Delivering pay TV to Australians for the past few decades – and growing constantly over the years – Foxtel has the most comprehensive range of TV content available, across multiple genres. With 45 channels included as part of the base Entertainment Pack, you’re already enjoying far more choice than regular broadcast TV – and adding extra channel packs like Sports, Movies or Drama can enhance that experience even more, right up to the Platinum pack which includes everything Foxtel has to offer – a vast amount of content.
Foxtel Now, on the other hand, is Foxtel adapted to the streaming era, with both live Foxtel channels and on-demand content delivered via your broadband internet connection to your mobile device, computer or TV. Foxtel Now provides access to most of the channels and content that satellite Foxtel does, but without the need for installation or lock-in contracts – making it perfect for people who move around a lot, and those unable to get access to the satellite version of Foxtel.
What Makes Foxtel and Foxtel Now Different?
Whether it’s Foxtel via satellite or Foxtel Now via broadband, once connected you’ll have access to a vast range of content that you simply can’t find anywhere else. With channels covering everything from first-run drama to premium sports to blockbuster movies, there’s something for everyone amongst Foxtel’s diverse channel line-up.
The Entertainment Package that all satellite subscribers get offers 45+ channels covering everything from drama, news, and music to special channels for the kids. Other channel packs that can be added include Movies, Drama, and Sports, letting you tailor your viewing to exactly what you want.
Choose How you want to Watch
Foxtel Now, meanwhile, also comes with a base set of channels, with the Pop and Lifestyle packs forming the entry-level package alongside a set of bonus channels, bringing the base line-up to 26 channels in total – including Showcase, the home of Game of Thrones. Extra channel packs can be added here, too, to get access to live sports, a wide range of movies or premium drama.
With so much of its content exclusively licensed to Foxtel, regardless of which method of viewing you pick, you’ll be gaining access to some of the best TV you’ll find anywhere – and it can only be found through Foxtel.
Enjoy Foxtel’s Exclusive Content with 2 Months Free
Access the hottest shows on TV, sport, and movies — including the final season of Game of Thrones & the seventh season of Wentworth — FREE for the first 2 months with $0 upfront costs. Offer ends 30 June 2019.
What Do They Deliver?
Part of the base packs on Foxtel Now and included in the Drama pack on Foxtel, the Showcase channel has exclusive rights to everything from acclaimed network HBO – giving Australia access to much-acclaimed shows like Game of Thrones, Westworld, Veep, Silicon Valley, Big Little Lies and many more – all of it available to stream on demand in high definition, too, alongside thousands of hours of other content, all included in your subscription price. There’s even a dedicated channel for those who like to binge-watch shows – Box Sets runs entire seasons, 24 hours a day.
Sports fans, meanwhile, are well catered for by the range of 16 channels available through both Foxtel and Foxtel Now, including comprehensive live coverage of sports from Australia (including AFL and NRL) and around the globe, 24 hours a day. In addition to the multiple Fox Sports channels, you’ve got access to the international resources of ESPN, Eurosport and beIN.
What Does Foxtel Offer?
Foxtel splits its channels into separate packs that can be added individually to the base 45-channel Entertainment Pack, which all subscribers get. You can add Sports, Drama, Movies, Kids, Docos and more, with costs for each pack varying depending on what’s included. Each channel pack also unlocks access to its on-demand content, increasing the value hugely.
| Channel Pack | Channels Included |
|---|---|
| Entertainment | FOX8, BBC UKTV, Arena, MTV, Universal, TVHits, Very Funny, FOX Classics, Lifestyle, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Disney Jr., Nick Jr., Boomerang, MTV Music, MTV Dance, Channel V, MAX, Foxtel Smooth Arts, CMC, Foxtel Music, FOX Sports News, SKY Racing, SKY Thoroughbred Central, FOX News, SKY News, Your Money, SKY News UK, SKY News Extra, SKY News Weather, BBC World News, CNN, CGTN, CGTN Documentary, NHK World, Aurora, Bloomberg TV, CNBC, Al Jazeera, RT, EXPO Channel, TVSN, ACCTV, Daystar, Sonlife, Hillsong, TRT World |
| Sport | FOX Cricket, FOX Footy, FOX League, FOX Sports 503/505/506, beIN Sports 1/2/3, ESPN, ESPN2, Eurosport |
| Drama | FOX Showcase, Binge, BoxSets, BBC First, 13th Street |
| Movies | Premiere Movies, Action Movies, Comedy Movies, Masterpiece Movies, Family Movies, Disney Movies, Thriller Movies, Movie Greats, More Movies, Romance Movies |
| Entertainment Plus | The Comedy Channel, Syfy, Style, TLC, A&E, E!, Lifestyle Home, Lifestyle Food |
| Docos | Nat Geo Wild, History, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Science, Animal Planet, Crime+Investigation |
| Kids | Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, CBeebies, Nickelodeon, Discovery Kids |
| Specialty Channels | BoxSets, Antenna Pacific, RAI International, Sky Racing+ |
Access to high definition (HD) channels is available for a small extra fee, and subscribers to both the HD and Sports packs also get free access to Foxtel’s new 4K channel – Australia’s first broadcast 4K television channel.
Premium Viewing with Platinum HD
If you want the whole lot, the Platinum HD Pack containing 95 channels plus high definition is your best option. Do watch out for special offers, as free or reduced-price installation or the iQ4 set-top box are often offered as part of advertised bundles.
