Foxtel and HBO new BFFs, fans to benefit

[chrisD]

Foxtel signs deal with HBO to gain 'express' access to US shows

FOXTEL is turning the tables on pay-television piracy and putting the heat on the free-to-air networks after signing a landmark deal with US TV giant HBO, maker of the popular hits like Game of Thrones, to give consumers access to shows within hours of them airing in the US market.

In another Australian first, the national pay-TV operator will also launch a new app next month offering subscribers 21 channels on their iPads free of charge, after a successful trial of the technology during the London 2012 Olympics.

The moves come as chief executive Richard Freudenstein, nearly a year into the job, looks to kick-start sluggish subscriber growth in a weak consumer environment.

In a move designed to improve the quality of its service and combat rampant piracy, Foxtel has just inked a deal with HBO which boasts some of the most critically acclaimed and watched dramas on television, including Girls, True Blood, and Veep.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/med...cess-to-us-shows/story-fna045gd-1226501029200

 

[Firey_Dragon]

Probably too little, too late if the motives are to stop piracy. I don't see too many people changing their download habits because a TV channel is showing them a few hours later, especially when that means you have to sit down at a certain time, or PVR it... And you can't watch it when on the run.

Good to see foxtel finally starting to embrace IPTV though, with that said I wish they'd put the real fox sports channels online.

 

[butchmcdick]

Well if they chock them full of ads like they have done with The Walking Dead they can suck my hairy beanbag.

I will continue to download eps rather than watching it on their network

 

[Danish]

foxtel is at least showing a good attitude to this situation by airing shows either same day or next day that they air in the states, unlike the idiotic FTA networks who continue to just treat viewers like dirt.

The piracy/download cycle wont be broken overnight, but if they continue to implement measures such as this and then also introduce "catch up" services online then personally I think they'll make large inroads.

I only download programs because a) most of them aren't even aired here and b) when they are, they are either shown weeks late, loaded with ads, and with inconsistent scheduling. If foxtel can address these issues I'll stop

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Yeah great attitude from foxtel like being 3 or 4 episodes behind in breaking bad when season 5 started

 

[Twizzle]

why do we need more Americanization rammed down our throats ?

rather see more European content especially football

 

[chrisD]

Breaking Bad is not HBO, for unknown reasons (to me, risks of net leaks before they air in the US?) it's the foreign network content creators that are putting up the barriers to near simultaneous WW showings for their shows. I should have pasted the whole article as I didn't realise it was a restricted site, but there's much in the whole article and the main point really is that Fox having locked up the sports market have identified fans of these Television shows as their primary potential growth area, which means they will actually try now.

 

[Firey_Dragon]

foxtel is at least showing a good attitude to this situation by airing shows either same day or next day that they air in the states, unlike the idiotic FTA networks who continue to just treat viewers like dirt.

The piracy/download cycle wont be broken overnight, but if they continue to implement measures such as this and then also introduce "catch up" services online then personally I think they'll make large inroads.

I only download programs because a) most of them aren't even aired here and b) when they are, they are either shown weeks late, loaded with ads, and with inconsistent scheduling. If foxtel can address these issues I'll stop

Agreed, but I highly doubt the ads situation will get any better. I can understand why cable networks in the US are loaded with ads, their packages are dirt cheap. Here well it's a premium cost service, without the premium service. Pricing is the killer for foxtel, the ease of use with the internet will eventually destroy their market if they continue with high cost, low value services... Sport is the only thing saving it for many people.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Breaking Bad is not HBO, for unknown reasons (to me, risks of net leaks before they air in the US?) it's the foreign network content creators that are putting up the barriers to near simultaneous WW showings for their shows. I should have pasted the whole article as I didn't realise it was a restricted site, but there's much in the whole article and the main point really is that Fox having locked up the sports market have identified fans of these Television shows as their primary potential growth area, which means they will actually try now.

Who said BB was HBO? I'm responding to "foxtel are good with shows" not with breaking bad they weren't.

