★★★★★ 0/5

Flash streaming all about news

Al Jazeera, BBC World News, Bloomberg TV, CNN & SKY News on new streaming platform for $8 monthly.

16
Leave a comment

News streaming service Flash is launching with more than 20 global and local news sources at $8 monthly with no lock-in contracts.

The Foxtel Group product available on phones, tablets, PCs and TVs will include Al Jazeera, ausbiz, BBC World News, Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg Quicktake, Channel News Asia, CNBC, CNN International, ET Now, FOX News Channel, FOX Sports News, GB News, i24NEWS, France24, news.com.au, NHK World, REA, Russia Today, SKY News Australia, Sky News UK, Sky News Extra, Sky News Weather, Storyful, PeopleTV, Times Now, USA Today, USA Today SportsWire and The Wall Street Journal -ABC News is not included.

Flash will feature user innovations including: Personalisation, allowing users to follow the opinions, topics and news that matter to them and FlashLists, the ability to create and save stories to watch later. Soon after launch more features will be available including FlashPoint, providing every angle of every story and FlashNav, getting straight to the big moments of stories faster.

Flash CEO, Julian Ogrin, said: “Flash is a game-changer in news media. It will transform the way Australians consume the news that matters to them by bringing together the widest range of local and international live news sources in a single, easy to use, feature-packed service.

“Flash will deliver greater control and more choice, providing access to the latest, breaking live and on demand news sources that Australians want, when they want it and where they want to watch it – at home, at work or on the go.

“Flash is the latest product built on the world-class technology platform that streams our fast-growing Kayo Sports and Binge streaming services to almost two million Australians. It gives us the flexibility to continue to grow our news sources and drive innovation in the way people can consume news.”

Flash Executive Director, Kate de Brito, said: “Flash offers genuine diversity in opinions and perspectives, putting a wide range of trusted news sources into the hands of more Australians.

“At launch we will have unrivalled access to over 20 news sources – which will grow over time – with the ability to select and curate the views and opinions that matter to you.

“Whether your politics are progressive, in the centre or conservative. Whether you are after business news, or finance, local or world events, weather or sport. And it will be all for just $8 per month with no lock in contracts.”

A 14-day free trial is available for new customers at www.flashnews.com.au.

16 Responses

  1. I do subscribe to CNBC each month for their online content which includes three streaming networks on their Apple TV app. Approx $30 a month. But randomly utilise their website with news…
    I have a Bloomberg subscription to read their news but their broadcast is free on the app.
    TRT and AJE free on YT… and I’ve really missed CNNi since cutting the cord with Foxtel four or five years ago…

    So to replace CNBC with this, and getting CNN for $8, is rather pay $5 as most other networks are free, on YouTube.

    I’ll give it a crack.

  2. … it’s been reported that ABC news was offered a slot, but according to Amanda Meade in the Guardian the offer was “well below” the market value for ABC News content and all offers have been rejected … seems a bit strange given that the ABC is always complaining about being under-funded and Flash carrying its service would presumably be at no additional cost to the ABC itself … as far as I’m aware there’s no other outfit banging on Ultimo’s door to buy it so one would have thought it would be money for jam …

    1. I agree, iamgrant77. Whilst $8/month is not a huge impost, many of the channels offered by Flash are available for free elsewhere so why would I pay to watch them? For example, when I need high quality coverage of American finance & business news I can easily watch Bloomberg’s feed at bloomberg.com/live. I don’t see what value-add Flash can provide to justify their monthly charge.

  4. Cancelled my subscription immediately as it’s only available on a very limited number of devices, one of which is Telstra TV. A very Foxtel thing to do.

  5. I do watch a reasonable amount of news, but as is human nature it takes a major news event or disaster to get the viewing numbers watching the news to rise, 9/11 and the Gulf War pretty much saved CNN and also developed Fox News, most American news services evolved during that period due to audience demand, for this reason I suspect that subscription rates to ‘Flash’ will be a swings and roundabouts thing. There’s no mention about Flash featuring advertising, I would say it would be essential for them to make money.

    1. Good point. I think ads will be imbedded into the channels as this what happens on P+ with CBSN, another news service not in this lineup. although you pay the subscription, you still get ads on the news streams as it is their broadcast version. i think this will be a given for this, in my opinion.

    1. There are a few notable exceptions for a global news junkie too including: Euronews (Europe wide); Africanews (in English) (owned by euronews for African news); Deutsche Welle (in English) (Germany); TRT World (in English) (Turkey); Arirang TV (in English) (South Korea); CBC News (Canada); RTÉ News (Ireland); CGTN (in English) (China State owned); Fox Business News (USA); Ticker News (Australia). I’m sure I’m missing some others too. Also I’m surprised that there is a Australian Parliament live stream included or more sports and weather “news” channel, if they are trying to create a home for news junkies.

      1. Goaustv you have highlighted a content issue that Flash will have to address if it is serious about providing global news diversity. Foreign language news will also have a following too though the SBS currently do a reasonable job in that department; as an example news services like ABS-CBN from the Philippines which is broadcast in Tagalog do provide information when yearly monsoon floods and storm season arrive.
        Unlike the SBS they may include English subtitles too. ABC News 24 is too story repetitive sometimes, the various state news services are featured on ABC iview.

Leave a Reply