PRESS RELEASE
Sydney – 9 December 2013: Fetch TV has capped off a year of progress and innovation by achieving the 100,000 subscriber milestone and adding “watch anywhere” capabilities to the Fetch TV mobile app. Subscriber growth has been strong throughout the year with Fetch TV now the clear number two Pay TV provider in Australia. The rate of subscriber growth is expected to accelerate in 2014 with the commencement of mainstream marketing activities.
Scott Lorson, CEO of FetchTV said: “After an extended period of investment in research and development, Fetch TV and our partners are now excited to offer the compelling TV experience that nearly three quarters of Australian households have been holding out for. We enter the new year in a strong position, with clear growth momentum, committed partners, an enthusiastic and engaged subscriber base, and one hell of a product.”
2013 has been a busy year for Fetch TV and its partners. Highlights have included:
– The new second generation Set Top Box, offering advanced aesthetic design and enhanced performance,
– A new user interface making the service faster, more feature rich and easier to use,
– The integration of free-to air catch-up TV services including ABC iview and SBS on Demand
– My Media Hub, which allows users to access content from other connected devices on their TV
– A wealth of new content options including Disney / Disney Jnr and ESPN / ESPN 2
– The continued growth of the Movie Rental Service, now with over 2,300 titles including the new release titles from all the major studios,
– This month’s upgrade to the mobile app, enabling viewing of content on phones and tablets
The features of the upgraded Fetch TV App, available for iOS and Android, include the ability to view a wide selection of the subscription Entertainment channels plus movies from the Movie Box service when at home or whilst out and about, over both WiFi and 3G/4G. The app also allows users to set recordings from anywhere, and doubles as an in-home remote control.
Mr Lorson said: “A defining characteristic of the Fetch TV business is the strength of partnership that exists with Optus and the iiNet Group of Companies (iiNet, Internode, Westnet, TransACT, and Adam Internet). We understand what consumers want – a great product, at a fair price, from a trusted provider, all on a single bill.”
David Buckingham, Acting CEO of iiNet said: "iiNet has worked closely with the team at Fetch TV over the past few years to build a truly exceptional offering. As the foundation partner, we are proud of how far we have come and delighted with the feedback from our customers. We are excited at the potential iiNet TV with Fetch has to generate growth, make our customers happy and help them get the most out of their Internet service."
Martin Mercer, Managing Director of Optus Fixed Line Division said: “With the formation of the new Fixed Line Division at Optus, we are committed to providing our customers with great propositions and a brilliant customer experience. The partnership with Fetch TV has enabled Optus to develop a compelling service for our customers with real potential to disrupt the market. Optus TV with Fetch is now an integral part of our bundling strategy, and will be a key driver of growth in the future.”
The good news for Fetch TV subscribers will continue in 2014, with launch of four additional channels on 1 January at no extra cost and a host of new product enhancements in the pipeline. Details of the additional channels will be announced in the coming days.
Users of the Fetch TV service are demonstrating very high levels of engagement across the full suite of features including PVR, Movie Rentals, subscription packages, companion mobile / tablet apps, YouTube, My Media Hub, and Catch Up TV. As an example, the average Fetch TV household is recording in excess of 100 TV shows each and every month.