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Foxtel Now lands with $10 entry, HD & Chromecast.

Foxtel gets serious in the streaming market with Foxtel Now to replace Foxtel Play.

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Foxtel has confirmed a rebranding of its streaming service Foxtel Play to be known as Foxtel Now from tomorrow.

Amongst the key announcements is an entry point of $10 per month, HD streaming on select devices and the ability to view on the big screen with Google Chromecast.

Foxtel Now will initially be available on PC / Mac via the Google Chrome browser, Telstra TV, iOS and Android mobiles and tablets, and Chromecast with additional devices updated in the coming months.

Genre bundles will vary from $10 – $29 per month, with Game of Thrones in the Drama pack in HD, for $15 per month.

Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh said, “We believe everyone deserves to experience the world’s best entertainment.

“Foxtel offers award winning home-grown drama, plus the best choice in live sport, new movies, new shows and complete seasons than anyone else in Australia. Unfortunately, not enough Australians are able to enjoy this incredible programming.

“We think it’s time to change that, so we’ve taken some big steps to diversify our service to offer the biggest, most affordable, range of options for everyone.

“From tomorrow, all Australians can watch what they want, when they want and where they want at a price that suits them best, from low-price, no-commitment, HD streaming up to a state-of the art viewing experience via our cable and satellite iQ3 set top box.”

Additional devices will be updated in the coming months, until then, other devices, including PlayStation 3 & 4, Xbox One and select Smart TVs are able to stream Foxtel content in SD via the Foxtel Play app. Foxtel will also be launching a ‘puck’ device as another streaming option later in the year.

Subscribers will have access to all linear services in the tier along with all of the on-demand, catch up and library content available to that tier plus mobile and tablet access via the new Foxtel Now app. At launch there will be over 16,000 titles in the on demand library, half of them in HD with more HD content being added all the time.

Foxtel Now features five entry level packs to match viewers’ interests including Drama and Pop packs priced at $15 per month each or $25 for both. Lifestyle, Docos and Kids packs are available at $10 per month each.

The Drama and Pop packs both feature the showcase channel, which airs HBO’s award-winning Game of Thrones, meaning fans of the series can enjoy the upcoming Game of Thrones season 7, in HD, for only $15 per month.

Foxtel Now’s Movies pack is available for $20 per month in addition to an entry level pack and the Sports pack is available for an extra $29* per month, meaning Sports lovers can now get access to Foxtel’s incredible sports programming for a little as $39 per month.

Foxtel Now requires internet and compatible device. Data charges may apply. Australia only.

^HD is only available on PC/Mac via Google Chrome browser, Telstra TV and Chromecast. Not all services/programs available in HD. HD not available on mobile/tablet.

27 Responses

  1. So Platinum subscribers who currently (and have for years) paid well over $120 a month for Foxtel, including multi room, still cannot stream but for another $50 and draining my data I can? Doesn’t seem right but that’s the Foxtel model.

  3. I can’t see how any of this can compare to Netflix?? There is no “$10” p/mth option – its just putting lipstick on the current pig they have and dressing it up as something it isn’t.

    No thanks, get serious Foxtel, or get out of TV

    1. That’s like comparing apples to oranges. The content on Netflix isn’t comparable to Foxtel. They are all doing different things. When Netflix has sport then maybe there will be an argument.

      1. Foxtel now’s drama and pop packs are rather mediocre and don’t offer more than Presto outside of the HBO library.

        Netflix and Stan are miles ahead with their content. Stan also has a lot of the same movies (Nerve and Bad Moms) that Foxtel are advertising as premieres on Foxtel Now

  4. What about us who are not interested in streating and pay extra for HD; 720p I thought it always has been..Foxtel look after the non streamers and we and others will return …

  5. You will need a starter pack to access Fox Sports which means a minimum cost of $44.00 a month, so in comparison to similar services overseas and the variety of different sports on offer in HD & UHD (4K) Foxtel is still exploiting the consumer. The interest I have is whether Foxtel will eventually do a Netflix and become a fixture on Australian Smart TV’s.remotes, I suggest its future will depend on it, but the pricing has got to be comparable with competitors and I’m not sure how Foxtel will manage that in a small population country unless it spreads it’s content overseas.

  6. As someone who subscribes to Foxtelplay through a Telstra tv,there’s absolutely nothing for me in these changes.All i’m getting is a significant reduction in the number of channels i’m seeing for exactly the same price.It would have been nice if Foxtel had changed the channel packs and reduced the entry level price,as Fetch tv has done recently.

  7. Worth pointing out that Foxtel Now’s “HD” will only be 720p resolution, as opposed to the 1080p “Full HD” on most other streaming services. (Not to mention the premium 4K option on Netflix and Stan.)

  12. What they need to do is cut the regular Pay TV prices, I’ve had it for years but would seriously considering cutting the service if it wasn’t for F1 and V8 coverage.

    2. Agree, I’ve been with Foxtel for about 15 years and held a multitude of ‘entertainment’ bundles in that time frame, but I’ve just slashed my package back to basic and sport. I now use other streaming sources for ‘entertainment’ simply due to what Foxtel are charging for their bundles. It’s just not good value in today’s world and there is a lot of competition providing better deals in my view.

  13. I’d be interested in comparing my IQ3 package with the same channels via Foxtel Now. Clearly they now see that people want HD, wonder if that’ll mean they will provide HD for free on IQ boxes before 2020??

    1. Yeah good luck with that! As nice as it would be.. doubt it will happen.
      They designed and built a new set top box from scratch that can’t even handle 4K… the next standard. Foxtel aren’t very innovative.
      HD has been around for 15-20 years and in 2017 they are crowing about how good they are finally offering it on some devices.

      1. Your cynicism appears to be warranted, Foxtel’s decision not to provide HD content as standard and the strong likelihood that it will not provide future HD set top box upgrades for free, especially for their long term subscribers, is either a sign of financial pressure or commercial ignorance if pay TV improvements overseas are any example. The UK will be anticipating future UHD satellite sports coverage and more 4K content. not just HD.

          1. How is it outdated? Netflix charge more for HD than SD and more again for UHD. Blu Rays cost more than DVD’s and UHD Blu Rays more again. iTunes charge more for HD movies / tv shows than SD. It is fairly common globally to charge more for a relatively better service. Same in other industries, cars, airlines etc etc etc

          2. Foxtel has agreed HD is now industry standard as per Free to Air channels. If you rent an IQ2 or IQ3 the box is already HD.

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