it moved to make way for something else (I think it was Bloomberg) and joined Foxtel December 1st 2002. They used to be able to put localized weather on it every 10 minutes or so because Austar had boxes that were able to do interactive stuff before ‘digital’. Foxtel had a weather channel too, but it was just some slides and was only in the places Telstra had laid cable.
I remember seeing a clip of it on YouTube years ago, but it’s gone now. Probably just plainly called “Foxtel Weather”.
If only I knew of this forum back then.