Foxtel is set to launch its own IPTV platform in June this year as well as a stand-alone subscription video on demand movie service.
Foxtel chief executive, Richard Freudenstein, also said at the ASTRA Conference today that a broadband and telephony service was “under active consideration” as Foxtel looks to become a “triple play”.
“These are huge changes that will radically reshape the way Australians can experience Foxtel and they will propel us on a trajectory for strong growth over the coming years,” Freudenstein said.
In June Foxtel On will relaunch as Foxtel Play, the pay TV platform’s new internet TV service.
Consumers will be able to subscribe to Foxtel Play through internet connected devices such as connected TVs, games consoles, smartphones, tablets, and PC and Mac computers through the Foxtel Go app.
There will be no lock in contracts for Foxtel Play with packs set to start from $25 per month.
The service will feature more than 40 channels and in excess of 2000 video on demand titles.
“Ideally, once they have sampled Foxtel Play, customers will realise how great the service is and sign up to the full Foxtel product,” Freudenstein said.
Freudenstein said the to-be-launched standalone and on-demand movie service “represents an opportunity to introduce Foxtel to a whole new customer segment”.
Further details are set to be released in the coming months.
Freudenstein also confirmed talks that Foxtel is considering becoming a “triple play”, with services in broadband and telephony as well as TV.
“While I’m not in a position to make an announcement today I can confirm that it is under active consideration,” he said.
“We believe that triple play offering makes a lot of sense for our business and our customers as can be seen from the success of other subscription broadcasters which have adopted this model around the world.”
Freudenstein touched on the new iQ3 set top box, confirming that vendors have been selected however he said the “truly revolutionary box” wont’ be launched “for a little while yet”.
The Foxtel Go app is also set to be pushed onto select Samsung Android devices in June with PCs and Mac to follow shortly after.
Foxtel Go has been downloaded to more than half a million devices and 80,000 of those downloads have been to iPhones and iPods.
Freudenstein also called for the government to intervene with online piracy and spoke out against the media reforms. For more on this click here.
