Foxtel Play lets you watch online without a subscription in June

by Ben Salter Featured 10 Comments 27 Votes 2166 Views 14/03/2013 Back to News

Foxtel will finally be available using the internet without a cable or satellite subscription through a new service called Foxtel Play.

A similar service is already available using the Xbox 360, but there is little for the wider market -- like those without an Xbox.

Foxtel Play will bring pay TV to smartphones, tablets, internet-enabled TVs, PCs, Macs and games consoles (remembering that it's been on Xbox 360 for over a year now).

Subscriptions are monthly, with no contracts, and start at $25.

"This is a perfect new way for those people who have not yet experienced Foxtel to enjoy our popular content at flexible price points offering value to suit varying budgets and needs. Foxtel Play combines the ease and portability of internet connectivity with fantastic entertainment to welcome a whole new set of customers to Foxtel," said Foxtel CEO Richard Freudenstein.

On tablets, smartphones, PC and Mac, Foxtel Play will use the existing Foxtel Go app, which is currently only available to residential (set top box) subscribers.

Over 40 live channels will be available at launch in June, alongside more than 2000 catch up programmes.

Access to catch up programming is based on the consumer's subscription. You can only watch on-demand shows from the channels you subscribe to.

Further details were not specified. All Foxtel needs to do is remove the shackles from Foxtel Go that require a cable or satellite subscription. The app is already operating on iOS devices, PC and Mac.

Meanwhile, Internet Foxtel is already on Xbox 360 and in a basic form on Samsung TVs.

It's unknown if the Foxtel Play announcement will extend to PlayStation, TVs from different manufacturers or Android devices.

By Ben Salter

Link to us http://360.mmgn.com/News/foxtel-play-lets-you-watch-online

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Foxtel Play lets you watch online without a subscription in June Comments

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Kudos: 3,909

milo

might be ok if you have cable or nbn but on our crappy adsl2???hmm

14/03/2013

out flying my 737

Kudos: 4

Raidensoul

I've had Foxtel on Xbox 360 since release, running on ADSL2 with no problems. It's surprisingly bandwidth efficient.

The only problem I have with it is the lack of channels compared to set-top Foxtel; well, rather I've got a bunch of channels I don't care about, and don't have access to some I would like.

14/03/2013

Longreach, QLD

Kudos: 156

FireVapour

I had Foxtell for Xbox a while back, but decided to drop it until they bring it out in HD. Has anybody heard of when that may be?

14/03/2013

Kudos: 8,436

SilentOne

- Hasnt been brought out in HD?
- + you cant just watch Foxtel on your ps3 for free if you already have a foxtel subscription already? :L
- + its limited to a few channels?
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY!"

14/03/2013

NSW, Sydney, Wakeley.

Kudos: 156

FireVapour

I think what your thinking of SilentOne, is the already available Foxtel Go app, which is basically a streaming catch up service which you can watch from your PC. This is only available to current Foxtel iQ subscribers/customers though from what I know. More specifically I'm referring to the streaming Foxtel service which you can subscribe to through the Xbox 360 Dashboard. This service is actually quite good. It lacks a few channels though unfortunately & all are only in standard def. Apparently a spokesperson from Foxtel announced earlier last year that HD & 3D channels would also be available to Xbox 360 customers by the years end, but this has not eventuated for some unknown reason & as far as I'm aware there has been no further comments made on the issue since then. Unless I am mistaken? I would love somebody to prove me wrong?

15/03/2013

Kudos: 283,037

Gryllis

@FireVapour I'd be very surprised if they did HD on 360.

They still charge $150 for the HD set top box and an additional $10 per month for cable subscribers (which is what they want you to do). While those fees are there, I doubt they'll put it on Xbox.

15/03/2013

The member formerly formerly known as ICC_06, formerly known as Ben.

Kudos: 156

FireVapour

Well why say it then Ben? This is what a Foxtel Spokesperson announced last year. Just saying.

15/03/2013

Kudos: 283,037

Gryllis

FireVapour said: Well why say it then Ben? This is what a Foxtel Spokesperson announced last year. Just saying.

When did they say it would be done by?

I think Foxtel may have changed their mind since then following the restructure at the start of March. If it was going to happen, it was either with that or with this announcement (I guess it still could with this stuff).

Just seems unlikely because they'd be screwing their contracted cable/sate subscribers by putting it on Xbox (since it'd wave the $75/150 HD upgrade fee).

15/03/2013

The member formerly formerly known as ICC_06, formerly known as Ben.

Kudos: 156

FireVapour

Check out this link (Hope it works!) They state it in there & that was two years ago & still no HD? What gives.

apcmag.com/...

15/03/2013

Kudos: 283,037

Gryllis

FireVapour said: Check out this link (Hope it works!) They state it in there & that was two years ago & still no HD? What gives.
apcmag.com/...

I'm sure they had intentions of doing it, but I think they've just changed their mind and taken a different approach i.e. the "full" service (recording/HD) is available if you subscribe.

If you don't want to subscribe, you can get an internet stream on pretty much any platform.

I doubt that was the plan 2 years ago.

That's just my theory.

18/03/2013

The member formerly formerly known as ICC_06, formerly known as Ben.

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