At last night’s Foxtel-MCN 2015 Upfront event, Foxtel unveiled its line up of new and returning programming for 2015 and discussed plans to broaden access to subscription services.
Foxtel chief executive Richard Freudenstein reflected on the past year highlighting the company’s achievements including the completion of the Austar merger, improved content deals, new technology platforms and the launch of Foxtel’s new pricing and packaging, which is set to kick off in a matter of days.
He made special mention of the upcoming launches of the iQ3 set top box and the triple play service of TV, broadband and home phone.
“2014 has been our busiest year ever. We have been working incredibly hard to put all of the pieces in place to bring Foxtel to the widest audience possible and starting in November, we are poised to kick off a new era in growth. We’re particulary excited to launch our new pricing and packaging, which will see our existing customers getting even more value than ever from their subscriptions at no extra change while giving the many Australians who have not previously considered Foxtel a great reason to take another look,” said Freudenstein.
Foxtel is soon to launch its new BoxSets channel, which is said to offer subscribers live and anytime access to some of the most popular programming available from the subscription service. At launch titles available will include Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, Band of Brothers, Wentworth, Dexter and many more.
Of the BoxSets offering, Freudenstein said: “People love to binge watch and people love to see great content in brilliant HD.”
Foxtel is adding nine new HD channels ammounting to 36 HD channels starting in November.
A deal with Seven will see Seven Productions produce Aussie drama series, A Place to Call Home, exclusively for Foxtel.
Foxtel and Network TEN have co-commissioned a new Australian production: Gogglebox, a show about people watching television. Gogglebox will screen on Foxtel’s LifeStyle channel and captures the reactions of ordinary Australians as they watch the evening news, debate over politics, cheer their favourite contestants and digest current affairs and documentaries.
“Gogglebox is like nothing else ever seen on Australian television, it is a true game changer that is set to hook audiences in a fun and entertaining way and we can’t wait to see your reaction when we share it in 2015,”said Foxel executive director of televsion, Brian Walsh.
Foxte extended its exclusive output agreement with HBO which means exclusive access to all first run programs by HBO on demand.
Marquee titles that will spearhead Foxtel’s programming line-up for next year include Deadline Gallipoli, starring and executive produced by Sam Worthington. The compelling four hour miniseries captures the heartache and futility of war as seen through the eyes of the journalists who reported it. Break-through prison drama, Wentworth will return for a third season.
