Foxtel coming to XBL

[Xanafalgue]

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/game-on-for-foxtel-live-tv-streaming-20100520-vgd0.html

Foxtel has signed a deal with Microsoft to deliver 30 channels of pay TV over the internet.

The 30 channel service will be streamed live to users of the XBox 360.

The channels included in the package are Fox Sports, Discovery, ESPN, Disney, Nickeoldeon and Sky News.

Foxtel CEO Kim Williams said the service would deliver "live television to subscribers in quite a unique way".

The service does not require the Foxtel set-top unit.

It will be launched later this year.

:)

[Natrak]

Holy crap. Hopefully a subscription won't be too expensive.

I'm guessing one of the supposed two IPs that would have Foxtel 360 unmetered would be Bigpond.

[Lazlow]

Bigpond?

Now I'm interested.

Still, I don't think its a service that will perform well on my 1.5mb connection.

[Cerebral]

Literally suggested this idea two weeks ago during an exercise for a group interview at Telstra.

How cunning.

[FrozenSoul80]

Still, I don't think its a service that will perform well on my 1.5mb connection.

iView works alright on mine. Isn't this basically the same kind of thing? Sure it won't be HD, but think of the quota that would use up.

[JC Henderson]

I would love to be able to stream fox sports for all my footy needs but this has to be unmetered content or it is just a waste of time as it will eat through your limit in no time.

[Filthy Old Drunk]

Yeah, these features are fantastic...except for in this backward arse country with shithouse Internet.

[jawsy]

Did I read somewhere that there will be no NRL/AFL?

[Second]

If it's unmetered with iinet I will be a happy camper.

[dimorphic]

Did I read somewhere that there will be no NRL/AFL?

Well it offers Fox Sports, so I dare say there will be.

[Xanafalgue]

I'm interested to know which ISP's will be offering this service int heir Freezone. iiNet will surely be one, I can't imagine what the other would be (Telstra? lol).

[VanAce]

(Telstra? lol).

Telstra own about 50% of Foxtel so it is very possible

[TrinityJayOne]

It's not just possible, it's guaranteed. They own half of it AND the service uses the Telstra cable network.

To be honest I think iiNet is unlikely, as they've been talking about getting their own IPTV off the ground for a while. They're not going to support something owned by the their biggest competitor.

[FX-GTZ]

Hmmm interesting, i wonder if this could possibly leave Austar and other pay TV services with less customers?

[freeradical]

iiNet dont include the Zune video service in their freezone, so i would doubt they would offer Foxtel. Bigpond definitely and Optus more than likely.

[AyatollaofRocknRolla]

If I can watch the AFL at a reasonable price I'd be interested.

[Barefooted Hobo]

Eh, doesn't bother me I already own Foxtel. And yes, I am better than you. :p

[Tonez]

Agree with Trin.

Won't be iiNet. They already unmeter TiVo & CASPA content as well as signing a partnership with Fetch TV.

[jawsy]

Well it offers Fox Sports, so I dare say there will be.

The article I read suggested that it will be Fox Sports minus live AFL and NRL. Can't remember the reason.

[TrinityJayOne]

Agree with Trin.

Won't be iiNet. They already unmeter TiVo & CASPA content as well as signing a partnership with Fetch TV.
That's the name I was thinking of, Fetch TV! I knew it had something to do with a dog.

Optus more than likely.
Not a chance. Again, Telstra owns a large slice of the Foxtel pie, and it was Foxtel's market dominance that forced OptusTV out of the game. Like iiNet, they're not going to just turn around and support their primary competitor.

[REQUIEM]

Bar ESPN the rest of the channels are weak. Discovery would have been good before they chopped up the channel into 3 or 4 channel types and sky news is the worse news channel on Foxtel. If you are a sports fan and dont have Foxtel it would be great for say $5 a month no more however IMO.

[HiredMan]

I'm on Optus. If they have unmetered downloads for this service, I'll subscribe. If they don't I wont. Simple!

[Xanafalgue]

Cheaper than I expected tbh. Then again, I know nothing about pay-tv: http://insiderx.com.au/2010/10/18/foxtel-on-xbox-360-packages-2/

Foxtel on Xbox 360 Packages

Christmas holiday season is creeping closer and so is the launch of Foxtel on Xbox 360. Today Foxtel and Microsoft have announced the channels and packaging that will be available on the service when it launches next month.

In addition to catch-up TV and Foxtel on Demand, there will be several packages available so you can customize your viewing experience. The Get Started package, the entry level channel selection, will be available to all Foxtel on Xbox 360 subscribers for less than $20 per month. Additional packages start at $10 per month.

