iQ2 enabled for internet TV
Updated: Foxtel flicks the switch on the iQ2 allowing for On Demand TV via the internet at $2.95 an episode and new release movies for $5.50.
- Published by David Knox
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From today Foxtel enables its iQ2 for internet connection, giving subscribers the option of television and movies on demand via home broadband.
Subscribers with an iQ2 set-top-box and broadband can connect the internet (via a modem) and access over a thousand TV episodes and hundreds of movies.
TV Episodes will be available for $2.95 each including Mad Men (MOVIE EXTRA), Jersey Shore (MTV), Australia’s Next Top Model (FOX8), The Hills (MTV), Tough Nuts (Crime & Investigation Network), Ice Road Truckers (FOX8), Summer Heights High (The Comedy Channel), Spirited (W), iCarly (Nickelodeon), :30 seconds (The Comedy Channel), Life After People Special (The History Channel), and Hoarders (Bio).
Some children’s programming will be $1.95 per episode such as Ben 10 (The Cartoon Network) and Dora the Explorer (nick jr).
$3.95 movie titles will include Toy Story, ET, Finding Nemo, Back To The Future, American Pie, Mystery Men, Twilight, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Sixth Sense, Pirates of the Caribbean, Psycho, Twelve Monkeys and many more.
New release movies will be $5.50 each (High Definition $5.95) including Date Night, Kick-Ass and Hot Tub Time Machine in October.
The number of titles will increase to over 5000 movies and TV episodes by 2011.
CEO Kim Williams, said, “Foxtel On Demand delivers further on Foxtel’s compelling consumer proposition of putting you in control of your television viewing and allowing you to watch what you want, when you want to and increasingly over a device of your choice.
“Foxtel has been investing in its technology to build on the suite of services available to our subscribers and with the launch of On Demand, Foxtel has moved to the internet and completed its offering which includes HD, 3D and Internet TV to become the home of entertainment.
“This is the perfect time for Foxtel to launch its On Demand Internet TV service as broadband is available at faster speeds, and internet plans are becoming more affordable. If you have Foxtel at home the iQ2 set-top-box is the only box you’ll ever need to watch TV and movies On Demand instantly, whenever you like.”
Once a title has been viewed the rental period will begin –48 hours for movies and an extended rental of 10 days for TV episodes, which will increase to a 60 day rental period from December. Inside the rental period multiple viewings are allowed.
Subscribers must have an eligible ADSL/cable broadband service with an available Ethernet port at a minimum broadband speed of 1.5MB per second. Telstra BigPond customers will have unmetered usage. Subscribers can start watching a show before it has completely downloaded.
Foxtel plans to roll the On Demand service out to selected Foxtel iQ set-top-boxes from December.
Subscribers should call 131 999 to activate the On Demand service once plugged in, or for advice on set-up.
UPDATE: Roll-out to iQ2 boxes begins today and will be completed by November 1st. However users can “force” the upgrade by calling 131999 and ask for assistance. iQ roll-out begins in December for select boxes (ie.post 2008 boxes).
36 Responses
people with pay tv will pay an extra $2.95 per TV show? not me, absolutely no chance
newtaste says:
October 1, 2010 at 4:36 pm
So is it today or December, it can’t be both?
Plug in you Ethernet cables… People I know in Adelaide and Sydney have it available right now.
If you don’t have it, then keep trying… as Foxtel said, “from Now till the end of December” It is all about luck and/or being patient.
It’ll flop. It’s a waste of time on their part, but that’s their business.
But there is no reason for all this complaining. We don’t have to download anything from them, the prices are ridiculous, but we have a choice.
At least prices should be going down $5-6/month for everyone with HD.
Well…it’s something.
i think its fair to say that most people with Foxtel, me included, think its pretty much a rip-off -which it undoubtedly is. We’re all tv aficionados and like to have the extra choice but the way that freeview is adding additional channels, i wonder how long before people wise up and start leaving Foxtel in droves. I’ve said it before and i’ll say it agin: Foxtels motto is “Quantity over quality” and that is blatantly obvious to us all…
“From today Foxtel enables its iQ2 for internet connection” … “Foxtel plans to roll the On Demand service out to selected Foxtel iQ set-top-boxes from December”. You wrote: ‘It’s available from today’.
So is it today or December, it can’t be both?
It can if you have iQ or iQ2 😉
I received a letter from Foxtel today advising that they were delighted to inform me that my Package will reduce by $5.00 per month.
Thought that was fantastic until I read on…. “Your Package will no longer include the 2 free monthly box office movies.” Instead I would have access to hundres of movies from just $3.95 and TV shows from $1.95.
I cannot even recall the last time I watched 1, let alone 2 of the free movies per month.
Why does this latest foray into technological elitism by Foxtel not surprise me. Their CEO and associated hanger-onners continue with their obsession to prove Foxtel has the most bling, with no consideration given to substance, or value for money for existing subscribers. As others have said, we already pay top dollar for these programs (aside from Box Office), why would anyone choose to pay again to download them?
@paul I think that’s the problem…no real competition.
I agree with most of the other comments here. Foxtel are a joke if they think subscribers will want to pay for TV shows on demand when they have already paid a subscription to see the shows when they are played on the TV.
All TV shows should be available free and on demand if you subscribe to that channel.
I understand new release movies should be user pays, but TV? Why couldn’t they just port the Foxtel Download service to the IQ2 box?
What a joke! Why would I want to pay again for what I already pay for? Episodes should be free! We need DirectTV from the US here. Free on demand shows. Foxtel is a joke! Where’s the competition???
Another option would be rent the iq2 or iq1, say $20/mth and then just pay for what you watch, I think most of us dont get time to watch more than say 1 to 2 shows a day.. so that could add up to a normal platinum subscription…
Yes I agree that it should be free considering we’re already paying for foxtel …and that most of the content (aside from the ‘on demand movies, I assume) is stuff which is being broadcast anyway. It’s a good idea but once again, Foxtel seems to have let greed get in the way.
The sooner we get Netflix in this country the better. Netflix has just recently expanded into Canada. Unlimited streaming movies and TV shows for $7.99 a month and in HD of course.
Its not at all different to the foxtel download service, which is free, though this has a bigger library… should we really have to pay just to have a bigger library, when we have already paid?
This is a rip-off! you pay for the box and subscribe to the service and then you have to pay again to DL shows online!
Agree with Rick….I might as well just use IQ2 and record it then watch it on demand for free.
Edit to my previous post… I think you meant the 1st of November David….
It’s available from today.
I’m confused…. does this mean subscribers with an IQ2 have this feature available from today?
Would be nice if they make a wi-fi adaptor available. A missed opportunity to include the wi-fi in the actual unit itself. Hardly anyone has an ethernet port or their modem located next to their TV.
Let’s see: I pay for Foxtel (which includes the advertised programs), I pay for the IQ2 (which can record said programs), I pay to watch advertising (included in said programs), and now I pay to watch things that I get to watch anyway as part of all the above paying? Yup, that’s gonna be a popular service!
I have the IQ2 and this is good but rather expensive. $6 for a HD movie plus the download charge ? (I am not with Bigpond).
Jase
Interesting development for existing subscribers but not a reason you’d take up Foxtel. I already have Apple TV and you can hire shows and movies for similar prices. Plus, if you have a USA iTunes account you can also purchase shows from that country.
Is everything paid content or are there also going to be free tv shows and movies as well. If not then I seriously don’t see this being taken up my many subscribers.
On Demand TV Shows should be free……. movies are fine but paying for content you already pay for is a stupid idea!!
Especially if we are paying for the internet as well