Foxtel is one of the main players in Australian entertainment , dominating the Pay TV space and now releasing a streaming service — Foxtel Now — that makes it more accessible. So how do you choose between two of the best offerings from Foxtel? We walk you through a feature-by-feature comparison of both offerings, to help you figure out which service is better suited to your needs.
What the Difference Between Foxtel and Foxtel Now?
The Pay TV service Foxtel has the widest range of TV content in Australia. The entry level Entertainment Package offers 45+ channels that cover all bases from drama, news, and music to special channels for the kids. Other packages include movies, drama, and sports add-ons. Their Showcase channel has exclusive rights to HBO’s series, giving Australia access to much acclaimed shows including Game of Thrones, Westworld, Veep, Silicon Valley, and others. The Box Sets channel allows viewers to binge watch their favourite shows as well — and if you’d rather watch a show right away, the new On Demand feature lets you stream entire seasons in high definition at no extra cost. Other shows and movies are available on demand for extra payment. The Sports Pack includes programming from ESPN as well as beIN Sports and three English soccer club channels in addition to Fox Sports’ own channels.
Foxtel Now, previously known as Foxtel Play, is Foxtel’s IPTV offering. They offer five distinct base packs that cover Drama, Pop, Documentaries, Lifestyle, and Kids channels. There are also two Premium Packs covering Sports and Movies.
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What Does Foxtel Offer?
Foxtel splits its channels into separate packages that can be added individually to the base Entertainment Pack, which is mandatory. You can also find bundles of packs and even the Platinum HD offering, which includes everything.
| Pack/Channel/Bundle | Cost/Month | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Entertainment | $26 |
|
| Sport | $29 |
|
| Drama | $20 |
|
| Movies | $20 |
|
| Entertainment Plus | $10 |
|
| Docos | $10 |
|
| Kids | $10 |
|
| HD Upgrade | $10 |
|
Foxtel’s base plan starts at $26/month with additional charges for the Premium Channel Packs. Going whole hog with the Platinum HD Pack — i.e., all the channel packs, containing 92 channels, plus high definition — will cost you $137/month. All rates are on a monthly direct debit plan. The minimum total cost, including equipment and installation works out to $151 for the Entertainment Plan and $262.03 for Platinum HD — though free or reduced-price installation and iQ3 is often offered as part of advertised bundles.
And What Does Foxtel Now Offer?
Foxtel Now lowers the cost of entry substantially, requiring only that you choose one of the entry-level packs at $10 or $15/month. You can add as many packs as you like, change them every month and cancel at any time without penalty. While the packs share names with those in the hardware Foxtel service, not all the channels available on the iQ3 box have made the transition over to Foxtel Now.
| Pack/Channel/Bundle | Cost/Month | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Pop & Lifestyle (entry pack) | $25 |
|
| Drama (premium pack) | $10 |
|
| Sport (premium pack) | $29 |
|
| Movies (premium pack) | $20 |
|
| All Packs Bundle (including Kids & Docos) | $104 |
|
Foxtel Now starts at $10/month for the Docos, Lifestyle, or Kids Genre Packs, or $15/month for Drama or Pop. You can choose to have only one pack or get as many as you want — with a discount applied if you choose both Drama and Pop ($25 for the two instead of $30/month). The Movie Pack is an additional $20/month, while the Sport Pack costs an additional $29/month. If you feel greedy and want everything on offer, it will cost $104/month for about 60 channels. Note that you can cancel your subscription anytime. There’s also a free 14-day trial for new subscribers.
Are There any Accessories for Foxtel Now?
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 — and it only costs $99.
The Foxtel iQ3 Experience
Foxtel Pay TV requires installing a set-top box, included in whatever package you sign up for. You can request an installation by Foxtel or do it by yourself.
A Foxtel iQ3 set-top box is included in most cases (some bundles still include the older iQ2 model) which can record up to 345 hours of entertainment in SD or 172 hours of HD. A good electronic program guide (EPG) makes it easy to find and record your shows. Foxtel Now is more of an app than an EPG, but it’s just as simple to navigate and use. Foxtel’s catch-up service, Foxtel On Demand, is included with both.
Foxtel Now doesn’t require a set-top box, since you watch via the internet. You can access Foxtel Now on your PC, Mac, Telstra TV, Foxtel Now Box, mobile phone, or tablet, as well as Chromecast or Playstation 4, 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. See the list of Foxtel Now compatible devices here. Of course, they require a high bandwidth internet connection.
Foxtel Now offers a mobile app that lets you watch your favourite shows and movies on the go, from your mobile devices. Foxtel also offers a similar free app for iQ3 customers to watch their shows when away from home.
How to Access Foxtel and Foxtel Now
Foxtel Pay TV is available in all metro areas, however access may be limited in remote areas. Foxtel Now is available anywhere you have a broadband connection.
Foxtel Now Device Compatibility
Foxtel Now is available on a wide range of devices.
| Device | Does it work? |
|---|---|
| Computers (PC & Mac) | Yes (Chrome and Safari browsers only) (HD) |
| iOS and Android Phones & Tablets | Yes (HD) |
| Chromecast | Yes (HD) |
| Telstra TV | Yes (HD) |
| Apple TV | Via AirPlay Only (HD) |
| Foxtel Now Box | Yes (HD) |
| PlayStation 4 | Yes (HD) |
| Xbox One | Yes |
| Playstation 3 | Yes |
| Smart TVs | LG, Sony, Samsung |
Foxtel Now is continuing to expand its compatibility range. Check back frequently to see new updates!
So, 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.
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