Australians can subscribe to Netflix’s Australian service, which launches on Tuesday, for as little as $8.99 per month, undercutting its rivals Stan, Presto Movies, Presto TV and Quickflix by a dollar.
That’s the fee for a single, standard definition feed announced today. A two stream HD plan will cost $11.99 and for a four-stream, 4K ultra-HD “family” plan it’s $14.99.
Netflix is offering a free one-month trial and Optus subscribers can get the service at no extra cost for six months as part of a 24-month plan.
Concurrently Foxtel announced the pricing for its new iQ3 set-top box, which combines pay-TV, free-to-air and the internet, and Telstra launched Presto on its T-Box, offering a free six-month subscription to both services which normally cost $9.99 individually or $14.99 combined.
For the iQ3 upgrade, Foxtel subscribers will pay $125 for the unit plus $25 for a self-installation kit, or $125 plus $75 for installation by a Foxtel technician.
The STB incorporates Foxtel, free-to-air and movie and TV rentals. Viewers can record up to three shows at once while watching a fourth program, with the capacity to record up to 172 hours of HD or up to 345 hours of SD.
Foxtel CEO Richard Freudenstein said, “After delighting a nation of TV lovers with our unbeatable pricing and packaging and innovative ways to enjoy TV live and on demand, we’re thrilled to introduce the Foxtel iQ3, our smartest, most powerful set top box, ever. iQ3 represents a revolutionary step forward for Australian TV viewers that brings with it exciting new ways to search, discover and experience the shows they’re passionate about.”
Netflix’s launch line-up will include original series House of Cards; Bloodline, a thriller starring Ben Mendelsohn, Sissy Spacek and Kyle Chandler; adventure Marco Polo; sitcom Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Chelsea Handler: Uganda Be Kidding Me Live; Aussie comedian Jim Jefferies: Bare; DreamWorks Animation’s The Adventures of Puss in Boots; and the documentary Virunga.
Seasons one and two of Orange is the New Black will be available at launch in advance of season three’s global premiere on June 12.
Upcoming titles include action drama Marvel’s Daredevil; thriller Sense8, the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Destiny; and comedy series Grace and Frankie.
Subscribers can stream on nearly any Internet-connected screen including smart televisions, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Apple iOS, Windows and Android tablets and smartphones.
The service also will be available on Fetch TV’s second-generation set-top box, and on game consoles including Sony’s PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Xbox One, and Nintendo’s Wii U.