LIVE TV Packages

Get Started: FOX8, MTV, Nickelodeon, Channel [V], LifeStyle, YOU, Discovery, National Geographic, TV1, SKY NEWS, FOX Sports News and CNN.

Entertainment Package: MTV Hits, MTV Classic, [V] Hits, UKTV, Disney, The Comedy Channel, Discovery Turbo MAX, Nat Geo Adventure, Universal, BBC Knowledge, and SCI FI.

Sports Package: FOX SPORTS PLAY, ESPN, Eurosport and FUEL TV. FOX SPORTS PLAY will be an Xbox 360 exclusive channel specially programmed to feature Australia’s most-loved sports programming, including Hyundai A-League Football, Barclays Premier League Football, Rugby Union Spring Tour, KFC Twenty20 Big Bash, India vs New Zealand test cricket, live boxing, ATP World Tour tennis finals and many more.

Showtime movies package: Showcase and Showtime Premiere.

Movie Network movies package: Movie One and Movie Two.

There is a FAQ and more after the link.

[Lazlow]

Creating a specialty FOX Sports channel, and not mentioing Super Rugby in the lineup leaves me a little wary.

Good pricing but yeah, no Super 15 no dice.

[Xanafalgue]

Which channel has EASTENDERS?! :O

[VanAce]

Which channel has EASTENDERS?! :O

I think it is UKTV

[Xanafalgue]

Derp, well that would just make too much sense, wouldn't it :D thanks.

[jawsy]

Creating a specialty FOX Sports channel, and not mentioing Super Rugby in the lineup leaves me a little wary.

Good pricing but yeah, no Super 15 no dice.

I'm sure I mentioned ages ago that there was no NRL/AFL. Union was also in the same boat but I didn't mention it because I have no interest.

[Lazlow]

Boourns

[FrozenSoul80]

How much is Foxtel normally?

[[m]averick]

I'm sure I mentioned ages ago that there was no NRL/AFL. Union was also in the same boat but I didn't mention it because I have no interest.


Maybe something to do with T-box?

[Gutsman Heavy]

Balls, and I was hoping to be able to watch NRL at a decent time with this. Pub it is then.

[Spazzallo]

Hopefully by making our existing Foxtel account a multi-room account it will be a fair bit cheaper.

[[m]averick]

The reason AFL/NRL isnt included is because Telstra own the digital distribution of those codes. This is despite the fact that Telstra owns 50% of Foxtel anyway...

[Xanafalgue]

wqWdJmlG0Qk

[Tonez]

Where exactly do you go for Foxtel? I saw Natrak watching last night but couldn't find any options within the new interface.

[Xanafalgue]

Oh it's out?

[Tonez]

Oh it's out?

Unless Natrak's status was a big fat liar.

[HiredMan]

Natrak has strange XBL powerzzzz

[Xanafalgue]

It's there! Should be the second tab in the video marketplace.

Foxtel player is just over 12MB, you have to go to http://www.foxtel.com.au/xboxt/default.htm to register.

[Xanafalgue]

I don't even watch TV, but I feel that I NEED to subscribe to every package. The bastards want to charge me an extra $15 so I can watch Eastenders... :(

[freeradical]

WHAT! THE! F!!!!!!!!
I cant get Foxtel in my area!!!!!!!!?????????????? Why the F not???? It's frickin digital distribution over xbox live!!!!!!!!!!! FFS!
There is a coverage checker on the webpage, put in my postcode and thats the message i get!! I can't believe this shit!!
I. AM. PISSED.!!!!!!

[Xanafalgue]

That sucks man :(

[Xanafalgue]

Well, I am currently watching "16 AND PREGNANT" on MTV, and it's working as advertised. No buffering, no artifacts, pretty clear picture (not quite HD, but not very SD either - if there is such a middle ground).

I probably wont use it much, until I'm hungover and hankering for a My Super Sweet Sixteen marathon ^_^

Only bad thing I can say about it is that it lists programming for every channel, regardless if you have subscribed to the various packages or not. I just went with the standard $19.95 one.

I'm going to be keeping a close eye on my broadband useage!

[Lazlow]

WHAT! THE! F!!!!!!!!
I cant get Foxtel in my area!!!!!!!!?????????????? Why the F not???? It's frickin digital distribution over xbox live!!!!!!!!!!! FFS!
There is a coverage checker on the webpage, put in my postcode and thats the message i get!! I can't believe this shit!!
I. AM. PISSED.!!!!!!

