BBC First launches on Foxtel with UKTV moving to basic package
BBC First formally launched on Foxtel last night as part of a broader change in programming that also sees Lifestyle Food and Lifestyle Home and documentary channel Crime + Investigation added to the basic subscription package.
Ahead of the changes Foxtel last month moved UKTV from being a premium channel to the basic subscription package as it moves the majority of its premium new content to the new channel, with a few shows still screening first on UKTV.
Ed Smith, Foxtel Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, said: “BBC First has been eagerly anticipated among subscribers and is a fantastic new channel to round out our Foxtel Play offering.”
In last night’s TV ratings BBC First drew a high of 19,853 metro viewers in the 6pm time slot.
Errr I think the other channels have been around for some time now!
… so in other words – all the crap that no one watched in the first place, that is now a ‘basic’ channel … and anything worth watching is on BBCTV First, a premium channel.
Solid gold con job from our pay tv juggernaut, yet again.
nothing new… including the launch of channels that have been airing for at least two years now!
Hi ferfeesake,
For clarification the ‘new channels’ were actually just being moved to the basic package, rather than just being launched. A misunderstanding from the press release.
Hope that clarifies.
Cheers,
Alex- editor, Mumbrella
Oh, and UKTV has also been downgraded from HD to SD. Didn’t see any mention of that. I’ve stopped watching Foxtel altogether now (although the wife hasn’t, so I have to keep paying, which is all that matters to Foxtel, no doubt).
Can someone please tell Foxtel, their subscription model after 19 years, still doesn’t have mass appeal. Why I would want to watch BBC 1st for $50-100 p/m when I can get it on ABC a few months later for free baffles me. Do I need to mention how Foxtel is losing to downloads… Game of Thrones is a classic example.
BBC, you would be better spending your $$ on licensing agreements with Netflix, Quickflix or Amazon Instant Video. Hey “Presto”, Foxtel hasn’t worked, and won’t work.
Telstra want to sell their 50% stake in your viewers want instant video archives on demand.
Your model was great for the older overseas markets who had to work around government licensing restrictions on viewers.
Think outside ‘The Box’ please. Time for you to leverage your mighty muscle with your channel partners and Googlefy your network. Put it all into one big archive and let us choose what and when we watch. Save yourself a bucket on programmers. Netflix already has 30% market share in Australia, without any marketing $$.
Great free insights into how your viewers want to watch you. Are you listening??
https://getpocketbook.com/blog/netflix-australia-2-stats-scare-local-players/
Foxtel. Will it be dead at some stage? If so when will it be, roughly speaking?
2.3m paying customers
EBIT for 2013 just south of $1b
Not bad for a business model that doesn’t work
and no I don’t work for Foxtel
wonderful production burton and taylor. the acting was brilliant . a wonderful insight on the life of celebraties. such a moving love story. thank you.
Psst Steve. BBC actually SELL the rights. Please revise and see me after school.
Very frustrated as just seen that Casualty has been moved from UKtV to the new BBC first channel. Why?? It’s been on UKTV for years and I can’t afford to pay for another package to get it back. I think that’s rather poor service and as this series has been running for 30 years like Corrie, Enders and Emerdale, why shift Casualty? I am so disappointed. planning to shift any other soaps fro UKTV??
I was also disappointed when Casualty was shifted from UK TV. They took off Holby city and now I have had to pay extra for the right to watch Casualty on BBC First. My husband was not amused.