What Does Foxtel Now Offer?
With Foxtel Now, your first move when subscribing is to get the base pack – which incorporates the “Pop” and “Lifestyle” packs – at $25/month. After that, you can add any of the premium packs — Drama, Sport, and Movies. While the packs share names with those in the hardware Foxtel service, not all the channels available on the iQ4 box have made the transition over to Foxtel Now.
| Pack/Channel/Bundle | Cost/Month | Highlights | Featured Shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pack / Channel / Bundle: Essentials pack | Cost / Month: $25 | Highlights:
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| Pack / Channel / Bundle: Essentials + Drama pack | Cost / Month: $35 | Highlights:
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| Pack / Channel / Bundle: Essentials + Sport pack | Cost / Month: $40 | Highlights:
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| Pack / Channel / Bundle: Essentials + Movie pack | Cost / Month: $45 | Highlights:
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| Pack / Channel / Bundle: All Packs (including Kids & Docos) | Cost / Month: $79 | Highlights:
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Trial it for Free
Aside from the individual premium packs that are available to add, you can get everything on offer – which includes the Kids and Docos packs, unavailable otherwise. Note that you can cancel your subscription anytime – there’s no setup fee or lock-in contract. There’s also a free 10-day trial for new subscribers.
Get Foxtel Now FREE Trial Offer
Start your 10-day free trial and start streaming your favourite shows, sport, and movies — including all episodes from seasons 1 to 8 of Game of Thrones.
Start Streaming NowTelstra customers: Start your 10-day free trial with Foxtel Now from Telstra.
The User Experience
Foxtel Now launched its own custom-design streaming box at the end of 2017, and for those that choose to go with the Foxtel Now option it’s an easy way to get Foxtel onto your screen in HD via your broadband connection at a low cost. The interface is based on the familiar iQ interface for ease of use – something you’ll also find on the latest Telstra TV box, where the Foxtel Now app does a superb job of streaming live channels and on-demand content.
The Box is Set, the Choices are Unlimited
Foxtel via satellite, meanwhile, requires the installation of a set-top box, with the iQ4 the latest update to the device that both receives and records your Foxtel channels, as well as serving as an on-demand streaming hub.
The iQ4 can record up to 345 hours of entertainment in SD or 172 hours of HD, and A constantly updated electronic program guide (EPG) makes it easy to find and record your shows. Foxtel Now simulates much of this in its apps, but it’s just as simple to navigate and use. Foxtel’s catch-up service, Foxtel On Demand, is included with both.
The Online Streaming option
Foxtel Now doesn’t require a set-top box, since you watch via the internet, either in a web browser or through the Foxtel Now app on various platforms. You can access Foxtel Now on your PC, Mac, Telstra TV, Foxtel Now Box, Playstation 4, iOS/Android phone or tablet and Google Chromecast, with content available in HD where possible. Meanwhile, the older version of the app, Foxtel Play, is still available on Xbox One, Playstation 3, and selected Smart TVs.
The Foxtel Now mobile app lets you watch your favourite shows and movies on the go, which is a great feature to have access to while travelling. Foxtel satellite customers also get access to a similar mobile app to watch subscribed channels and content when out and about – it’s called Foxtel Go, and is included with all Foxtel subscriptions at no extra cost. You can easily access the Foxtel Go app across several devices, making it much easier to watch your favourites wherever you go. Check out the rest of Foxtel Go available devices below:
How to Access Foxtel and Foxtel Now
Foxtel Pay TV is available right across Australia, thanks to satellite technology that beams high definition and 4K channels to you no matter where you are (do note, though, that on-demand content on the Foxtel iQ4 box requires a broadband internet connection and will consume a reasonable amount of your data limit). Foxtel Now, meanwhile, is available anywhere you have a broadband connection.
Device Compatibility
Foxtel Now is currently available on the following devices, with more to come:
| Devices | User Guide |
|---|---|
| Foxtel Now Box | Yes |
| Sony Android TV | Yes (2015 models and above) |
| iOS Mobiles/Tablets | Yes, via native app (iPhone 4s or above, iPad 2 or above – using iOS9 or above) |
| Android Mobiles/Tablets | Yes, via native app (Jellybean 4.1 or above) |
| PC/Mac | Yes, web browser only (Google Chrome and Safari) |
| Google Chromecast | Yes, via casting |
| Apple TV | Yes, via AirPlay |
| Telstra TV | Yes, all models |
| PlayStation 4 | Yes, all models (Foxtel Play on PlayStation 3) |
| Xbox One | No – legacy Foxtel Play app only |
| Selected Samsung, LG Smart TVs | No – legacy Foxtel Play app only |
Which One Is Best for You — Foxtel or Foxtel Now?
At the entry package level, Foxtel’s Pay TV service definitely provides more value for your money — provided of course, that the service is available in your area. Otherwise, you can just opt for Foxtel Now.
If you like a broad range of channels to choose from, the Platinum HD package from Foxtel might be the best thing for you. Otherwise, if you’re not too particular about all the extra channels — or if either cable or satellite installation is not an option — then picking and choosing selected channel packs from Foxtel Now potentially works out to be more cost-effective.
Either way, you’ll be getting access to a huge world of TV entertainment and information that you simply cannot get anywhere else.
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