Up until now, there have really only been two DVRs that offer both content to watch and video on demand content in Australia: The Foxtel iQ and TiVo. A company called FetchTV is bringing a third player into the mix, with a little bit of help from iiNet.
Fetch TV is a DVR that incorporates three digital tuners to receive all the current free to air TV channels. But where it stands apart from all the other offerings on the market is the fact that it also offers subscription content served over the interwebs.
FetchTV will offer both linear subscription channels as well as video on demand programming options. So far, they’ve announced that they have content from Discovery Networks, National Geographic, MTV Networks, Fox International Channels, E! Entertainment Television, BBC World News, CNBC, ABC, Roadshow Entertainment, Disney Media Distribution, MGM and Lionsgate. Apparently subscriptions will cost under $30 a month and will be completely unmetered on iiNet.
As well as the included VOD content, there will be new release pay per view movies, just like Foxtel and TiVo.
The worst part about this announcement is that the product isn’t actually available yet. iiNet has said it will commence trials this month, but the URl they gave in the press release doesn’t work.
Still, this could be a very exciting play for the VOD DVR market, especially if FetchTV can somehow hop into bed with the likes of Yahoo!7 Plus and NineMSN’s Fixplay.
Australian First: iiNet Gets Set to Play FetchTV
12th April, 2010: iiNet (ASX: IIN), Australia’s third largest ISP, today announced its partnership with FetchTV, confirming it will be the first ISP to deliver the world-class digital TV service directly to Australian lounge rooms over an iiNet customer’s ADSL2+ broadband connection.
“iiNet and FetchTV are set to change the face of Australian television forever. FetchTV allows people to easily tailor their viewing experience, making it the perfect transition into the world of digital TV. It’s amazingly practical, but simply put, people will love it because it’s really cool,” says iiNet CEO Michael Malone.
The partnership means iiNet customers will soon be able to access Free-to-Air digital channels, a range of subscription channels, a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) and an Electronic Program Guide (EPG); all completely quota-free as part of the iiNet Freezone.
On top of all that, the FetchTV service offers unmetered Video on Demand (VOD) content with a basic subscription. The VOD content includes a continuously updated library of movies, TV shows, documentaries, kid’s programs and more. The service also offers Pay-Per-View new release movies – ready for instant viewing.
Truly the icing on the cake, iiNet’s FetchTV offering includes market leading features including 3D TV capability, in-built single and multi player games, access to a selection of social networking web applications and even the ability to receive messages regarding your iiNet services to your TV screen via the set-top box – all for a very low monthly cost.
iiNet will now offer customers broadband, phone and TV from a single provider, with all their communication and entertainment services included on one convenient monthly bill.
FetchTV CEO, Scott Lorson said:
“FetchTV has been developed to satisfy the entertainment needs of the 70% of Australians who have elected not to take up the existing and expensive subscription TV alternatives.
“We are delighted to team up with iiNet to introduce FetchTV to the Australian market, given their proven network reliability, reputation for product innovation and award winning customer service. The team at iiNet has been heavily involved in the development of the FetchTV service, and they share a common passion and commitment to innovation and differentiation.”
Mr Malone added: “Digital TV delivered over broadband has proven extremely popular in France, the UK and Hong Kong and Australians are going to love it too. We’ve beefed up the capacity of our iinetwork to handle multicast transmissions; team this with top notch network reliability, superior infrastructure and a guaranteed Quality of Service and we’ve got all the right ingredients to deliver this new breed of entertainment experience.
“iiNet, like FetchTV, is an Australian-founded and owned business with a passion for giving the big guys a run for their money. We’re all for competition in the market – it drives further development and improvements in any industry”.
Trials are set to take place over the next month or so, iiNet’s TV service will be available to customers shortly thereafter.
To register your interest, or to find out more about iiNet’s digital TV offering, check out the iiNet website: www.iinet.net.au/fetchtv
Otherwise, stay tuned.
