Foxtel launches IPTV service
Telstra and News Corporation's joint TV subscription company Foxtel has today launched a new IPTV subscription service, Foxtel Play, targeting consumers who have been reluctant to sign up for lengthy contracts with the company.
The new service has gone live today, with a free seven-day trial ahead of a larger launch on August 11.
The service is available on PC, Mac, Xbox 360, and Samsung smart TVs, starting at AU$25 per month for a basic package either including entertainment channels, drama channels, documentary channels, or kids' channels. From there, the customers can add another package for AU$10 extra per month, two for AU$20, or have all four for AU$50 per month.
Premium channels for sports or movies and Showtime, which includes much of the critically acclaimed HBO dramas such as The Newsroom and Game of Thrones, are available for an additional AU$25 per month.
The subscriptions are month to month, and customers can cancel at any time.
Foxtel Play subscribers will also get access to Foxtel's Go app for smartphones and tablets.
Foxtel CEO Richard Freudenstein said in a statement that the Foxtel Play service is aimed at customers who might not be able to access the Foxtel set-top box offering.
"Now, Foxtel Play gives even more Australians who might not be able to access the core service the freedom and flexibility to enjoy Foxtel across multiple connected devices and at price points to suit different budgets and tastes," he said.
The market for IPTV in Australia is still relatively new compared to the United Kingdom and the United States. While US giants like Netflix and Hulu are not yet offering services in Australia, there are several other IPTV or streaming content services in the country, including Quickflix and FetchTV. The government-funded ABC has a live-streaming channel for its 24-hour news station, while both ABC and SBS have streaming catch-up services.
Netflix and Hulu have, however, reportedly registered trademarks in Australia, but have yet to reveal any plans to launch services in Australia.
Quickflix reported last week that it has 106,825 active subscribers as of the end of June, following the rollout of its streaming service, with the company now said to be focusing on growing its customer base and obtaining more content.