Fetch TV
IPTV, Pay-per-view, Pay television | |
Owner | Telstra (51.4%) Astro Malaysia Holdings (48.6%) |
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Website | www |
Fetch TV is an Australian
Fetch TV provides a set-top box with a digital TV tuner, a personal video recorder, and up to 45 subscription channels. It also offers video-on-demand, pay-per-view movies, web applications, and a mobile app.[4]
The service is delivered using HLS adaptive bitrate streaming. The minimum internet sync speed required varies depending on the ISP delivery method. Most of Fetch TV's content is unmetered when delivered over a broadband connection from a Fetch TV ISP partner.[5]
History
- On 25 May 2010, Fetch TV announced that they would commence offering their first-generation set-top box PVRs through their partner, WarnerTV.
- Fox Sports News was added on 27 August 2010. By 14 February 2011, Fetch had added Chelsea TV, Man City TV, Barcelona TV, Man Utd TV, and Real Madrid TV.
- The Travel Channel joined on 15 September 2011, and Optusstarted reselling the service.
- beIN Sports (Australia).
- On 16 February 2015, Fetch TV announced plans to become the first Australian pay-TV provider to integrate the Netflix service into its platform. This allowed users with a separate Netflix subscription to access Netflix content through the Fetch TV set-top box. In March 2016, it was revealed that Their press release from the event hinted at a future catch-up service for content available on the entertainment pack channels.
- In 2016, Fetch TV began testing HD broadcasts for channels like BBC First and BBC Knowledgein HD.
- On 27 February 2017, Fetch launched their new channel packs. They divided their available channels into four groups, allowing them to be purchased separately or as a bundle. They also confirmed that several channels would be delivered in HD, with 'more improvements to come in the next 60 days'.[7]
- In October 2016, Fetch launched the next generation of their mobile app.
- In July 2017, Fetch became the 'Official Broadcaster of the UFC' in Australia. They offered pay-per-view fights at $54.95 AUD and other content broadcast exclusively through their 'Edge Sport HD' channel.[8]
- In August 2018, Fetch added the remaining BeIN Sports (Australia)channels 2 & 3.
- On 10 October 2019, BBC Earth was launched as part of BBC's global rollout. It featured a live channel and on-demand content, replacing BBC Knowledge.
Models and Features
Fetch TV offers two set-top boxes: the Mighty and the Mini. The Mighty allows access to 4K programming, along with serving as a 1 TB DVR media hub with four tuners, while the Mini is limited to 1080p HD with a limited pause buffer and can use the Mighty as its host for a multi-room setup. Both come with over-the-air antenna tuners in addition to Fetch programming.
Subscriber Base
Fetch TV Australia faced significant competition in the marketplace from rivals like Foxtel and Telstra TV. In 2014, mainstream technology and financial media sources suggested that the service needed to increase its subscriber base to thrive.[9] In response, the company stated in 2013 that it had strategies in place to achieve success and significantly increase its subscription base.[10][11]
In early 2016, it was revealed that the service had 400,000 active subscribers and aimed to reach 600,000 by the end of the year.[3] This goal was achieved in late 2017, with Fetch citing the growth of Australia's National Broadband Network as a key driver. On the back of the NBN, Fetch added an average of 20,000 customers per month in 2017.[12]
The service operates an industry TV ratings app that provides an indication of which boxes are subscribed at any given time and which channels have what share of their audience.[13]
Subscription channels
Fetch TV has broadcast rights to channels from Paramount Networks, BBC Studios, NBCUniversal & Warner Bros. Discovery.
As of 2 October 2023[update], the following Fetch Channel Packages are offered:[14]
Kids Channels (7 channels)
- BBC Kids1
- BabyTV1
- CBeebies
- Nick Jr1
- Nickelodeon1
- NickMusic
- ZooMoo1
Knowledge Channels (18 channels)
Vibe Channels (10 channels)
- Club MTV
- Comedy Central13
- EDGE Sport HD1
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- FashionTV1
- MTV13
- MTV 00s1
- MTV 90s1
- MTV Hits
Variety Channels (10 channels)
Ultimate Pack
The Ultimate Pack includes all four 'skinny' channel packs: Kids, Knowledge, Vibe, and Variety.
Note:
1 These channels are exclusively available through Fetch TV in Australia.
2 This channel is a different version to the one provided by the Seven Network on free-to-air television until December 2019.