- ENDS -
FetchTV and partners usher in new era in Australian TV
FetchTV announces foundation partners ahead of commercial trial
FetchTV[1]today announced the introduction of a new and unique subscription-TV service for Australian households, unveiling iiNet as its first ISP partner and announcing a host of content agreements with major content providers.
The FetchTV service will offer the full range of Free-To-Air (FTA) digital channels, quality subscription channels, new release pay-per-view (PPV) movies in High Definition (HD), leading interactive and social networking applications, and an advanced personal video recorder (PVR), all for under $30 (RRP) per month.
FetchTV will be available via leading Australian ISPs, delivered to the customer’s TV via a standard broadband connection and a FetchTV set top box (STB). Programming will be available in broadcast quality (including HD where available) and will be unmetered[2] .
The CEO of FetchTV, Scott Lorson said: “FetchTV is an entirely new breed of entertainment proposition, designed to meet the needs of the 70 percent of Australian households who have elected not to take up existing subscription TV services.”
“FetchTV brings together the full selection of FTA channels, the best of subscription-TV, the most popular interactive and social media applications, and access to new release PPV movies, all for less than $1 per day. The programming will be unmetered, meaning customers will be watching their favourite shows, not their download limits.”
ISP Partnerships
FetchTV is a wholesale provider to leading ISPs wishing to include a premium and highly differentiated TV service in their bundled offerings.
Today, FetchTV and iiNet announced a long-term partnership that will see iiNet become the first ISP to offer the FetchTV service to its customers, with a commercial trial set to commence this month. Additional ISP partners will be announced shortly.
Scott Lorson said: “iiNet is one of Australia’s leading ISPs and is recognised as a true innovator in broadband communications. iiNet has been a strong industry advocate for the development of a wholesale subscription-TV aggregation model, and has been a key collaborator in the development of the FetchTV service. We are very proud to have iiNet as a foundation partner, and are delighted that they will be the first to introduce FetchTV to the Australian market.”
Michael Malone, CEO, iiNet said: “This is what our customers have been telling us they are looking for. The solution we’ve developed with FetchTV will change the subscription-TV market in Australia for the better, as well as allowing customers to move painlessly to digital FTA TV.
“We have seriously considered the full range of options and the FetchTV solution is clearly the best. We feel very confident in launching this service against what’s currently on offer in the subscription TV market.
Of the decision for iiNet to launch an IPTV service, Michael added, “We know we have the service credentials, the technical and network capability and now, in this partnership with FetchTV, we have a killer set top box packed with killer content.”
Content partnerships
Today FetchTV also unveiled a large number of foundation content partnerships including: Discovery Networks, National Geographic, MTV Networks, Fox International Channels, E! Entertainment Television, BBC World News, CNBC, ABC, Roadshow Entertainment, Disney Media Distribution, MGM, and Lionsgate. Additional content partnerships will be announced in coming weeks.
Programming will be available as traditional linear channels or via comprehensive video on demand (VOD) libraries for popular genres such as kids, news, movies, science fiction, documentaries, biographies and general entertainment.
The FetchTV basic package will include at least 20 channels and genre based VOD libraries for viewing at any time for no extra cost, the full range of free-to-air digital channels, access to a PPV new-release movie library, as well as interactive applications. Subscribers wishing to add to the great range of content in the basic service, will also have access to additional channels and VOD libraries on an “a la carte” or tiered basis, meaning that customers will only pay for what they want.
The Australian foreign language market will also be well catered for with comprehensive packages of foreign language channels designed to meet the unique needs of Australia’s nearly one million households who speak a language other than English at home.
Lorson continued: “Our open platform will allow partners, be they content providers, free-to-air networks, interactive applications developers, or ISPs to deliver compelling content and services to the TV screen. We are creating an ecosystem that will promote new levels of innovation and competition in the market, and allow our ISP partners to introduce exciting new services to Australian consumers.”
