Subscription television in Australia
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Subscription television in Australia is provided using technologies such as
In 2012, prior to market entry of some major
History
1990s
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Northgate Communications launched their service on 13 March 1997.[9] It was later acquired by Neighbourhood Cable.[10]
Galaxy was closed on 20 May 1998.[11] Two weeks later Foxtel significantly boosted its customer base by acquiring Galaxy subscribers from the liquidator of Australis Media and immediately commenced supplying programming to Galaxy's subscribers on an interim basis.[12] In February 1999 Foxtel began offering its own satellite service to new customers.[13]
Following the collapse, ECTV quickly signed a deal with Optus Vision.[14] Less than two months later, it was acquired by Austar, along with its stake in XYZ.[15] Austar replaced the ECTV packages with their own in September.[16]
2000s
UBI World TV launched in 2004. Also in 2004, TV PLUS launched its Ethnic platforms catering for Balkans, Russians and other Eastern European communities.[
SelecTV launched on 12 April 2006.[20] It ceased its English programming in late 2010.[21]
Foxtel commenced their HD service in February 2009.[citation needed]
2010s
UBI World TV filed for bankruptcy and ceased trading in June 2012.[24]
2020s
Channels available
Almost all channels which currently or previously operated in Australia were available through Foxtel and Austar, being the dominant player in the market. However, some smaller competitors offer a subset of channels which are exclusive or unavailable on Foxtel services.[citation needed]
Delivery
Satellite
Satellite television is a service that delivers television programming to viewers by relaying it from a communications satellite orbiting the Earth directly to the viewer's location.[25] The signals are received via an outdoor parabolic antenna commonly referred to as a satellite dish and a low-noise block downconverter. In Australia, paid satellite television is or has been provided through the following satellites:
- Optus C1 and Optus D3satellites.
- The various PAS 8.
- MySAT uses PAS 8.
- The various PanGlobal TV platform services use PAS 8.
- TFCDirect! uses PAS 8.
- Canal+ Australie uses Intelsat 701.
- Pacific Media uses AsiaSat 4.
HFC cable
Hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) is a broadband network that combines optical fibre and coaxial cable. It has been commonly employed globally by cable television operators since the early 1990s. In Australia it is used or has been used by:
- Perth.
- Optus use their own cable network in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to provide subscription television. However, the service has reportedly become unavailable in areas where the National Broadband Network is rolled out.[26]
- Mildura.
The majority of these cable networks has since been removed from service, with many parts of the Telstra HFC network (used by Foxtel) integrated into the National Broadband Network - the Optus network was planned to be similarly integrated, but it was later determined to not be financially viable due to the network being in a state of disrepair.[27]
As Optus' subscription TV platform eventually focused selling Foxtel's service over their own cable network, they (essentially) discontinued their service in preparation for handing over their cable. Customers were encouraged to contact and subscribe to Foxtel to continue receiving those services - Foxtel, in turn, migrated all cable customers (both their own and new customers previously with Optus) to their satellite service.
Optus remains in the subscription television market through the relaunched Optus Sport platform and retailing Fetch TV, both of which are internet-based services (although Optus Sport is available as part of Tabcorp's SKY satellite-based offering to pubs and clubs or, at an extra monthly cost, via satellite to consumers, with both requiring special decoders).
Excluding internet-based services, Foxtel is the sole remaining "traditional" mainstream pay TV operator in Australia; Foxtel's satellite service is also the last remaining offering in the field, having acquired Austar in 2012 and Optus having withdrawn their cable offering due to the transfer of the network infrastructure.
Foxtel have continuously been trying to integrate broadband internet into their service, both by selling broadband plans (via the NBN) and by using the internet to expand their television service. Several popular streaming apps, such as catch-up TV and Netflix are supported on their iQ4 decoder, which also supports "Start Over" functionality (via a simultaneous internet stream of most channels).
Foxtel's upcoming iQ5 (and possibly the existing iQ4) set-top-boxes are also intending to support an "internet-only" mode which doesn't require a satellite signal to operate. As they have begun offering similar streaming boxes, separate to their traditional decoders, it is likely that Foxtel may consider discontinuing the satellite service if the internet is able to support a similar level of service to the satellite one. Given the issues in regional Australia when it comes to broadband access, this may take several years to become feasible.
IPTV / Internet television
Internet television in Australia is the digital distribution of movies and television content via the Internet. In Australia, paid internet television is provided by a number of generalist streaming service providers, in addition to several niche providers that focus on specific genres. Major providers of streaming services in Australia include:
Internet television in Australia is also provided by IPTV:
- or any other internet provider when their set top box is purchased from one of their retail partners.
