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Foxtel: “Watch what you want, when & where you want”

Foxtel will launch 30 new channels in HD, SD and timeshift, a Download service, new programming grid, new record and search features, and new Active features.

IQ2Foxtel will launch 30 new channels on November 15th in HD, SD and timeshift, a free Download service from October 1st, a new programming grid, new record and search features, more movies, and new Active feature in News and Weather.

New pricing packs, described as iQ Value packs, ofer subscribers two choices: build your own package (starting price $42) and add an iQ (+$10) or take an iQ Value pack (starting price $72) that includes an iQ for free. The top price for full iQ platinum is $135.

CEO Kim Williams announced the features boasting a philosophy of “Watch what you want, when & where you want” puts it ahead of free to air television that dictates its programming to viewers.

“Foxtel Next Generation and the iQ Value Pack options mean every subscriber will get an iQ for free, forever changing the way they experience television,” he said.

“Having an iQ, powered by Next Generation, means there are three viewing options for every television program, special event or movie – watch it live, watch it On Demand, or watch it recorded to the iQ. Foxtel Next Generation now makes it truly possible to watch what you want, when you want and with our new Foxtel download service, where you want.”

Amongst its new features are:

• There will be 30 new channel choices including themed movie channels, new sports and documentary channels, and tailored general entertainment channels.
• The 12 new channels brands are LifeStyle YOU, 13TH STREET, The Style Network, Eurosport, KidsCo, FMC, STARPICS, showtime action, showtime comedy, showtime drama, Discovery Turbo MAX and Nat Geo Wild.
• Foxtel HD+ will be home to 15 High Definition channels – including four dedicated HD sports channels and six new HD movie channels.
• The 10 new HD channels are FOX Sports 1HD, 2HD and 3HD, FOX8 HD, W HD, Movie One HD, showcase HD, showtime action HD, showtime premiere HD, Starpics 1HD and 2HD, and UKTV HD.
• A brand new movie service with 16 dedicated movie channels tailored by genre with no advertising interruptions to any movie, ever.
• Foxtel is also introducing eight new timeshift channels, these are 111 HITS +2, Discovery Channel +2, Discovery Turbo MAX +2, LifeStyle FOOD Channel +2, LifeStyle YOU +2, SCI FI +2, showcase two and Starpics+2.
• New iQ Value packs that gives subscribers two choices – build your own package and add an iQ or take an iQ Value pack that includes an iQ for free.
• Australia’s best download service, Foxtel Download – a Freecatch-up television service for subscribers at www.Foxtel.com.au/download
• A new Foxtel Guide for iQ and updated guide for iQ2.
• New search functionality with an interactive TV Guide feature called iSuggest for iQ and iQ2 subscribers.
• Immediate recording details of favourite shows for iQ and iQ2 subscribers with Record Me, which sends shows straight to the iQ Planner simply by pressing the Green button on the remote during a show’s promo.
• Movies On Demand – A new Foxtel Box Office with up to 40 recent release movies to choose from at any one time.
• New SKY News Local Active screens for each of Australia’s five capital cities and improved Weather Active.

The Download service will offer 100 hours of new programming every week.

Foxtel Active services will expand, adding Sky News Local with city based news services for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. The Weather Channel will add a new active element with new features.

All existing IQs will have a new IQ digital guide from November 15th, with enhanced search functions and personal planners.

Foxtel New Generation site.

This post updates.

57 Responses

  1. Once again WMG got themselves a Middle Finger I had uploaded the video piece Promoting whats coming to Foxtel in November. However the audio has been snuffed out by those Hippocrites at WMG.. I tried people.. But obviously WMG doesnt give a crap about us!

  2. @ paull have you ever watch al jazerea english, i have and it’s defiantly not anti west, or even pro arabic, and they defiantly condemn terrorism. al jazerea is carried in many western countries and soon on austar who would not show it if it were anti west. they even have studios in washington dc which also would not be allowed if they where anti-west.

  3. Just a quick question…i dont know if i missed it or not. But will current Foxtel Subscribers have to change there package to get the new channels or will these come automatically on October 1st

  4. Hey People,
    i need a lot of you to sign my Bring Nicktoons and Disney XD to Foxtel and Austar Petition, as well as getting Much Needed Timeshifts for Nickeldeon, DIsney Channel and Cartoon Network. Come on show some Respect and sign the Petition.
    It’s not a Joke, It’s Real.

  5. Thats great news if all the Sky News active channels can be viewed full screen, but on the FoxTel website it says that only Sky News, Sky Business and APAC can be viewed full screen. Can somebody here clarify. I’d like to see Sky News UK in full screen.

  6. @TV Tragic: Tivo was introduced to australia almost a decade too late. There’s nothing revolutionary about the service anymore, seeing as pvrs and epgs have been around for the most part of this decade. Plus it’s been stripped of its unique features that give it a competitive advantage in the US.

  7. Wow, Foxtel are going hard at attacking freeview, and I reckon it will work. If I had the spare money I probably get it, but then there’s the possibility that I would be glued to the tv all day, so it’s a good thing I don’t have it.

    @Ryano: haha why do you want Al Jazera English? Isn’t that the network that seems to be overtly anti-western society?

  8. @ itsross….Foxtel are pushing IQ to everyone cos it rocks…it seriously has changed the way I watch TV..I havent watched a show live to air in years, i record everything (even FTA stuff) and watch it back with no ads…love it! I’ve read someone as well that Foxtels churn rate amongst IQ customers is much, much lower than non IQ customers, I really dont see how anyone that has had IQ could possibly ever revert to watching TV without it, I know it would do my head in if I had to!

  9. skynews active is a great service and it looks like it will be even better with the local channels, it will be interesting to see what the local content will be. good to see they have changed it’s appearance as it looks pretty ugly right now, very glad that the skynews active screens will finally be fullscreen(i noticed during the promo that you can press the blue button for fullscreen)

  10. All I really care about is if Discovery et al will go widescreen.

    Why are Foxtel pushing IQ onto everyone, and at the same time wasting money on more time-shift channel which are a dated concept?

  11. The Press Confrence appeared live on Sky Business Channel approx 11:45am, I was able to capture the most of it.. I’ll trim the file-size down so i can upload it to YouTube..

    last time i did this WMG (warner music group) got a middle finger and said screw you to people interested in Foxtel Australia Wide..

  12. Where’s the music channels? Is that it. I am sick of Foxtel’s current music channel lineup. Was looking forward to VH1 Classic, TMF and MTV Hits! Looks like we will have to wait another year or so!

  13. Does the new Foxtel allow you to watch a third show while recording 2 others? But this new one sounds good, and similar price to what we’re paying now, so i’ll have to have a word to Mum about upgrading finally :p

    Gotta love Foxtel :p

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