Foxtel guide - Price, plans, channels, shows, sports and review in Australia

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Foxtel has been on the cutting edge of Australian pay TV since it launched its ground-breaking 20 channel subscription service in the country in 1995. Let’s delve into more in our Foxtel Australia guide. 

In the decades since, the company has grown rapidly. The service has expanded to 80 channels delivering premium drama, pop and lifestyle shows, news, sports and much more. Some of the shows on Foxtel with high critical praise include House of the Dragon (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), The Last of Us (96%), and The White Lotus (92%).

Although it was originally a coaxial network service providing twenty channels to Australian viewers, it now offers satellite and cable television to its customers. Foxtel has also kept pace with the digital revolution, upgrading its set-top boxes regularly to add new features like multi-channel recording, content streaming and Ultra HD 4K image quality.

What is Foxtel?

With regular television in Australia being restricted to five free to air channels for decades, Foxtel introduced pay TV to the country. Pay TV expanded the range of TV shows and movies available to Australians, offering a wider variety of content across a far greater number of channels.

As pay TV has evolved, Foxtel has grown right along with it, steadily improving its hardware, introducing high definition viewing and streaming capabilities, and adding premium drama, news, sports and documentary channels.

Temporary channels are also available to cover events like the Olympic Games and Rugby World Cup, as well as permanent channel expansions, including its incredible range of 9 sports channels.

The latest iQ5 is now available and allows you to connect your service through your internet connection instead of using satellite – simultaneously stream and record Foxtel’s 4K channels!

It also has multiple viewing options other than its set-top box. For example, Foxtel has a subscription service called Foxtel Now, which gives customers access to everything they can expect from a traditional connection but with a lot more options for devices. 

There’s also Foxtel Go, which, whilst similar to Foxtel Now, is a service specifically for mobiles and tablets that allows customers to watch all the content they love on the go.

How much does Foxtel cost?

The service has an extensive range of pricing options for its customers. These pricing options vary in content, with the premium options including all Foxtel content and the specific app options like the Sports bundle mainly centring around particular customer needs.

As it structures its pay TV subscription plans by dividing the channels into genre-based packs called the Foxtel packages, the Foxtel cost depends on what package and other add-ons you’re signing up for.

When setting up a subscription for any of the Foxtel packages, you can assemble your own package from the selection of content packs, building a customised entertainment experience.

The multiple options mean customers only pay for content packs that match their viewing preferences rather than paying for dozens of channels they will never watch

So, for example, if you opt for the Sport bundle, your subscription includes the 62 channels included in the base Foxtel Plus pack, as well as the Sport pack – all bundled together in a plan with a price of $100 per month, which now includes Multiscreen.

While Foxtel gives you the freedom to build your own plan, their standard bundled plans typically offer better value for money, significantly lowering the Foxtel cost each month. Not only are these bundles generally cheaper, but they frequently offer their bundles at special discounted rates.

These special Foxtel offers tend to change regularly, so it’s best to check to see what is available to new customers before deciding on a plan that suits you.

Last audited 1st March 2024

Since the service has an extensive range of pricing options for its customers, you’ll find more bundling alternatives. These pricing options vary in content, with the premium options including all Foxtel content and the specific app options like the Sports bundle mainly centring around particular customer needs.

Looking for more TV bundles that better suit your needs? Check out Foxtel’s complete packages here.

Foxtel channels

To stream Foxtel Australia content, you’ll need access to Foxtel channels. The pay TV giant has a broad customer base, so it has numerous channels and lots of content for its customers to watch. It also allows their customers to watch HD-enabled channels in 1080p HD (all of their content was in standard definition before the HD addition).

There are also some 4K options available for those with a 4K-ready device. These are only available on the Sports HD plan or the Premium HD plan. It also has channel options from other countries, including HBO from the United States and BBC from the United Kingdom.

The channel packs available include Sports HD, Movies HD, Kids, and Favourites, which you can add to the base entertainment package.

To make it easier, the service offers bundles so Foxtel Plus and another channel pack of your choice is already bundled by default. Getting Foxtel this way also gets you savings since they’re frequently discounted.

Sport

This sports bundle offers multiple excellent sports options for customers. The sports on the channels include cricket, rugby, football, netball and more. You can add Foxtel Sports HD onto a basic subscription for $30 a month.

The channels on Sports HD include:

Movies

The Foxtel Movies HD has channels with the best new movies and channels focusing on specific genres like action movies or dramas. You can add Foxtel Movies HD onto a Foxtel subscription for $25 a month.

These are all of the channels in the Movies HD pack.

Foxtel Plus

This is the standard channel pack with drama channels, lifestyle channels, documentaries, news with the likes of Fox News channel and more. It costs $70 a month with the increase in pricing attributed to the addition of documentary channels from the no longer existing Favourites Pack, kids channels from the Kids Pack, and the Multiscreen feature.

