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Foxtel Next Generation Adds 600 Hours Of Downloads

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12:21PM September 29, 2009 | Angus Kidman

Download_PlayerIf you’re a Foxtel subscriber, you’ll want to hope that you’ve got a generous download allowance with your ISP. The pay TV provider is launching its new downloads service on October 1, but while there’s plenty of content, there’s no announced deals in place for cap-free downloads. Here’s all the news from today’s Foxtel press launch.

When the download service rolls out this Thursday as part of Foxtel’s “Next Generation” platform, there’ll be 400 hours of programming from across 38 channels available for download by existing Foxtel customers without any additional fees. (The system uses your customer number and set-top box smart card number for logging in.) 100 additional hours of programming will be added each week; there’ll typically be 600 hours available at any given time. Downloads can only be played back using a custom Foxtel player which is Windows-only, and will expire after seven days.

While Foxtel isn’t charging for the downloads, your ISP will include them in your download totals, which could make for an expensive exercise on low-value broadband plans. Cap-free downloads have been a key selling point for iView, the ABC’s catch-up service. Whether Foxtel can attract users without a similar bundle — or whether it will soon run into controversies over unexpectedly high family Internet bills — remains to be seen.

Here’s the other key details from today’s Foxtel Next Generation launch:

  • From Thursday October 1, all Foxtel ‘value bundles’ will come with the iQ or iQ2 disk drive recorder, rather than a basic set-top box. (The cheapest value bundle is $72 a month, which is still a fair bit more than the cheapest basic package. The priciest platinum package is now $135 a month.)
  • An expanded range of channels, including 15 HD channels, will become available on November 15, when new satellite services are fully commissioned.
  • On November 15, existing iQ boxes will receive a firmware upgrade and a redesigned EPG, which also adds the ability to customise the electronic program guide to cover 50 of your favourite channels. A new iSuggest system will recommend up to 200 programs of interest each week.
  • A new record me button will appear in most promos; hitting the record me button on your remote will automatically add that to your iQ recording schedule.

Comments

  • Arthur K

    September 29, 2009 at 12:41 PM

    You would have thought that they would be announcing relationships with ISPs as part of the launch of this new service. At least with Telstra plans.

  • Greg

    September 29, 2009 at 12:54 PM

    Nobody cares about watching TV on a computer anymore.

  • DJ Zany

    September 29, 2009 at 2:11 PM

    Well as long as somebody writes a Foxtel Viewer plugin for MediaPortal, this might be quite good.
    Unless you are with Telstra. But then you are unlikley to running MP.

  • Steve

    September 29, 2009 at 2:47 PM

    If they install a plugin for Mediacentre I might use it, but otherwise will probably be more trouble than it’s worth.

  • Kerry

    October 1, 2009 at 2:00 PM

    Will Satellite customers finally get Channel 7?

    • Aussie

      October 2, 2009 at 7:58 AM

      Kerry – satellite users already get Channel 7

      • Darren

        October 2, 2009 at 10:11 PM

        Aussie, I have Foxtel Satellite in Brisbane and DO NOT get channel 7. Although I did have channel 7 when I was connected to Foxtel Cable. Does anyone know if Foxtel will add 7 and all the free to air HD channels to Foxtel satellite?

      • Ben Turville

        October 30, 2009 at 11:09 PM

        Neither do I, in Melbourne. I heard that there will be room for ch. 7 on the new satellite that was launched recently. Let’s hope so.

  • Darren

    October 13, 2009 at 9:55 PM

    Why would Telstra want to enter into unmetered downloads with Foxtel? It is highly likley that Telstra will be forced to give up its stake in Foxtel, this will mean that they are competitors with no financial interest in each other… why would you then give unmetered downloads?

  • Sigh

    October 30, 2009 at 9:24 PM

    Foxtel need to enter into these ISP agreements, otherwise there is no chance this thing will take off. Surely they know that, yet..

  • Delwynne Fife

    November 4, 2009 at 1:03 PM

    I heard that Ch7 was going onto the satellite on 15 November with the upgrade. Not sure how true this is as I can’t find anything on Foxtel’s website.

  • Delwynne Fife

    November 4, 2009 at 1:07 PM

    According to TVTonight, it goes live on 15 November:
    http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/10/go-coming-to-foxtel-but.html

  • Ignacy Recko

    February 11, 2012 at 6:44 PM

    Where can I get a Validation code to be able to download Movies
    Cant download the player

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