Foxtel’s Presto TV Streaming Is Overpriced And Lacking Content

Late last year, Foxtel announced plans to expand its Presto streaming service to include TV as well as movies — a clear attempt to make its mark before the launch of Netflix and Stan. Overnight, Foxtel has quietly launched the service — so what does it cost and what do you get?

Presto will now be offered in three flavours. You can get Presto Movies for $9.99 a month, Presto TV for $9.99 a month, or a bundle with both for $14.99. There’s no contract, so you can opt in and out as you wish.

That’s quite expensive compared to its rivals. Stan will cost $10 a month; Netflix hasn’t announced local pricing, but most observers expect its $US7.99 a month price to be translated to $9.99 locally. Both Netflix and Stan include movies and TV.

The range of TV is not particularly impressive. These are the shows Presto has complete runs of according to its own site:

  • The Sopranos
  • Always Greener
  • Entourage
  • The Borgias
  • Spirited
  • Rosemary And Thyme
  • Frasier
  • Deadwood
  • Slide
  • City Homicide

This list appears to be incomplete, since some other shows (such as Packed To The Rafters) are also offered in their entirety. Presto TV is a partnership with TV network Seven; other Seven content on offer includes Bringing Sexy Back and Border Security: International, but the network’s biggest shows, such as Home & Away, are mostly conspicuous by their absence. The content is sorted into seven genres — Premium Drama, Local Drama, Comedy, Kids, Reality, Dramedy and Mini-Series & Specials — but many shows are listed in more than one category.

One other quirk: while Presto is available for Windows, Mac, Chromecast and tablets, right now TV only works on iOS, not Android.

We won’t know for sure how competitive this is until Stan launches next month and Netflix unveils its Australian line-up in March, but right now this doesn’t seem super-compelling. What do you think?

[via Televised Revolution]


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