Some of the channels on the Foxtel Plus bundle include: 

Foxtel Plus + Netflix

Along with all the channels that Foxtel Plus adds, you can also add your Netflix subscription to the service. To get Netflix as an add on, you have to get it for an additional cost of $15 per month. 

With the add on, you get HD Netflix content, and you also get the ability to watch it on multiple screens (two screens maximum).

You can also upgrade to a premium Netflix subscription after you get it as an add on. Even better, you can use your existing Netflix account to watch on your iQ box or the Netflix app. 

Other add-ons

Along with the $15 Netflix add-on, there are multiple other apps and services you can add to your account. 

The other add-ons on Foxtel Australia include: 

Foxtel Magazine	You can get Foxtel’s magazine as an add on; it’s delivered monthly. It costs $5.95 extra a month.
RAI International	This allows you to access various Italian TV entertainment and news channels. It costs an additional $23 a month.
Antenna Pacific	This enables you to access various GreekTV entertainment and news channels. It costs an extra $23 a month.
Multiroom Foxtel iQ5 self-install kit	Costs an additional $25 a month. The $199 equipment fee + $35 connection fee still apply when you get this add-on.

What’s on Foxtel

The pay TV and streaming service will always spoil you for choice. New content is added to channels constantly, ranging from home-brewed series to the latest international movies, TV series, news, documentaries and sport from Fox Sports HD.

Because there’s just so much to watch, we’ve done some of the hard work for you by picking out some of the best shows on Foxtel currently screening and streaming on demand, or check out our ‘What’s on Foxtel’ highlights page to find new shows and movies to stream.

Foxtel dramas

Thanks to Foxtel’s exclusive partnership with HBO, you can guarantee the world’s best drama will be available on its platform. Here is a preview of the exciting and thrilling drama entertainment you can watch today.

Foxtel comedies

If you’re looking for something a little more light-hearted, from romcom to slapstick, Foxtel has all the classics as well as the latest episodes of the best new comedy series. Try something from HBO, the latest in British humour from the BBC, or premium comedy shows from Comedy Central.

What sports can I watch on Foxtel?

Backed by the power of Fox Sports, nobody can compete with Foxtel when it comes to premium sports HD broadcasting in Australia.

You can catch live action from the most popular sports leagues and tournaments in Australia and worldwide, including coverage of cricket, soccer, motorsports and even niche sports like darts and poker.

Kids shows on Foxtel

It also offers access to all the biggest kids entertainment channels, including Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and more. So whether your kids want to watch a movie, something educational or silly, it’s available live and on-demand.

Action & adventure on Foxtel

You can definitely kick back and enjoy the best movies Foxtel has to offer from its extensive library of classic and contemporary cinema featuring the most exciting action and adventure flicks.

Horror & thriller on Foxtel

Every week you get access to blockbuster movies old and new. So grab your popcorn and soda and bring that cinematic experience to the comfort of your living room. If you’re a big fan of the horror or thriller genre, even better, because Foxtel Now happens to have plenty of those.

Documentaries on Foxtel

If you’re a fan of documentaries and need your weekly fix of National Geographic and the Discovery Channel, Foxtel has you covered. Sign up to the base Foxtel Plus bundle, and you’ll get access to Crime Investigation, the History Channel, A&E, and more.

Some documentary channels are also part of the base pack, such as Fox Docos, BBC Earth, Discovery and National Geographic. Here are some of the best documentaries you can stream in Australia.

Foxtel hardware

New customers will need a set-top box that connects to their TV and satellite cabling to watch in the highest available resolution.

The iQ boxes

The very first iQ box was launched in 2005. It has since been upgraded to iQ2 in 2008, followed by the iQ3 in 2015. It completely overhauls the platform on which Foxtel operates and enhances its user interface.

It was the iQ4 that made a massive difference in how Australians watch their sports and entertainment. The iQ4 launched three years after its predecessor and packed more powerful hardware and, of course, paved the way for 4K streaming using your Foxtel IQ box.

The new iQ5 set-top box

In 2021, the company embraced a future where streaming dominates digital entertainment with the iQ5. Featuring a smaller, sleeker appearance, the new iQ box is a plug and play device that ditches traditional cables and the need for satellite installation. The new IQ box allows users to access Foxtel’s over 50,000 hours of content within minutes.

It also adds Vevo and Amazon Prime Video to its list of third-party apps that already includes Netflix, YouTube, SBS On Demand, and ABC iView. The iQ5 is available to more customers now for those who want to upgrade their set-top boxes.

Despite significant enhancements, the latest iQ box retains many of its functionalities. iQ5 users can still watch live channels, access on-demand content, as well as record their favourite shows or sports with its removable 1TB hard drive. The launch of the iQ5 also marks the first time traditional customers no longer need a direct connection to Foxtel to use the pay TV service.

