https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-06/foxtel-struggling-bef…
I thought this was an interesting point in the article:
In the next few weeks, the company will unveil a new, much cheaper offering, called Binge, to compete effectively with the new players stealing its turf.
I've never been hugely against Foxtel but can understand why some people don't see value in it, especially with their pricing and competition as it stands today.
What's everyone's thoughts?
Ye I really dont think that's what's sending them out of business. Men's sports bring in significantly more viewership yet even so Foxtel has still been struggling.
i think he was being sarcastic….
Womens indoor volleyball? Yes please
Got nothing against them personally but they are the classic example of an Australian business. They refuse to innovate and rely solely on the hope that overseas competitors won't be able to import their superior products over here. Same thing happened to Myer.
They knew this day was coming. Their plan was simply to squeeze every last cent out of the consumer until better options arrived.
Honestly both Myer and David Jones are two stores that i have no idea in hell how are is still open
I agree. Last time I purchased anything in DJs or Myer was maybe a decade ago. The stores are almost always empty. How do they make any money?
they have unsuspecting buyer's paying
When I worked at DJs, my store did piss all in all departments…..except women's fashion/cosmetics. Transferred store and it was the same. Transferred state and it was the same!
Purr-leassee… We have Neighbours and Home & Away. What does USA have?
"Purr-leassee… " made me laugh +1 vote
I really like this analogy, it works on many levels. I feel like this is the mantra of the Australian government too, I mean they let Jerry Harvey convince them to introduce GST for online purhcases, and the NBN has been superseded by 5G before it's even finished being built.
lol good riddance
Foxtel are wayyyy too expensive when you can get great entertainment on Netflix for $12.
I tried to get documentary channels on Foxtel Now. Advised I had to subscribe to all the channels! Used to be able to pay just $10 to add on to basic pack but now it seems just to get it I need to pay $108! Crazy!
They need to be far more consumer centric. People will vote with their feet and leave when they aren't being competitive.
They need much cheaper pricing - around $10/month for their basics pack!
They lack competitive pricing and making their products easily available on popular platforms. I always wondered if their customers are the ones that are too lazy to go out and look for better options.
My parents pay $100+/month for Foxtel yet seem to watch mainly either Netflix or SBS on demand.
Told them so many times to cancel but they just keep paying :/
Keep at it mate. It took me 3+ years of nagging to get my Mum/Aunt to cancel theirs.
yeah i will! their 'excuse' is for the AFL even though I've showed them Kayo in action :/
My inlaws are these people, they have two Foxtel boxes and last time I heard, they were paying something like $150 for the most premium pack. They don't watch sport, they have Netflix, Stan and Disney+, as far as I can tell they are keeping Foxtel just because its like a security blanket and they don't know life without it. They also don't beleive in calling foxtel and threatening to cancel to get a discount.
I was about to sign up for sport - deff going to cop the $100 install and bail on it.
Anyone who has Foxtel solely for sport really needs to look at Kayo.
Kayo/Netflix/amazon/debrid
All probably still cheaper then Foxtel combined…
And here I was about to pay $58 a month for sports and Netflix.
In fairness Kayo is owned by Foxtel
What's debrid, some kind of downloader.
Kayo is fantastic! I subscribe to it only for live F1.
if only it had 4K F1!
Good
Sports Fans that want them to fail, be careful what you wish for.
Currently you can get all Cricket, AFL, & NRL, Some NBA, NFL & numerous other sports I have forgotten via Kayo for $25 a month. How much do you think these would cost separately?
If anyone wants to watch football, Optus sports comes with your home internet or mobile plan and is by far the best in Australia in terms of football related contents. Alternatively you can pay $15 for just stand alone service.
A dirty confession… I have foxtel with four boxes and pay around $200 a month. I've been with them for more than 15yrs and realistically only have it for Rugby (Union), parents use it for their unhealthy dose of news (sky/fox).
Recently saw their offering for full package with iq4 and Netflix for about $40 cheaper than what I pay and complained but no response from their online support (you can't get to their phone lines right now).
I have Netflix, Amazon prime too. I've recently bought the Vodafone TV but to be fair my parents find it easier to turn on foxtel and cycle through channels via the remote.
I want to get away but having parents happy is also key.
Hate the fact they don't really give discounts to long time users.
Hate the fact they don't really give discounts to long time users.
They do. Just call up and threaten to cancel. You should get 50% discount for 3-6 months easy. I used to do that years. Never paid full price.
Thanks zeggie, I'll give it a shot.
It's obviously more nuanced than 'threaten to cancel' more like play the sympathy card that it's too expensive and you can't afford it at the moment.
Sky news is on free to air now. It sucks not every sport has an on demand streaming service yet (like nba.tv or AFL live) or these cable packages would cease to exist.
Having multiple sports subscriptions is not any cheaper if you watch more then a couple of sports, particularly compared to Kayo.
I am very much AGAINST foxtel, they have done their best to charge as much as possible for as long as possible by locking up exclusive deals to block content from other competitors. It is only in recent years when streaming has become popular that they have been forced to be competitive as the overseas owned streamers had better exclusive contracts than them. They are reliant on sport because of their own lack of innovation and relying on locking content.