Leading PVR Technology
The FetchTV Set Top Box is arguably one of the most advanced PVR’s in the world today, with specifications and features that include:
o Broadcom 7413 400 MHz dual core processor – supports 1080p HD content playback, which is 3D TV capable
o Three DVB-T tuners – providing the ability to watch and pause live TV, whilst recording two other programs at the same time
o A 750 GB Hard disk – sufficient storage for 440 hours of Standard Definition (SD) VOD content plus up to an additional 330 hours of SD recordings
o Digital audio-visual –interfaces which support HDMI, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound & a range of analog audio-visual connectionsThe inclusion of three digital tuners in the STB makes FetchTV an attractive migration option for the 39 percent[3]of TV owners who are yet to transition from analogue to digital television.
Zimbakin
April 12, 2010 at 10:57 AM
Actually 3… you forgot Apple TV.
Report PermalinkDaniel
April 12, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Not really, AppleTV is not a DVR. So it can’t really be counted.
Report PermalinkMatt
April 12, 2010 at 12:37 PM
Here’s the most important question – will I be able to use the Fetch Service on my existing Home Theater PC?
Report PermalinkAndrew Denholm
April 23, 2010 at 9:12 PM
I already have a windows 7 based media center pc that has 4 digital tuners and a few ad-ons to boot. I want to know if I can use fetch tv with it too! cause i’m not up for yet another set top box, and i’ve heard foxtel have a pci-e card coming to do foxtel in a pc sometime later this year
Report PermalinkMicWit
April 26, 2010 at 1:26 AM
I’m in the same situation, and I spoke to iinet, and they said that there would not be anything available. Kinda seems weird as all they would need is the software to decode! That would mean no hardware required, or even just a usb stick or something that would authenticate you as a user. I’ve just signed up to iinet, and they reckon that fetch TV will go live soon (I think they said the 29th April), but I’ll believe that when I see it. Trials and live release in the one month seems a bit fast.
Report PermalinkCaesar Wong
April 12, 2010 at 12:56 PM
I hope this doesn’t mean that iiNet will stop unmetering the Tivo content, being a competitor to this and all…
Report PermalinkIan
April 12, 2010 at 1:58 PM
I have a higher spec HTPC sitting beside my TV at the moment. If I can run Fetch TV through that I’d be very interested. I’m not sure I need another box with more TV tuners and recording space though.
Report PermalinkSimon Reidy
April 12, 2010 at 2:32 PM
Interesting to note the “3D TV capability”. I guess that means it’s equipped with HDMI 1.4? That would make it the first STB on the market in Australia to have this feature.
Will be interesting to see if iiNet utilises this by offering any 3D content in the future (for the 4 people in Australia that actually own a 3D capable display ;))
Report PermalinkMicWit
April 26, 2010 at 1:26 AM
Yeh, I’m real interested in the 3d feature. I’m looking at getting a 3d Samsung TV once they have finished the releases in August (and Sony have released theirs). I’m guessing that it would have to be HDMI 1.4 that will connect to the tv which is cool, would be nice if it could get on the anynet+ network (be able to turn on an off automatically with the tv etc). I presume it will be in the correct format for the Samsung/Sony tvs as well, and not just the Nvidia standard? (or will the nvidia 3d output be able to be read by the tvs?)
Report PermalinkJohno
April 13, 2010 at 1:31 AM
Whats with the use of BoB only. BoB has inferior speed for network connections of only 100mbs/sec
Report PermalinkWould be up to date with 1,000 surely.
iiNet get with the reasonable speeds will you.
We need a one stop product that is up to date.
Nigel Bryer
April 13, 2010 at 11:38 AM
100Mbs is more than enough for video streaming. If you want fast file T/F then use a 1000Mbs switch with the BoB off that for the Internet interfacing!
Report PermalinkJack Cola
April 23, 2010 at 11:28 PM
How do you think Foxtel delivers there TV service? It’s through cable which has similar speeds to ADSL (in most cases), So I wouldn’t think it’s a problem. And if iiNet have been running since 1993, and the third largest ISP in Australia, I don’t think they will do this if it is going to fail.
I can’t wait to get it. Can finally watch TV on my computer. My TV card and reception is so buggy.
