Difference Between Foxtel and Foxtel Play

Key Difference – Foxtel vs Foxtel Play
 

Foxtel is an Australian television company providing services such as cable television, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV catch-up services. The key difference between Foxtel and Foxtel Play is that Foxtel play requires a compatible device, an app, and internet connection to run whereas Foxtel only requires a set top box but does not require an internet connection. Foxtel can use the internet to stream programs if needed.

CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Foxtel
3. What is Foxtel Play
4. Side by Side Comparison – Foxtel vs Foxtel Play
5. Summary

What is Foxtel

Foxtel is a progressive and dynamic company situated in Australia.  It was established as a joint venture between News Corp (FOX) and Telstra (TEL). Both company’s share 50% of Foxtel as stakeholders. Foxtel delivers diverse television services on a subscription basis to metropolitan and regional areas using broadband distribution, cable, and satellite. Foxtel delivers programs across different genres consisting of high-quality local content and popular channels to over 2.8 million subscribers.

Foxtel provides the following features:

• iQ video recorder
• HD channels, up to 36 dedicated channels.
• Foxtel internet and voice service through broadband, television and home bundles
• Catch up and live TV with Foxtel Go on your compatible device.
• Flexible access through Foxtel Play

Foxtel also invests over $700 million each year for original Australian content. The headquarters of Foxtel television is situated in North Ryde in Sydney. It houses Foxtel television studios, satellite transmission, cable and broadcast operations facility. Two customer solution centers are also located in Moonee Pounds in Melbourne and Robina in the Gold cost.

Foxtel operates on duopoly cable television. It is a monopoly in direct satellite television broadcast and an IPTV catch-up service. The features available on Foxtel share similar features to Sky service of the United Kingdom. This includes iQ, similar remote control, electronic program guide, and Red Button Active.

Foxtel transmits to Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, and Perth and metropolitan areas with the addition of the Gold Coast with the Telstra hybrid fiber-coaxial cable.  Foxtel also transmits its satellite service into cities and regional areas. However, satellite services are yet to be provided to sites where Telstra HFC cable service is made available. Foxtel mobile is available on Telstra Next G coverage areas.

Foxtel and Telstra’s network were created to combat the threat caused by the combination of Optus TV and Optus telephony service. Foxtel performed as the defense arm of Telstra’s strategy. Telstra delivered its sole delivery systems for its multimedia broadband network.

In the year 2002, Optus and Foxtel agreed on a content-sharing arrangement. Competition for programming has now dissipated between the two companies. Foxtel acquired Austar which operated as a regional pay television operator in 2011.

In the year 2011, Foxtel was the largest pay television operator in Australia. The maintenance and installation, which are Telstra’s responsibilities, have been outsourced to other communication contractors like Siemens-Thiess Communications.

What is Foxtel Play?

Foxtel Play works by streaming TV with the use of the internet. This allows you to watch using a range of devices. You will only need a compatible device and an internet connection to start watching Live TV. You can stream shows from a package anywhere, anytime with your device using Foxtel Anytime. New titles are added every day, so there would be something for you to watch every day. You can register to up to three devices for your Foxtel account.

You will gain access to Free Foxtel Go app which will allow you to stream TV shows and stream live events from your package, with your compatible tablet or smartphone. You will need to download the Foxtel Go app from the app store, log into Foxtel Play with your username and password to stream live sports events, movies, and TV shows.

Foxtel play has been designed to cater all your entertainment needs. You can change your package each month or cancel the package anytime. You can even skip a few months and come back as soon as your favorite show starts. You can modify your choice each month and alter your package.

Foxtel Play uses your internet in order to stream content to your device. You should verify that your current data plan provides sufficient data speed and data usage to support your package for the best possible experience. You will need to verify your ISP the amount of data and the data transfer speed, which is measured in Gigabytes and Megabits per second respectively. It is recommended that the internet data speed should be 3.0 Mbps for SD content and 7 Mbps fo HD content, which is only available on Telstra TV device.

The amount of data consumed can vary according to the device. But the maximum data that is consumed for SD content stands at 1.4 GB and 3.2 GB for HD content per hour.

You can enjoy your favorite shows without any data download restriction with Foxtel Play and Foxtel Go when connected to a Foxtel broadband network. All you will need for a Foxtel Play connection is a supported internet connection and a compatible device.

What is the difference between Foxtel and Foxtel Play?

Summary – Foxtel and Foxtel Play

From the above comparison, it is clear that there is a clear difference between Foxtel and Foxtel Play. Foxtel play requires a compatible device, an app, and internet connection to run whereas Foxtel only requires a set top box. There are also other differences between the two as demonstrated above. It is now up to you to decide which one of these suits you best and go for it.

Image Courtesy:
1. “Foxtel iQ” By Whats new? at English Wikipedia – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons. (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia