0/5

Foxtel confirms Netflix, Stan on next set-top box

"We intend with our next set-top box to have a much more open platform," says Peter Tonagh.

astra20160906_0647_400_600

Foxel CEO Peter Tonagh has confirmed its next set-top box will offer access to Netflix and Stan, because it provides a better viewing experience for subscribers.

Speaking to the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia, he confirmed, “Our customers also want access to content that we don’t own or don’t license … If our customers want to have Netflix, then they’ll be able to have Netflix on our box.

“The reason we do that … what we’ve done through the whole history of Foxtel, we’ve offered Seven, Nine, Ten, ABC and SBS for people to view on our set top boxes.

“We intend with our next set-top box to have a much more open platform.”

According to a report in the Australian Financial Review, only apps allowing access to copyright material would be included.

10 Responses

  1. Considering that Netflix is grabbing an ever larger proportion of the pay to view market Foxtel are only protecting their investment. Having two key streaming companies using their single set top box is undoubtedly going to help maintain Foxtel as the market leader, The easy content access for those without the inclination of buying up to date technology would also be a bonus. Maybe 4K might come into the business plan as well.

  2. I hate that every tom, dick and harry is coming up with their own internet set top box. It’s a nightmare for companies trying to put out apps that support all the different boxes, and the one who loses is the consumer, who doesn’t get as much choice between services.

    Roll on big companies like Apple and the Apple TV I say, why would you want a foxtel set top box when you know the Apple TV is always going to be a bigger priority around the world for developers and is going to be better supported.

  3. Interesting spin on “open” there…

    EU: you (often) must use one of the PayTV provider’s approved STBs, but you can buy them outright. FTA is (often) carried for free, & you can buy a box & dish to get FTA via sat without even telling the PayTV operator.

    US: Cable TV is required to use the CableCARD standard. You can buy any STB/TV that supports it & get FTA channels free via cable. The cable co pays the FTAs like any other channel they carry. If you want cable channels, you can rent an access card for your own STB/TV. Currently the FCC is trying to require cable operators to provide IPTV services to make it easy to buy a Netflix/whatever box with cable TV capability.

    Aus: No choice, & no mandatory carriage rules. You must rent a box from Foxtel, and Foxtel charges the FTAs for carrying them.

    Foxtel’s ‘openness’ seems very limited and one-way…

    1. Following on from what Ted has said, this is less about openness and more about trying to piggy back on the ever-growing success of Netflix (& Stan) by directing some of those streams thru their box and then charging Netflix (& Stan) for doing so.

  4. Sounds like Foxtel has learnt nothing from the iQ3 debacle and going for the all singing all dancing box again which will end up being way too complicated to implement .

  5. The IQ3 should have been able to do 4K and Apps.
    The whole project has been short sighted and a waste of money.
    They should have stuck with the IQ2 and invested in a future proof set top box

Leave a Reply