- fibre-to-the-kerb network in some suburbs of the A.C.T.
- Foxtel uses the Internet to provide some extra content to its iQ2 platform. It also offers Foxtel on Xbox, a subset of Foxtel channels via any internet provider[31]
Defunct services
A number of subscription television services in Australia have become defunct or are no longer supported in Australia:
- MMDSservice into selected regional areas, however the system was dumped in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Austar also briefly tested a digital MMDS service on the Gold Coast.
- TARBS leased some of Austar's metropolitan licenses for their service.
- ECTV and Galaxy also used MMDS.
- SelecTV used Intelsat 8 until administrators shut the service down in January 2011.[32]
- Optus D2 and Intelsat 8until United Broadcasting International Pty Ltd ceased to trade on 8 June 2012.
- Austar has ceased transmission 24 May 2012, prior to this, Foxtel had acquired Austar.
See also
References
- ^ Knott, Matthew (10 July 2012). "We don't love pay-TV like the rest. So what's Foxtel really worth?". Crikey. Archived from the original on 27 July 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ "Online & On Demand 2017: Trends in Australian online viewing habits" (PDF). Screen Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ Bertolus, Phil (2 February 1995). "At home with Pay TV". Green Guide. The Age. p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- Sydney Morning Herald. p. 8. Archived from the originalon 27 September 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
In addition to its sports network, already operating, Galaxy trebled the choice on Friday when Showtime, a premium movie channel, and Encore, a movie favourites channel, got under way.
- The Sunday Age. p. 5. Archived from the originalon 27 September 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
TV1 channel, the service's fourth channel of the eight planned, which was launched on 2 April
- ^ Browne, Rachel (22 April 1995). "Galaxy takes knife to fees". The Sun-Herald. Sydney. p. 23. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
XYZ Entertainment is launching the other four Galaxy channels today. They are a documentary channel Quest, children's and cult TV channel Max, general entertainment channel Arena and music channel Red.
- ^ Potter, Ben (19 September 1995). "Handful of households switch on to cable". The Age. p. 6. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ Potter, Ben (23 October 1995). "No fanfare as Foxtel hits the airwaves". The Age. p. 6. Archived from the original on 19 September 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ Walker, David (14 March 1997). "Ballarat backs new cable roll-out". The Age. p. 3. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ "Pay TV operator offers free phone in bush". The Australian. 14 December 1999. p. 32.
- ^ Simpson, Kirsty (21 May 1998). "Lights out for Galaxy". The Age. p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
- Sydney Morning Herald. Canberra. p. 31. Archived from the originalon 13 August 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
- ^ Dasey, Daniel (28 February 1999). "Pay TV audience doubles". The Sun-Herald. Sydney. p. 33. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
- ^ Joyce, James (29 May 1998). "ECT's New Pay-TV Vision". Friday Guide. Newcastle Herald. p. 2. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ Mathieson, Clive (10 July 1998). "Austar expands pay TV interests". The Australian. p. 23.
- ^ Allen, Jodi (28 August 1998). "PayTV hope looms on region's horizon". Illawarra Mercury. p. 7. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- Sydney Morning Herald. p. 8. Archived from the originalon 3 April 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- Sydney Morning Herald. p. 1. Archived from the originalon 3 April 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- ^ "Digital revolution: 2004-05". Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- Perth, Australia. p. 58.
- ^ Chessell, James (20 August 2010). "Bruce Gordon's SelecTV to make changes". The Australian. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
- Canberra Times. p. 6.
- ^ Hopewell, Luke (20 August 2015). "ACCC Gives TPG The A-OK To Buy iiNet". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
- ^ "UBI World TV subscribers forced to call administrators after bankruptcy". Neos Kosmos. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ "Radio Regulations: Vol 1, Article 1.39" (PDF). International Telecommunication Union. 2020. p. 20. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
broadcasting-satellite service: A radiocommunication service in which signals transmitted or retransmitted by space stations are intended for direct reception by the general public.
- ^ Turner, Adam (10 March 2017). "Optus killing pay TV in NBN-ready areas, what are the alternatives?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ "NBN Co dumps Optus HFC for FTTdp". iTnews. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "iiNet to deliver TV over internet". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press. 12 April 2010. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
- ^ Sinclair, Lara (24 November 2009). "Fetch locks in TV partners". The Australian. p. 21. Retrieved 13 April 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "FAQs - Before you get Fetch". Fetch TV. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ Carroll, Pam (18 October 2010). "Foxtel on Xbox 360 channels, pricing announced". CNET. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
- ^ bacco|007 (4 February 2011). "Time called on WIN's pay TV company". The Spy Report. Media Spy. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
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