Battered and bruised from fighting Netflix, it appears Foxtel has decided the easiest option is simply to form an alliance with its arch-enemy.
The pay TV provider has announced that Netflix will be available for the first time on Foxtel with its iQ4 service and is the first step in its plans to position itself more as a streaming service.
Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany said: “We want our customers to have the best of TV and on demand in Australia all in one place. With our new user interface, accessing Foxtel’s 16,000 hours of TV and on demand content is as simple for customers as one-click on the home button of their existing remote control.
“I can’t think of a better streaming partner to kick off The New Foxtel Experience than Netflix.
“The new customer interface puts two entertainment powerhouses together providing Foxtel customers with access to Netflix service alongside our Foxtel Originals and programs from HBO, FX, the BBC and more.
“More than 1.1 million iQ3 and iQ4 set top boxes are already installed in our customers’ homes. Starting today, The New Foxtel Experience simplifies the way iQ4 users can enjoy Foxtel’s incredible range of drama, sport and movies as well as the best of video on demand, with the experience coming to iQ3 users coming shortly after.”
Netflix’s director of business development, Katy Davies, added: “We want to make Netflix as accessible as possible for our Australian members. So we’ve teamed up with Foxtel to offer a new way to watch Netflix and their Foxtel TV programming on one device. Click the Netflix icon on the iQ4 device experience — or simply press the Netflix button on your remote — and you’re seconds away from enjoying your favourite Netflix show.”
The New Foxtel Experience including Netflix will be progressively rolled out to iQ4 customers starting today and is expected to be complete in August. The iQ3 roll out will begin in September with all iQ3 customers expected to have The New Foxtel Experience during November.
