Media analysts have been concerned that Seven was losing significant viewing traffic due to its failure to cut a deal with Foxtel, as research shows that over 1 million households in Australia now have Foxtel with up to 80 per cent of these using their Foxtel box as a means to access and record free-to-air TV.
The failure of Seven to deliver Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) content to Foxtel was a major problem for consumers.
In addition, consumers who used the Foxtel EPG to record Seven network programming often found their programs cut short at the end, due to the failure of the Foxtel EPG engine to identify precisely when a network Seven program began and ended.
Seven was the last free-to-air network to sign a retransmission deal with Foxtel, which now has agreements with all major free-to-air stations around Australia.
The deal will provide cable retransmission of Seven's digital signal on Foxtel's platform, allowing viewers to watch their favourite Seven programs in a clearer transmission.
Foxtel customers watching Seven will also gain access to Seven EPG, provided to Foxtel by Seven.
