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Subscription television in Australia

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Subscription television in Australiais provided using technologies such ascable television,satellite televisionandinternet televisionby a number of companies unified in their provision of asubscription televisionservice. Notable actors in the sector includeFoxtel,NetflixandStan.Regulation of the sector is assured by theAustralian Communications and Media Authority.

In 2012, prior to market entry of some majordigitalstreaming services to Australia, only about 28% of Australian homes had a pay TV subscription, which was one of the lowest subscriber rates in thedeveloped world.[1]By 2019, the situation had evolved so that almost 14 million Australians had access to a paid television or video on demand service.[2]

History

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1990s

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Galaxywas the first provider of subscription television in Australia, launching aMMDSservice on 26 January 1995.[3]OriginallyPremier Sports Networkwas the only local channel to be fully operational, withShowtimeandEncorelaunching in March.[4]They were later joined in April byTV1,Arena,Max,Redand Quest.[5][6]A satellite service was launched later in the year.

Optus VisionandAustarlaunched their cable services on 19 September followed byFoxtelon 22 October.[7][8]

Northgate Communications launched their service on 13 March 1997.[9]It was later acquired byNeighbourhood 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

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TransTVlaunched in 2001, beginning with VoD followed later by linear channels.[17][18]

UBI World TV launched in 2004. Also in 2004, TV PLUS launched its Ethnic platforms catering for Balkans, Russians and other Eastern European communities.[citation needed]Foxtel and Austar both launched theirdigitalofferings in 2004, with a total of 130 channels. The following year, Foxtel introduces theirFoxtel iQpersonal video recorder.[19]

SelecTVlaunched on 12 April 2006.[20]It ceased its English programming in late 2010.[21]

Neighbourhood Cablewith itshybrid fibre coaxial(HFC) cable networks in three Victorian regional cities ofMildura,BallaratandGeelongwas acquired byTransACTat the end of 2007.[22]In November 2011, TransACT was acquired byiiNetLimited, which in 2015 itself became a subsidiary ofTPG.[23]

Foxtel commenced theirHDservice in February 2009.[citation needed]

2010s

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Fetch TVentered the market in 2010 with a subscription service over a fewADSL2+networks.

UBI World TV filed forbankruptcyand ceased trading in June 2012.[24]

2020s

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Channels available

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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

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Satellite

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Satellite televisionis a service that delivers television programming to viewers by relaying it from acommunications satelliteorbiting the Earth directly to the viewer's location.[25]The signals are received via an outdoorparabolic antennacommonly referred to as asatellite dishand alow-noise block downconverter.In Australia, paid satellite television is or has been provided through the following satellites:

HFC cable

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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:

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 theNational 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 relaunchedOptus Sportplatform and retailingFetch TV,both of which are internet-based services (although Optus Sport is available as part ofTabcorp'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 andNetflixare 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

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See also:Internet television in Australia

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:

Defunct services

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A number of subscription television services in Australia have become defunct or are no longer supported in Australia:

  • Austarpreviously delivered an analogueMMDSservice 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.
  • TARBSleased some of Austar's metropolitan licenses for their service.
  • ECTVandGalaxyalso used MMDS.
  • SelecTVusedIntelsat 8until administrators shut the service down in January 2011.[32]
  • UBI World TVusedOptus D2andIntelsat 8until United Broadcasting International Pty Ltd ceased to trade on 8 June 2012.
  • Austarhas ceased transmission 24 May 2012, prior to this,Foxtelhad acquired Austar.