I still remember their early advertising on FTA tv, '$1 a day and no ads'. Easily 20 years ago now. My how the times have changed. I never owned it, but while at a friends place browsing the channels I saw no value in 90% of what was offered. Grey nomads and the technologically inclined are their remaining customers.
"Grey nomads and the technologically inclined are their remaining customers."
What does that even mean?
I should have said the older generations, who still consume FTA TV and havent found entertainment from much cheaper streaming services due to not knowing the availability or accessibility. My 65+ year old parents for example.
You're right, a grey nomad is a term for a senior generation of people who travels.
*remaining household customers, I'm sure their contracts with hotels and venues are still a big foxtel revenue.
If those people only consume FTA TV, they wouldn't need to be Foxtel customers would they?
Or are they accessing FTA via Foxtel? In which case, is it because there are other channels on Foxtel that they also watch?
And I'm still unsure what age has to do with it, unless you have some evidence of a link?
Your term "technologically inclined" indicates that the person is good at or interested in technology; is that what was meant?
@GG57: Inclined to use the technology available to access cheaper streaming services. I am being general, and that wouldn't apply to all of the senior generations, but they are a target consumer group for foxtel, as they do spend more and they don't quit their subscriptions or shop anywhere else.
Yes to your second point, they have FTA and foxtel and prefer the prescribed viewing method of whats on (one remote control), rather than searching out their interests as you would on youtube or other streaming services. I can't relate to prescribed viewing at all, and question why my friends, families and neighbours still access media that way.
This article is a quick read about the market value of senior citizens, done by a webmarketing service, using stats. After reading it now i see that my original claim it not 100% accurate (as it may read seniors are technologically inclined) but it does hold out that they are likely to be core remaining customers and a target group. They're less likely to change or quit their subscriptions, and pay more without knowing better.
It would be easier for the company to go under and get unsubscribed that way than to get out of their service I think. It shows they know it's bad when they make it so hard to get out of.
I only had Foxtel yonks ago for sport. It was easy enough to threaten to cancel every 6 months and get a discounted offer.
Kayo coming along was fantastic. I ditched Foxtel from that moment.
I believe they had a hand in crippling the NBN.
I only signed up to Foxtel Now because of the crackdown on torrenting at peak-GOT. I stayed because I love HBO programs and if I cancel and re-up I'll pay more per month. I'm still on the same $15/month I paid when I first signed up.
Foxtel Now (which has been swapped for Foxtel Go, even though their ads still promote Now), I think has more value as you can watch what you want, when you want.
But it's getting worse, they introduced ads between episodes last year - though not during the episode. And about 6 months ago they changed the packs around, so tv shows I was watching were no longer in my pack.
However, I'm surprised they haven't offered anything to their cable subscribers during the coronavirus crisis, for streaming they opened all packs for free until the end of May.
There was a crackdown on torrenting? In Australia?
Used to pay over 600 per month for our business with ONLY analogue signal …ditched last year…
Should have done so much earlier!!!!
Quoted over 5k to upgrade and prices up to 1k per month….
NETFLIX is a monster
STAN is Nine
HULU is now Disney - and its not even in Australia (it used to be part owned by Ruperts News cope)
SEVEN is buggered with no digital service (and deserved - Kerry Stokes can FO over his Chinese business shilling)
SBS/ABC could always merge for an online delivery service
I can't think of any others.
You forgot Amazon Prime.
And channel 10.
There's also Mubi and other small providers like Curiosity Stream.
Just cancelled Foxtel after 1 year only. I will only miss the sport and some lifestyle, but not the ads. Just too expensive on my plan $58/month. They tried everything down to $19/pm for basic package which they said they don’t usually discount.
I have Foxtel now, $45 and get the movie channels, docks and pop. I think it’s pretty good value for money. They have the best tv shows and movies. Besides pirating, the most affordable way to get A+ movies is Foxtel. Buying them on iTunes = 2 movies equivalent a month or renting would be 8. I think it’s unfair to compare them with Netflix for price, when they have better content. That said, this used to be $100+ so I definitely feel they charge a premium.
All said and done the comments posted here are all relevant to each person's circumstances.
I have had Foxtel for about 16 years with 4 or 5 boxes.To be honest I don't like much of the sloppy gruel they serve on all tv, whether it be FTA or subscription. But AFL was my main reason for Foxtel back when streaming was virtually unheard of.
I run two iq4 and three iq2 boxes on the full platinum package with reliable friends an workmates at a cost of 239 a month shared. 48 bucks a person. The missus watches some lifestyle stuff and we both do the footy but honestly I would not have it at all if I didn't share.
Any movie's I want I download and the only tv stuff I like is generally UK series, police, drama.
I did run kayo free trial and quite liked it and also I have prime along with AFL live through Telstra. im seriously looking at ditching fox unless I get a better deal. I'm in the older age bracket but I still like to get what's out there if it's a better product. My NBN is unlimited and movies and tv downloads are easy pickings, even now can download full series before any of the services broad cast it on our FTA.
But in essence Foxtel is a dinosaur and will ultimately pay the price.
Just look at where this story came from, the ABC and why would anyone believe them? Also the prices quoted Foxtel are completely wrong.
Great timing
Just like Foxtel.
Need more niche women's sport coverage.