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Audience Inventory 2017: Pay TV results

More flexible packages and Foxtel's unpopular HD fee are the most pressing issues for Pay TV viewers.

In the third and final results from the TV Tonight Audience Inventory we look to Pay TV results (includes Foxtel & Fetch TV).

Despite the increased competition, Pay TV subscription has increased. 2 years ago 43% of readers indicated they were subscribers. Now that figure is 56%.

Showcase remains the most-watched channel, followed by FOX8, FOX Sports and LifeStyle, which all increased in viewership.

More flexible packages, Foxtel’s unpopular HD fee and overall pricing are the Most Important issues to subscribers.

Whilst Foxtel Now numbers remain modest only a tiny percentage of readers indicated they would become future customers (either in-home Foxtel or streaming through Foxtel Now).

Earlier results indicated good responses for reliability, trustworthiness, IQ ownership and EPG Guide popularity.

Here are this year’s Pay TV results, with those that have shifted more than 2% noted below.

* denotes multiple answers allowed

Which of the following do you watch regularly?*
Free to Air Commercial 72%
Free to Air Public Broadcaster 56%
Pay TV 56%
Streaming (subscription) 55%
Community TV 3%

Up: Streaming, Pay TV
Down: Public Broadcaster

Do you subscribe to Pay TV?*#
No 38%
Foxtel Metro cable 23%
Foxtel Metro satellite 18%
Foxtel Regional subscriber satellite 14%
Fetch TV 7%
Telstra TV 3%
Foxtel Regional subscriber cable 2%
Other 2%

Which Pay TV channels do you watch regularly?*
Don’t Have Pay TV 37%
Showcase 35%
FOX8 30%
FOX Sports 28%
LifeStyle 24%
BBC First 24%
FOX Footy 20%
Nat Geo 16%
Premiere 16%
UKTV 15%
FX 15%
Universal 15%
SKY News 14%
Comedy 14%
Discovery 13%
LifeStyle FOOD 12%
Arena 12%
ESPN 12%
History 12%
111 Funny 11%
Syfy 11%
FOX League 10%
TV Hits 9%
Crime & Investigation 9%
Masterpiece 8%
13th Street 8%
[V] Hits 8%
MAX 8%
Box Sets 8%
Foxtel Arts 8%
A&E 7%
LifeStyle You 7%
CNN 7%
Other 6%
BBC World News 6%
Comedy (Movies) 6%
World Movies 6%
Disney Movies 5%
Smooth 4%
Family Movies 4%
Binge 4%
Eurosport 4%
MTV 4%
E! 4%
Disney 3%
Nickelodeon 3%
Cartoon Network 2%

Up: Showcase, FOX8, FOX Sports, LifeStyle, BBC First, FOX Footy, NatGeo, Premiere, Universal, Discovery, ESPN, 13th Street, Comedy (Movies),
Down: No
New: FOX League, 111 Funny, Smooth, Binge

Which Foxtel package do you subscribe to for cable / satellite?*#
Don’t have Foxtel 42%
Entertainment 31%
HD 27%
Drama 23%
Sports 21%
Platinum 18%
Entertainment Plus 17%
Docos 13%
Movies 10%
Kids 7%
Sports & Drama combo 6%
Other 1%

Which Foxtel Now package do you subscribe to? #
Don’t have Foxtel Now 89%
Drama 3%
Premium Sport 3%
Pop 2%
Premium Movies 1%
Lifestyle 1%
Docos 1%
Kids 0%

How likely are you to become a Foxtel subscriber in the next 12 months? #
Already a subscriber 53%
Not likely to subscribe 34%
Likely to unsubscribe from Foxtel 5%
Unsure 2%
Likely to unsubscribe from Foxtel Now 2%
Likely to become a Foxtel Now subscriber with cheaper / more flexible packages 2%
Likely to become a full subscriber with cheaper / more flexible packages 1%
Likely to become a Foxtel Now (streaming) subscriber 1%
Likely to become a full subscriber 0%

Rate any or all of the following Pay TV issues *
VERY IMPORTANT
More flexible packaging options
Dropping fee for HD channels
Lowering prices to reflect new competition
Less ads
Fast-tracking / Express from the US
More HD channels
Aligning all FTA channels on EPG Menu
Improving customer service
IQ3 to fix technical problems
Foxtel Go available on all devices
Adding new channels
Technical innovations
Keeping shows on the channel they launch on
Picking up shows dumped by FTA broadcasters
More Aussie content

NO OPINION
Fetch TV offering unique channels not avail. elsewhere
More channels available thru Foxtel Now
More HD for Foxtel Now
Shutting down illegal piracy websites

Up: Picking up shows dumped by FTA broadcasters, IQ3 to fix technical problems, Foxtel Go available on all devices, More Aussie content, Technical innovation.
New:Lowering prices to reflect new competition, More HD for Foxtel Now

All results have been rounded.

# denotes question variation from 2016 survey making trends unable to be compared

There were 1003 surveys completed.

60% indicated they visit TV Tonight once a day or more.
87% indicated Excellent or Very Good on the question of satisfaction with TV Tonight.

Thanks to all who participated.

6 Responses

  1. “Despite the increased competition, Pay TV subscription has increased. 2 years ago 43% of readers indicated they were subscribers. Now that figure is 56%.”

    Probably reflects a change in readers/respondents, or the growth/new inclusion in this survey of Fetch/Telstra TV, more than anything (though, doing the maths, you haven’t included the IPTV services in that 56%).

    Although they don’t admit figures much, it’s generally considered that Foxtel penetration has long been near-stagnant @ ~30%. No way they’ve managed a 30% increase over 2 years, so it’s gotta be site/survey demos or similar…

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