Speaking at the ASTRA conference yesterday, Foxtel’s CEO Peter Tonagh announced Foxtel will be making changes to the pricing and packaging of its streaming service, Foxtel Play.
Foxtel described the move as one designed to increase consumer choice and break down “traditional barriers” to taking up Foxtel’s services.
Tonagh shared plans for a new pricing model that features low cost entry points at prices competitive with SVOD services.
The new entry level pricing is set to launch in December and centres on a ‘bring your own device’ and ‘bring your own bandwidth’ model.
As part of the new low-commitment IP offering Foxtel will create five different entry level tiers, designed to match viewers’ interests. These will include two options for drama, plus one option for lifestyle, one for documentary and one for kids. Beyond this, customers will also be able to take up a sports tier or a movies tier.
Subscribers will have access to all linear channels in the tier along with all of the on-demand, catch up and library content available to that tier plus mobile access via Foxtel Go.
“Foxtel has been at the forefront of providing unrivalled entertainment to customers for more than 20 years. Our new flexible pricing and delivery will mean that even more Australians will be able to design a subscription that works for them and once they experience what we have to offer, we’re confident they’ll be hungry for more,” said Tonagh.
As part of its new delivery options, Foxtel also confirmed that it is developing a new low cost ‘puck’ to access its IP delivered content.
In addition, Foxtel also announced yesterday that it has entered a new agreement with HBO. This agreement will expand Foxtel subscribers' access to HBO's library and allow them to access HBO shows on demand. The new rights arrangements are set to kick off from 1 January 2017.
Tonagh also announced that Foxtel will launch a new kids app in December which will allow shows to be accessed on the go.