Report PermalinkGeorge Benson
April 13, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Fetch TV is not real IPTV. It’s a limited collection of over the air channels from a TV tuner. Also the video on demand requires a huge 750 gig hard drive that will drive the set top box to over $300 USD cost to IINET and to us the consumer.
The video on demand will be a download only service and I hate to think how long it will take to download movies from this service. It will be easier to go get a DVD or Blu-ray at the video store.
Fetch TV is a weak half measure that will fail like Bigpond download video on demand PC service of a few years ago.
Tivo was canned here in Australia and by my prediction so will Fetch TV. We here in Australia need to innovate, and this weak half measure isn’t it!!!
George Benson
Report PermalinkPete
April 13, 2010 at 2:44 PM
Wow, hate much? What is ‘real IPTV’ according to you? How do you get ‘over the air channels from a TV tuner’? How do you know there’s no streaming VOD?
By the list of content providers they’re talking about, it sounds like they’ll have comparable content to some other pay TV offerings, and obviously they’ve proved successful enough. And a combination of multi- and uni-cast content again puts it on an even footing with the premium pay TV providers.
Report PermalinkSteven
April 15, 2010 at 8:14 PM
You’re wrong George – it’s going to be offered as a subscription IPTV service (with similar content to other pay TV services) in addition to the device being a PVR and able to access video-on-demand content.
Report PermalinkScott
April 23, 2010 at 11:14 PM
I have a pc linked to my tv as well as an internet connection & would not be wanting to buy extra equipment i.e. set top box etc, etc to stream fletch tv, but would be interested in a subscription if it was available through the above setup. Could you receive streaming channels through windows media setup tuning or something similar???
Report PermalinkJason Howe
April 24, 2010 at 5:19 AM
Has anyone at IInet bothered to look at more the stb per home..
i’m looking for a cost effective distribution solution throughout my home, i’ve yet to see anything on the market that suits my requirement…
the only option I can come up with a myth tv type server with multiple tuners using a client supplying service to a tv..
looking at IInet’s concept it’s really to next gen requiring fttn as a prerequisite at a bare minimum, though ftth would be better, though using adsl as a base plate is ok if you’re in a particular distance range adsl isn’t the best solution to transmit tv down..
Report Permalinkd
April 27, 2010 at 9:45 AM
We run two Tivos in one household, so that you can watch one program while recording two (or three) others. If a device has three tuners, that would certainly help.
By having two Tivos, you can share content between the devices.
Also, Tivo’s pick up your other shared media, whether it be your Torrents that you’re sharing out, or other media you have on your PC or Mac. So, Tivo’s do allow media sharing within the household (between computers, and other Tivos). It works very well. fetchtv does sound very interesting though.
If you’ve got Ethernet (100mbps or better) in your household, it certainly helps when streaming shows / movies between your Tivos / computers, as when you start to triple-fast-forward a show (to get past the ad-breaks) you catch-up to the ‘transfer’ marker pretty quick if you are just using wireless G (the minimum Tivo connection).
And when you want to download a show from CASPA or similar (Tivo’s online store) it does depend on your internet connection speed… So, download shows from the web in advance (rather than watching live), so that there are no stops/starts.
Hope that helps!
Report PermalinkD.
Frank Clay
April 24, 2010 at 9:57 AM
it sounds like a great offering that may attract more people to iinet, I for one would like to see it also offered as a software only service for those with PCs/Media centres alredy connected in their living rooms
Report PermalinkVic Stephen
May 3, 2010 at 9:30 AM
So in order to access we require purchase of “Bob” and the Fetch Tv Set top box?
Report PermalinkSo a huge upfront $$ to install and then subscription fees as well?
If they supplied and tv stick and required us to logon to access that would be fine.
My system has 4tuners and 7 hard drives connected to my 50″ plasma.
Why would I want additional boxes and modems as I’m trying to streamline not bulk up the living room??
Whisp Eerau
May 5, 2010 at 11:58 PM
Will this mean the end of the freezone channels like abciView
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