FOXTEL Arrives On Samsung Smart TVs


Set-top boxes and internet-connected PVRs are so five minutes ago. Thanks to a new partnership from Foxtel and Samsung, the future is boxless.

Foxtel and Samsung have teamed up to stream 30 channels — including FOX8, Channel [V], Discovery Channel and FOX Sports News — to Samsung Smart TVs over the internet. No more Foxtel box cluttering up your home entertainment unit.

We’ve known about this since January, but now it’s finally here for us to use.

Packages start at $19.50 per month for the Get Started bundle. The bundle includes FOX8, Lifestyle You, MTV, National Geographic, Nickolodeon, TV1, Discovery Channel, Fox Sports News, Channel [V], Cartoon Network and Sky News National. Not bad for under $20.

You’ll be able to add packages onto your Foxtel internet TV service from $10 for sports channels, up to $15 for either the movie or entertainment packages.

A $50 one-off charge will apply if you want to add the eight dedicated Olympics channels to your service.

It’s a good idea from Samsung to get rid of the lock-in contract along with the clunky Foxtel box from your living room, but the downsides include the fact that the service only provides standard definition content that requires users to have a minimum internet connection capable of 2Mpbs down, and unless you’re a BigPond broadband customer, the service will count towards your ISPs data allowance.

But the good news is that anyone who buys a Samsung Smart TV from now through to September 2 will score a free three-month subscription to the Get Started package.