3 Content from this channel is available on demand.
Special Interest Packs
As of December 2020, the following channels are offered through the Fetch TV Special Interest Packs in Australia:
- BeIN Sports 1, 2 & 3 in HD1
- Australian Christian Channel & TBN Inspire(open access without cost)
- Horse & Country TV1
- Optus Sport 1-6 HD1
Fetch offers UFC pay-per-view fights at $54.95 AUD per event.
Note:
1 These channels are exclusively available through Fetch TV in Australia.
Former Channels
The following channels were available on Fetch TV but are no longer in service:
- Cartoon Network- Channel closed on 22/04/2021
- Boomerang- Channel closed on 22/04/2021
- CNN International - Channel closed on 22/04/2021
- CGTN - Channel closed on 31/7/2021
- TVH!TS)
- Discovery Home & Health
- Deutsche Welle
- Ovation
- Garage1 - Channel closed on 31/07/2017
- Nat Geo People3 - Channel closed on 28/02/2018
- Disney Channel - Ended 30/04/2020
- Disney Junior - Ended 30/04/2020
- Disney XD- Ended 06/01/2019
- Fox Crime
- Style NetworkEnded 17/12/2019
- Fox Sleuth
- Fox Sci-Fi
- Spike1 Channel closed on 27/2/2022
- eGG Network Channel closed on 23/01/2023
- EDGESport - Channel closed on 22/04/2024
Ultimate Pack Channel List
The following channels are included in the Ultimate Pack:
- Animal Planet
- ACC TV
- Al Jazeera English
- Baby TV1
- BBC First
- BBC Earth
- BBC Brit
- BBC UKTV
- BBC World News
- Bloomberg Television
- CBeebies
- CGTN
- CNA
- CNBC Australia
- Comedy Central
- Discovery Channel
- Discovery Turbo
- Investigation Discovery
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- Euronews
- Food Network2
- France 241
- HGTV1
- MSNBC1
- MTV
- MTV Music
- MTV Dance
- National Geographic Channel
- Nat Geo Wild
- NDTV 24x7
- Oxygen
- Nickelodeon
- Nick Jr
- Stingray CMusic
- Spike1
- TLC
- Travel Channel1
- Universal TV
- ZooMoo
Note:
1 These channels are exclusively available through Fetch TV in Australia.
2 This channel is a different version to the one provided by the Seven Network on free-to-air television until December 2019.
World Language Channels
Italian Package4 Channels.
Pinoy TV Package8 Channels.
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TVB Cantonese & Korean Package4 Channels. Taj Mahal (Indian and Pakistani) Package23 Channels.
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Apps
Fetch boxes receive the following apps:
- Amazon Prime Video
- Apple TV+
- Netflix
- Stan
- Disney+
- YouTube
- Hayu
- BritBox
- ABC iview1
- SBS On Demand1
- 7plus
- 9Now1
- 10 Play1
- Paramount+1
- Optus Sport2
Note:
1 Appears in 'Catch Up' menu.
2 Appears in 'TV' menu.
See also
References
- ^ "Telstra Completes Its Majority Acquisition of Fetch TV". Mediaweek. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ "New FetchTV Box + Service Review: It's a Game Changer". Delimiter. LeMay & Galt Media. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
- ^ a b Mason, Max (29 May 2016). "Fetch TV Keeps Challenger Mindset While Aiming for 600,000 Subscribers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- ^ Turner, Adam (16 February 2014). "Fetch TV vs. Telstra T-Box: Which Is the Best PVR?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
- ^ "FetchTV: An Updated Review for 2012". Delimiter. LeMay & Galt Media. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
- ^ "FetchTV Update 15 June 2016" (PDF).
- ^ French, Stephen (24 February 2017). "Fetch TV goes "Skinny" with new and affordable channel packs". Tech Guide. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- ^ Knox, David (25 July 2017). "UFC joins Fetch". TV Tonight. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ Ramli, David (25 January 2014). "Optus, iiNet join Fetch in ad campaign". Australian Financial Review. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ^ Polites, Harrison (22 July 2013). "Poor metrics cast a shadow over Fetch TV's growth plans". Technology Spectator. Business Spectator Pty Ltd.
- ^ Hutchinson, James (11 May 2011). "FetchTV eyes top 10 ISPs to take on Telstra". Computerworld. IDG Communications. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ Groves, Don (2 October 2017). "Fetch's growth spurt outpaces Foxtel and Stan". if.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ "Fetch TV creates a new ratings app but downplays the potential to challenge Oztam". Mumbrella. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ "Fetch TV - Packages". Fetch TV. Retrieved 8 December 2016.