 

[chrisD]

Who said BB was HBO? I'm responding to "foxtel are good with shows" not with breaking bad they weren't.

There is no "good with shows" comment or sentiment.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Learn to read before you type

foxtel is at least showing a good attitude to this situation by airing shows either same day or next day that they air in the states, unlike the idiotic FTA networks who continue to just treat viewers like dirt.

Yeah great attitude from foxtel like being 3 or 4 episodes behind in breaking bad when season 5 started

 

[chrisD]

Unsurprisingly you seem to be missing the point. The point of the article is the attitude is changing, hence the deal, article and comment.

"to give consumers access to shows within hours of them airing in the US market."

 

[Danish]

Yeah great attitude from foxtel like being 3 or 4 episodes behind in breaking bad when season 5 started

You really are a whiny little bitch aren't you?

I said they are showing a good attitude and starting to air shows very quickly after they air in the US. Breaking bad is an exception, but that season started months ago.

Most shows who've started their new seasons in the last few weeks are showing within a day or so of being aired in the states, not weeks in advance.

Its a process, and foxtel is moving forward with it and making positive changes. this is completely at odds with the FTA networks.

 

[Springs]

If it means the new Game of Thrones comes out a week earlier here then I'm happy.

 

[butchmcdick]

31st of March 2013 is the air date for game of thrones

http://hbowatch.com/hbo-series-premiere-schedule/

Interestingly on HBO's site they mention an Entourage movie but not release date as yet

 

[Springs]

Yeah I heard about that, last season was always a week behind on Showcase, so hopefully not next season.

 

[Joker's Wild]

If they truly want to combat piracy then they need to put shows on within a few hours, not 33 hours like they currently advertise with the Walking Dead. Its just not soon enough when you can download it well within that time frame

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Unsurprisingly you seem to be missing the point. The point of the article is the attitude is changing, hence the deal, article and comment.

"to give consumers access to shows within hours of them airing in the US market."

Unsurprisingly you can't read I wasn't even talking about the article smh stfu

You really are a whiny little bitch aren't you?

I said they are showing a good attitude and starting to air shows very quickly after they air in the US. Breaking bad is an exception, but that season started months ago.

Most shows who've started their new seasons in the last few weeks are showing within a day or so of being aired in the states, not weeks in advance.

Its a process, and foxtel is moving forward with it and making positive changes. this is completely at odds with the FTA networks.

Whining lol coming from a androtrop like you, take that with a grain of salt

One of the biggest shows of the year foxtel still plays season 4 :lol: go foxtel!

 

[skeepe]

Unsurprisingly you can't read I wasn't even talking about the article smh stfu



Whining lol coming from a androtrop like you, take that with a grain of salt

One of the biggest shows of the year foxtel still plays season 4 :lol: go foxtel!

You do realise it's almost always the content creators who cause the delay right? I know it doesn't fit in with your whiny little rant, but it's true.

I think what Foxtel are doing is great, it's certainly stopped me bothering downloading most of the shows knowing that I can watch them on Foxtel in better quality without having to wait months on end. A couple of days or weeks really doesn't bother me at all.

 

[Pete Cash]

why do we need more Americanization rammed down our throats ?

rather see more European content especially football

Because cable television over the last ~15 years has produced possibly the best TV of all time. TV has become a deeper medium than film because of these cable networks. Do you think people are keen to watch Game of Thrones or a non HBO example Breaking Bad because its americanisation (which rather amusingly you use the americanised version of the word) of Australian culture or perhaps because those shows are absurdly good.

Over the last 15 years or so cable TV in the US has produced (from the top of my head)

The Sopranos, The Wire, Six Feet Under, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Game of Thrones, Rome, Deadwood, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire, Treme, Generation Kill, Oz and The Walking Dead.

Please tell me what has Europe or anywhere produced that can match those shows for f**king scope and ambition nevermind quality. The best European TV I can think of in that time period is probably the Office or Peep Show.

I don't get this snobbery about American TV. They produce some absolute garbage but their best is the best in the world by a fair margin. Simply through the amount of money they can pump into these shows.