Out of curiosity, can you get Foxtel normally in your area, or is PayTV provided by Austar?

Just wondering if there could be some licensing issues between Foxtel and Austar, that prevent people in Austar serviced regions getting Foxtel through LIVE.

[freeradical]

Yeah, I cant get Foxtel (Austar only). I was hoping that Foxtel360 would bypass crappy Austar. I realise there would be licensing issues. Still angries up my blood though!

They should clearly point this out somewhere. The way its promoted, one is led to believe that if you have Live, you can get Foxtel.

[Natrak]

Is the Foxtel on 360 box showing up for everyone now? Or is it just me, freeradical and LARZ? Perhaps it's only available to people who were in the preview program right now.

I wound up going with the basic package + sports + entertainment, for 44.50 all up. Not my wisest of decisions, but I figured I'd give it a go for a month and see what I think. It works, but I don't think I'll be keeping it, there's not really much on and it's not practical at all without unmetered usage.

[Lazlow]

I not saying there is licensing issues, I'm curious if there are. I haven't tried Foxtel through LIVE yet, but I too live in an Austar serviced region, so its entirely possible I might not be able to get it aswell.

[Stevorooni]

Yeah, I cant get Foxtel (Austar only). I was hoping that Foxtel360 would bypass crappy Austar. I realise there would be licensing issues. Still angries up my blood though!

They should clearly point this out somewhere. The way its promoted, one is led to believe that if you have Live, you can get Foxtel.

The ****? Well I guess the decision has been taken out my hands then!

How do they determine if you're in a Foxtel area anyway, is it by your IP address or your registered address for your console?

[freeradical]

Mine (Foxtel "tile") showed up Tuesday night. Was not there previously (during beta). Now it taunts me-just out of reach (for me anyway :()

Edit: in response to Natrak

[FrozenSoul80]

Wow, not available for me, either. Fine, don't take my money!!

[Stevorooni]

The tab hasn't appeared for me but I entered my postcode into the site and it said "Contact Austar!"

How about YOU contact Austar, stupid Foxtel! I didn't want your stupid service anyway!

[Lazlow]

What's the link for this postcode availability thingy?

[Stevorooni]

http://www.foxtel.com.au/support/services/foxtel-on-xbox-360/default.htm

Over on the right hand side.

Although I'm wondering if that's just a general Foxtel search rather than specific for Xbox Live

[Natrak]

I not saying there is licensing issues, I'm curious if there are. I haven't tried Foxtel through LIVE yet, but I too live in an Austar serviced region, so its entirely possible I might not be able to get it aswell.

It's only available to areas that are serviced by Foxtel and not Austar, so yeah.

[freeradical]

This the specific Foxtel on Xbox page and it has a box that states "See if Foxtel on XBox 360 is available in your area"
http://www.foxtel.com.au/xboxt/default.htm

[Xanafalgue]

Wow. Where the hell DO Foxel service? O_o

I'd like to add that 16 AND PREGNANT is a ****ing hideous show. They were fat. Ugly. She had a PIGS NOSE. The boyfriend (who looked like the result of a John Goodman/grizzly bear raping) bought a MGS4 PS3 bundle and then spent a WHOPPING TWENTY ONE DOLLARS on her engagement ring (a pink sapphire cut like a heart. Well, cut from a cubic zirconia).

Oh and she had fluro pink french tips.

AND ACNE.

There was also a brother who had been deployed to Iraq, oh it was awfully stereotypical.

And wtf is with all the commercials?! Costs $5.95 to rent a movie, I'm sure it's cheaper on Zune Marketplace (obviously Foxtel would have a larger selection).

That's all I have to add :/

[Natrak]

bought a MGS4 PS3 bundle and then spent a WHOPPING TWENTY ONE DOLLARS on her engagement ring

Hahahahahahahaha.

[Xanafalgue]

Hahahahahahahaha.

He bought it from Walmart, then proceeded to ask the person behind the counter if they had a returns policy :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

(90 days w/ receipt!)

[Lazlow]

It's only available to areas that are serviced by Foxtel and not Austar, so yeah.



Dang... given how much trouble I'm having finding decent sports torrents, I was kinda looking into going this with a sports package.

Oh well.

[VanAce]

And wtf is with all the commercials?! Costs $5.95 to rent a movie, I'm sure it's cheaper on Zune Marketplace (obviously Foxtel would have a larger selection)./

Or a $1.99 from a vending machine in real life.

[Xanafalgue]

Wow... watch out for your bandwidth usage :/