Compare Streaming TV and Video On Demand Plans

Free-to-Air TV

Free-to-air television is nothing new in Australia, but the methods of accessing it have changed over the years. Previously all you needed was a TV and an aerial – providing that you lived in an area that was within broadcast range. Now with digital TV, you also need a set-top box to decode the digital signal. Most modern smart TVs come with one built in, so for many of us, that’s not an issue. Most of these set-top-boxes and smart TVs also come with recording software so you can set them to record your favourite shows in advance. However, if you miss your chance, most of the shows and events aired by free-to-air stations in Australia also make their programming available online via catch up services. These are available online, and you can access most of them on smartphones and tablets using dedicated apps. As the name suggests, free-to-air TV is free to watch. Most of the services – both online and broadcast – are supported by advertising. Some of the services require you to sign up with an email address, but they all remain free to access. Currently, the catch-up services include ABC iview, SBS On Demand, 7plus, 9Now, and Tenplay.

Cable TV

Cable TV gets its name from the fact that, for many subscribers, the signal is brought into their homes by a physical cable rather than a signal broadcast from a station tower. A set-top box then connects to the cable and decodes the channels. More modern set-top boxes let you pause, rewind and record live TV on the fly. A cable connection also offers the option of using the technology for a faster internet connection over using ADSL and traditional copper wires, although this advantage is set to disappear as the NBN rollout continues across the country. If cable TV isn’t available in your area, it may be possible to get a satellite connection installed to enjoy the same programming. While other countries have many cable TV providers, Australia has one that dominates the market. Offering a huge range of content packs, Foxtel remains Australia’s first choice for cable TV. Foxtel also offers its cable subscribers to option of watching their favourite shows online via the Foxtel Go app.

Streaming TV

In recent years there has been a big shift in viewing preferences in Australia, and it’s no secret why. Streaming video on demand services have been around for a decade, but it’s only recently that they seem to have picked up momentum.

In part, this is due to the changing nature of TV. There is so much viewing content available that the market has started to fracture into niche services. You can now find streaming providers that focus on one genre to the exclusion of all else. Want to watch cricket? There’s a service for that. How about reality TV 24 hours a day? That exists. Are you interested in Japanese anime? There are at least three available in Australia that cater to this niche.

The other driving factor in the growth of streaming TV is technology. Before, the internet infrastructure in Australia was not robust enough to handle streaming video on a large scale. We didn’t have TVs that connected to the internet, nor did we have the huge range of portable and handheld devices with screens clear enough to watch what we want. Now with mobile streaming, you can catch up on your favourite shows anywhere that you have a mobile connection.

Streaming TV companies offer different methods of access, depending on the services. Some are subscription-based, others offer rental and purchase options. Then there are those that offer a mix, and still others can be free to use but are supported by advertising, which is switched off for subscribers.

The big players in the Australian streaming TV market include Amazon Prime, BigPond Movies, DocPlay, Fetch TV, Google Play, hayu, iTunes, Kayo, Netflix, Ovo Play, Stan, and YouTube Premium.

Content

Perhaps most obviously, you need to make sure that the service actually has the content that you want to watch. The licensing rules that govern who can broadcast what can be very confusing, and at times you may find that your favourite TV show has different seasons available across different services. Also, these broadcasting licenses may lapse or change hands over time. So if you’re signing up to a service for a particular show, series or sporting event, it’s important to check in advance to see if your show is set to stay in one place, or if it’s likely to move.

Costs and Contracts

This is most important for the subscription-based services, those that charge rental fees, and those that offer the chance to purchase official downloads. Compared to the days when you had to physically go to a store and rent movies or boxed sets of TV series, modern subscription services are quite affordable. Many offer a flat monthly rate for all-you-can-eat viewing, while others require a committed contract of a year or more. Free-to-air TV is, of course, free, but even those services that offer free access can cost you in terms of the data they use up. So it makes sense to check the costs involved, not just for a subscription or rental, but also to try to uncover how much data your streaming service uses. That way you can work out how much the service will really cost you to use.

Advertising

A few recent marketing studies have shown that Australians are typically cynical about advertising. You find it intrusive or feel that it interferes with your enjoyment. Or you may find that it’s a minor inconvenience at worst. This matters when choosing your TV services because advertising is a common practice. With the exception of the ABC, all free-to-air TV services feature advertising. The same is true for some subscription services – most notably YouTube (the free version) and Foxtel. So you need to figure out just how much advertising is too much, and what you’re willing to pay to avoid it.

Availability

This matters for all TV services. If you live in an area that does not receive digital TV broadcasts, then sadly they are not an option. However, you can access their catch-up services online – though this is dependent on your internet connection. If you have a slow internet connection or a tight data cap, you may find that online streaming becomes a little frustrating. Of course, you always have the option of getting a cable TV subscription, but this depends on whether or not you have a cable service active in your area. Failing that, you can upgrade your internet connection, or choose to go with a satellite installation for satellite TV. And if you rely on your smartphone or tablet for your TV fix, this is highly dependent on the availability of either WiFi or the positioning of mobile phone towers. So before you commit to any paid service, or decide to rely on free options, it’s a good idea to look at what you have available in your area.

Broadband and Subscription

This is an ideal option if you have a family that likes to get online but also enjoys watching TV together on a regular basis. Essentially, the provider will cover the cost of your TV subscription. This is usually for the length of your contract. Internet provider, Dodo, has pioneered this bundle and continues to offer Fetch TV as part of its broadband services. Fetch TV can often be found in broadband packs from Primus, iiNet, Optus, and more recently from Aussie Broadband. In some cases — such as with Foxtel — the provider may also be responsible for delivering the streaming service, leveraging its infrastructure to bring cable internet to its customers.

Broadband and Unmetered Access

While more of a perk than a bundle, this option lets you stream content as much as you like without worrying about the data used. This is a great option if you’re using a capped data plan to keep costs down but still want to indulge in the occasional binge. For example, iiNet treats ABC iView as unmetered for all customers. Again, sometimes the service provider and the content provider are the same. For example, Foxtel does not count the data used while watching Foxtel using the Foxtel Go App over their broadband, and Telstra do not meter the data used to watch Foxtel from Telstra or BigPond Movies.

Mobile and Subscription

This is something of a rarity. Put simply, your mobile phone provider gives you a plan which includes access to a subscription service for a certain period. The largest telco in the country, Telstra used to offer a plan that included six months subscription to Stan, Netflix, and Presto (remember Presto?) before Netflix stopped offering bundle support, and Presto disappeared. Today, Telstra offers a range of sports-related content via dedicated apps to its mobile customers.

Mobile and Unmetered Access

This is a more popular choice for most mobile providers. Like with unmetered broadband access, you can watch what you want from certain providers without the data counting towards your monthly total. This matters more on a mobile plan, as there are few plans available that offer unlimited data. Mentioned above, the sports content available through Telstra is also unmetered. Telstra also offers unmetered streaming of Foxtel Now content on certain plans. At the time of writing, the only other mobile provider that offers unmetered data on streaming services is Optus, which excludes ABC iview, Netflix and Stan from your metered data.