Set-top box

I was surprised to find out today that most BBC channels (BBC Earth, BBC News, CBeebies, and BBC First) and related on demand content are leaving Foxtel/Binge/Flash at the end of July. Foxtel/Binge have retained light entertainment channel UKTV. In separate but related news Fetch TV has managed to negotiate better with the BBC, extending their channel partnership agreement ensuring Fetch subscribers get ongoing access to...

Following in the footsteps of Foxtel's Hubbl which did the same thing a few months ago, Fetch TV will be making Free-to-Air (FTA) channels available as streaming feeds via the Fetch Electronic Program Guide (EPG) from June 2024. Fetch households with no or poor FTA reception will enjoy easy access to FTA program information and single click channel access from the EPG. The FTA IP channel...

I attended a briefing at Foxtel's Sydney HQ today to get to see their new Hubbl combined hardware and software product, which aims to aggregate global and local TV/movie apps through one interface and ensure easy streaming, searching and watching of content on free to air catchup apps, VOD, pay TV and subscription services like Netflix. Upon launching the following global and local streaming apps will...

Watch out Fetch TV because Foxtel is getting ready to launch it's new Hubbl product, aiming to aggregate the biggest global and local TV/movie apps through one interface and ensure easy streaming, searching and watching of content on free to air catchup apps, VOD, pay TV and subscription services like Netflix. Hubbl can only be accessed through a small device that plugs into any compatible...

Fetch TV and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have announced a multi-year extension of their channel partnership. As part of the deal, CNN International returns to Fetch to offer extensive coverage of the U.S. election cycle, right through to the Presidential Election on November 5. CNN International was previously available to Fetch TV premium channel subscribers until May 2021 when their agreement ended. Fetch now delivers the most...

Fetch TV has announced that subscription streaming service Apple TV+ is now available as an app on Fetch TV boxes*. Fetch TV boxes are available through internet service providers Telstra, Optus, TPG Vodafone (iiNet, Internode, and Westnet), Vocus (Dodo and iPrimus) and Aussie Broadband along with retailers Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi, Bing Lee, and The Good Guys. Apple TV+ original shows don’t tend to get as...

If you own a DVR it has an EPG and some come for free, while others rely on paid subscriptions from 3rd party providers like IceTV. Unfortunately IceTV entered voluntary administration on October 6th with TPH Insolvency. This made IceTV users very nervous and began to explain the move away from IceTV support from manufacturers like Humax and Topfield. This morning an email was sent...

Roku may be a new name to many Australian’s, but internationally the device is a huge success. Telstra have partnered with Roku to bring the set top box to Australia and replace their T-box offering in the living room. Telstra TV, powered by Roku is a small, wallet-sized device that takes nothing more than power, HDMI and WiFi to get up and running. In many...