See also

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References

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  1. ^Knott, Matthew (10 July 2012)."We don't love pay-TV like the rest. So what's Foxtel really worth?".Crikey.Archivedfrom the original on 27 July 2015.Retrieved15 January2015.
  2. ^"Online & On Demand 2017: Trends in Australian online viewing habits"(PDF).Screen Australia.Archived(PDF)from the original on 8 July 2020.Retrieved7 July2020.
  3. ^Bertolus, Phil (2 February 1995)."At home with Pay TV".Green Guide.The Age.p. 1. Archived fromthe originalon 21 March 2012.Retrieved27 January2010.
  4. ^Oliver, Robin (6 March 1997)."Galaxy of stars but light on hard info".Sydney Morning Herald.p. 8. Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2011.Retrieved27 December2009.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.
  5. ^Wilmoth, Peter (15 April 1997)."Screen test - Do we really need pay-TV".The Sunday Age.p. 5. Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2011.Retrieved27 December2009.TV1 channel, the service's fourth channel of the eight planned, which was launched on 2 April
  6. ^Browne, Rachel (22 April 1995)."Galaxy takes knife to fees".The Sun-Herald.Sydney. p. 23. Archived fromthe originalon 16 July 2011.Retrieved21 December2009.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.
  7. ^Potter, Ben (19 September 1995)."Handful of households switch on to cable".The Age.p. 6. Archived fromthe originalon 13 August 2011.Retrieved1 January2010.
  8. ^Potter, Ben (23 October 1995)."No fanfare as Foxtel hits the airwaves".The Age.p. 6. Archived fromthe originalon 19 September 2011.Retrieved20 February2010.
  9. ^Walker, David (14 March 1997)."Ballarat backs new cable roll-out".The Age.p. 3. Archived fromthe originalon 21 March 2012.Retrieved20 February2010.
  10. ^"Pay TV operator offers free phone in bush".The Australian.14 December 1999. p. 32.
  11. ^Simpson, Kirsty (21 May 1998)."Lights out for Galaxy".The Age.p. 1. Archived fromthe originalon 21 March 2012.Retrieved26 February2010.
  12. ^Davies, Anne (3 June 1998)."Foxtel pulls off coup in battle for pay TV".Sydney Morning Herald.Canberra. p. 31. Archived fromthe originalon 13 August 2011.Retrieved26 February2010.
  13. ^Dasey, Daniel (28 February 1999)."Pay TV audience doubles".The Sun-Herald.Sydney. p. 33. Archived fromthe originalon 21 March 2012.Retrieved26 February2010.
  14. ^Joyce, James (29 May 1998)."ECT's New Pay-TV Vision".Friday Guide.Newcastle Herald.p. 2. Archived fromthe originalon 13 August 2011.Retrieved30 April2010.
  15. ^Mathieson, Clive (10 July 1998). "Austar expands pay TV interests".The Australian.p. 23.
  16. ^Allen, Jodi (28 August 1998)."PayTV hope looms on region's horizon".Illawarra Mercury.p. 7. Archived fromthe originalon 3 April 2012.Retrieved30 April2010.
  17. ^Manktelow, Nicole (13 March 2001)."ACT debuts video on demand".Sydney Morning Herald.p. 8. Archived fromthe originalon 3 April 2012.Retrieved14 July2010.
  18. ^Manktelow, Nicole (7 August 2001)."Mix Of TV Gets Canberra On Cable".Sydney Morning Herald.p. 1. Archived fromthe originalon 3 April 2012.Retrieved14 July2010.
  19. ^"Digital revolution: 2004-05".Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association.Archivedfrom the original on 8 March 2021.Retrieved22 April2021.
  20. ^Bolt, Cathy (12 April 2006). "$20m float for pay-TV player".The West Australian.Perth, Australia.p. 58.
  21. ^Chessell, James (20 August 2010)."Bruce Gordon's SelecTV to make changes".The Australian.Archived fromthe originalon 5 January 2014.Retrieved20 August2010.
  22. ^Downie, Graham (19 December 2007). "TransACT in Vic move".Canberra Times.p. 6.
  23. ^Hopewell, Luke (20 August 2015)."ACCC Gives TPG The A-OK To Buy iiNet".Gizmodo.Archivedfrom the original on 21 August 2015.Retrieved20 August2015.
  24. ^"UBI World TV subscribers forced to call administrators after bankruptcy".Neos Kosmos.19 June 2012.Retrieved17 June2021.
  25. ^"Radio Regulations: Vol 1, Article 1.39"(PDF).International Telecommunication Union.2020. p. 20.Retrieved23 April2021.broadcasting-satellite service: A radiocommunication service in which signals transmitted or retransmitted by space stations are intended for direct reception by the general public.
  26. ^Turner, Adam (10 March 2017)."Optus killing pay TV in NBN-ready areas, what are the alternatives?".The Sydney Morning Herald.Archived fromthe originalon 7 July 2020.Retrieved7 July2020.
  27. ^"NBN Co dumps Optus HFC for FTTdp".iTnews.Retrieved29 July2022.
  28. ^"iiNet to deliver TV over internet".The Sydney Morning Herald.Australian Associated Press.12 April 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 13 April 2010.Retrieved13 April2010.
  29. ^Sinclair, Lara (24 November 2009)."Fetch locks in TV partners".The Australian.p. 21.Retrieved13 April2010.[permanent dead link]
  30. ^"FAQs - Before you get Fetch".Fetch TV.Archivedfrom the original on 23 April 2021.Retrieved23 April2021.
  31. ^Carroll, Pam (18 October 2010)."Foxtel on Xbox 360 channels, pricing announced".CNET.Archived fromthe originalon 25 November 2010.Retrieved29 November2010.
  32. ^bacco|007 (4 February 2011)."Time called on WIN's pay TV company".The Spy Report.Media Spy. Archived fromthe originalon 5 March 2011.Retrieved2 March2011.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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