Australia – Australian pay-TV operator Foxtel has unveiled what it describes as a revolutionary new approach to pricing and packaging for IP-delivered subscription TV service, Foxtel Play. The move is designed to increase consumer choice and to break down traditional barriers to taking up Foxtel’s services.
Speaking at pay-TV trade body ASTRA’s 2016 conference, Foxtel CEO, Peter Tonagh shared plans to offer a new pricing model that features low cost entry points at prices that will be highly competitive with SVoD services, while still providing access to Foxtel’s superior content.
The new entry level pricing is set to launch in December and centres on a ‘bring your own device’ and ‘bring your own bandwidth’ model with IP-delivered entertainment brought to connected devices, such as a smart TV or laptop.
As part of the new IP offering, Foxtel will create five different entry level tiers to match viewers’ interests including two options for drama plus one option for lifestyle, one for documentary and one for kids. Beyond this, customers will also be able to take the sports tier and the movies tier.
Subscribers will have access to all linear channels in the tier along with all of the on-demand, catch up and library content available to that tier plus mobile access via Foxtel Go.
“Foxtel has been at the forefront of providing unrivalled entertainment to customers for more than 20 years. Our new flexible pricing and delivery will mean that even more Australians will be able to design a subscription that works for them and once they experience what we have to offer, we’re confident they’ll be hungry for more,” said Tonagh.
As part of its new delivery options, Foxtel also confirmed that it is developing a new low cost ‘puck’ (likely to be based on Roku devices) to access its IP-delivered content. When it launches, it will have what Foxtel claims is a “tremendous” user interface with sophisticated search and recommendation functionality.
With the new pricing, Foxtel is now providing everything from a low cost, low commitment entry point, through to the premium, high end of the subscription TV spectrum via full service cable/satellite set top boxes.
In addition to its new IP pricing, Foxtel also announced that it has entered a new agreement with HBO that will give subscribers even more extensive access to the HBO’s library.
Tonagh also announced that in December, Foxtel will launch a new kids’ app that will enable kids to have access to all of Foxtel’s great children’s content, wherever they are. By downloading the app parents will be sure that their children only have access to age appropriate programming.
