Looks like Channel 9 has finally awoken from its stupor in regards to online video and launched Fixplay, an online video portal aimed at taking on Yahoo!7 Plus and ABC iView.
Although the press release says that the site can be found at www.Fixplay.com.au, at the time of writing I was getting DNS errors all over the place, although I did manage to find the site here.
There’s a pretty wide selection of Channel 9 TV shows available, including V, Underbelly, Fringe, Big Bang Theory and Cold Case, plus some stuff from Go! and back catalogue content from McLeod’s Daughters and Sea Patrol.
But the most interesting part of the service is the deal with BBC Worldwide, which makes back catalogue episodes of Doctor Who, Little Britain, Spooks, Torchwood and Hotel Babylon available. It will be interesting to see whether or not this impacts ABC iView at all.
It’s still too early to judge, but at least Channel 9 are now playing in this particular sandbox. Now all we need is an all-in-one site for all the TV networks, like Hulu…
[Fixplay]
simon
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 9:58 AMheres a great suggestion:
integration into media center
Elephant Fresh
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 10:45 AMthis is a bad idea for channel 9. most of their shows do not hold up under repeat viewings. watching underbelly a second time would be like getting kicked in the nuts, and then asking to be stabbed in the liver.
Jason Hill
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 1:31 AMi think the idea is that if you, say, missed an episode of underbelly, you can catch up before the next time it’s on tv.
moloko
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 11:25 AM1400mb to stream underbelly 3 episode 1 and 2 in poor quality
or
download episode 1 and 2 700mb in good quality
not really worth it with the free tv sites
Daran Murphy
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 11:27 AMI agree…there is a strong need to intergrate all these into Windows Media Center as well as drop the download quota for all the massive downloads this will accumulate
Thepengwin
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 11:37 AMSorry NineMSN but bit-torrent has beaten you. Why not even a day has passed and there is a verified torrent of the brand new underbelly episode.
I’m really amazed at how there are big names in the torrent distribution networks, and how they verify that it is a quality source.
Pinball
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 12:55 PMYes we do need a Hulau, an Australian Hulu. It also needs to intergrate into Media Centre for Windows computers, and Frontrow for Macs. Other options such Plex, xbmc, Boxee et al, should not be forgotten either.
Rich
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 2:01 PMIs anyone else having problems viewing the shows?
I get “You are not authorised to view this video due to your location”… I’m based in Perth with an iiNet fixed IP address.
Paul
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 10:30 PMIf I wanted to ipod touch size I would put it on a ipod touch. Currently jerky and pretty unwatchable to me on a 15″ laptop monitor. Good try but you cant beet iview.
MSN start making quota free for iinet and improve the quality and I might even watch it with some ads (not many though) – Rich I am in Perth too and watched it. Black books is so funny.
Mike Biggs
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10:11 AMI honestly think that before anything like this will take off, or be of serious value, ISPs need to get on board and provide these off-bandwidth so they can truly be free. Most of us dont have a spare 2-3gb to catch up on a few missed episodes…unless we watched them between 2am and 9am off-peak lol. Are you listening ISPs? Theres plenty of space around these low res streams for adverts…go nuts.
Paul
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 9:31 PMI dont think its the ISP’s that should be to blame. I think they would be happy as it attracts more customers to their network (See iview comment previously). I think the resistance would come from the TV stations them selves. I think they should be approaching the ISPS and saying what do we have to do to get good quality viewing of our show on the computer screen that will be watchable if the TV is hooked to a computer like so many are today. Good news is progressive ISP iinet has already beaten them to the gate now with their fetch TV. Hope its a good as it sound like its going to be.
Neil Davie
Friday, April 30, 2010 at 12:13 PMToo slow, tried to watch last night’s episode of Sea Patrol on catch up tv. Episode not there, only one available is last weeks. They are a long way behind seven ten and channel 2.
Chris
Sunday, June 13, 2010 at 2:27 PMFixplay is rubbish. Silverlight doesnt work half the time and often I get a strange message saying unavailable due to location.
Ten and Seven have their acts together. What is wrong with Channel Nine?
Gail
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 11:28 AMEpisodes of Eastwick and Rescue Special Ops. and many more, not there, never up to date with the shows. Seven has them the next day the same with iview and 10. They are a long way behind seven ten and channel 2.
Jo
Sunday, September 5, 2010 at 10:26 AMSo annoying that Channel 9 (Sydney) keeps advertising FixPlay when FixPlay keeps telling me I’m “not authorised to view from my location”.
Gail
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 11:40 AMEpisode of the last Eastwick not there, never up to date with the shows. Seven has them the next day the same with iview and 10. They are a long way behind seven ten and channel 2.
Steve
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 7:52 PMfixplay is rubbish. keeps stopping and with a message saying that video is not avalable at this time or something normaly half way through! Trying to watch Sherlock first episode for the umteeth time i give up! You can’t fast forward or rewind and it always starts at the beginning not where the thing has dropped you out. I-View is just so superior in every way. good ols aunty always so much better!
Colin Black
Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at 11:11 AMI missed the episode of Underbelly on 2 Ocotber. How do I view it please. I cant get any response on your site.
Thanks
Col Black
Trsh
Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 4:53 PMThe other channels are good, 9 is bad.All other channel watchplay episodes play well. Channel 9 always give trouble. Channel 9 episodes fail often, including recent episodes.I have Silverlight 4