Foxtel introduces Hubbl

In 2024, Foxtel finally unveiled Hubbl, the company’s latest “transformative TV technology” with the aim to simplify the user’s streaming experience.

Delivered in two forms: Hubble device and a 4K Smart TV with a built-in soundbar called Hubbl Glass, every major global and local streaming app is integrated into its system so everything you need is on one platform.

Global streaming services Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Paramount+, Apple TV+ and video-sharing app YouTube, join local streamers BINGE, Kayo Sports, Stan, Flash, Optus Sport, Foxtel’s new app, LifeStyle.

Australia’s free streaming apps, ABC iView and ABC Kids, SBS On Demand, 9Now, 7plus, and 10 Play are also part of Hubbl’s streaming line-up.

What devices are compatible with Foxtel?

Numerous devices will allow you to access your account. The large number of devices you can use is a factor that makes it stand out. The devices you can use Foxtel with include:

Cheapest ways to get Foxtel

The simplest way to watch Foxtel entertainment is to go directly to the provider for a subscription.

However, there are other ways to watch content that will provide you with the same variety and premium viewing experience at a more affordable price point.

Foxtel Now

There’s also the option to entirely move away from cable and satellite and join the streaming services revolution with Foxtel Now, being the ideal alternative to the traditional Foxtel subscription. While content packs are structured a little differently, you can still access all of Foxtel’s content, including sports, along with a massive movie library and on-demand shows. 

Subscription starts at $25 per month, and there is no lock-in contract, which means you can jump on and off the service from one month to the next. There are also Foxtel Now offers you can check from time to time to save on plan fees.

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Kayo Sports

If all you’re after from Foxtel is the sports pack, then Kayo Sports may be for you.

Kayo offers Fox Sports content packaged in a tailor-made service for sports fans. You’ll have access to all the big sports leagues and tournaments in Australia and abroad, with coverage including cricket, AFL, rugby league, soccer, motorsport and much more.

As a sports streaming-only service, Kayo Sports also offers you the freedom to watch premium sports channels where you want, how you want, for as little as $25 per month. In addition, you can access the whole Kayo Sports experience on a 7-day free trial and never need to sign a lock-in contract.

Last audited 2nd January 2024

BINGE streaming

BINGE is a standalone drama streaming service owned by Foxtel’s parent company. BINGE offers access to a lot of the drama content you’d find on Foxtel – and it’s available at a bargain price with no lock-in contract, starting at the cost of only $10 per month (Basic with Ads). You can see what BINGE drama has to offer on 7-day free trial.

Last audited 2nd January 2024

What are the alternatives to Foxtel Now?

Whilst there are many alternatives to Foxtel Now, the other options that are the most similar and the most prominent competitors are Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Stan.

How does Foxtel compare to Fetch?

Fetch is an internet-only streaming service and requires a fast broadband or mobile data connection to stream its content in high definition.

By contrast, Foxtel offers some content via on-demand streaming but uses satellite TV as its main content delivery channel, offering low latency and 4k Ultra HD compatible broadcasts.

In terms of content, Foxtel offers a significantly wider variety of channels and content than what you’ll find streaming on Fetch.

For example, when it comes to sports Fetch does not offer Fox sports HD programming and instead streams sports content from ESPN 1 & 2, UFC and EDGEsport.

However, Fetch offers its entertainment packages at a lower price-point than Foxtel.

What is Foxtel Go?

Foxtel Go is a free streaming service available to all Foxtel Australia customers that provides flexible access to a selection of Foxtel’s premium content.

This live and on-demand service allows you to start streaming live channels or view TV shows or movies via broadband or mobile before the technician even arrives to install your full service.

How to watch Foxtel Go?

Foxtel Go allows customers to stream content anywhere at any time, using apps for your mobile phone or tablet. You can also stream in high definition directly from a browser on your desktop or laptop.

All you need is a broadband or fast mobile data connection.

For the complete list of compatible devices, check out the list below:

Note that casting to a TV via Chromecast or AirPlay is only available to customers with a Multiroom subscription.

You can now add a Multi-screen subscription to your account for only $15 per month. In addition, multi-room casting is included free of charge with the all-inclusive Platinum Plus bundle.

Contacting Foxtel Australia customer support

There’s a variety of options for contacting the company’s customer service team, who’ll be able to answer any questions about your service and put you in touch with the right people for everything from plan changes to technical support.

The Foxtel Australia customer service contact line is available for the cost of a local call on 131 999, with technical support for your TV service available from 7.30 am to midnight, seven days a week. You can also visit the website to get help online.

For changes to packs, call between 9 am and 9 pm on weekdays or 10 am–8 pm on weekends. For any questions about your account or billing,

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