As a loyal customer who signed up for Foxtel in 1996 and for more than 20 years have purchased their most premium packages I feel utterly ripped off.
Earlier today Foxtel started rolling out their so called discount content packages, but now it appears that loyal customers are being used to subsidise a manic pitch by Foxtel and Telstra management to increase their falling premium subscriber numbers by discounting out their content to people in the past have downloaded over Bit Torrent networks Foxtel content for free.
As of today entry level customers are being offered cheap deals and discounts while loyal customers are being offered nothing but more questionable content.
Foxtel is a Company who in partnership with Telstra is trying to sell fresh air to Australians who already have access to the best air in the world for free.
Let me explain.
A visit to the Telstra web site reveals the new pricing for the Foxtel so called “cheap deals”.
The premium package is listed at $120.
Right at the top of the package offer is the words, Platinum HD.
Then just below the headline is a tick box that on one simple clicks adds HD content for an additional $14 a month, this pushes the Premium Package out to $134 a month.
But wait for it, aren’t all movies shot in HD and I am pretty sure that just about every TV network in the world is shooting their shows in Full HD if not 4K today.
Formula One, The UK Premier Soccer League and just about every major sporting event in the world is shot in Full HD.
And is it not the case that most TV’s tablets and smartphones are capable of playing Full HD content. A simple click of You Tube on a PC and one can get access to HD channels.
So the big question is why when most devices will play Full HD are Telstra and Foxtel ripping millions out of consumers for the privilege of getting something that is already part of the content they are purchasing.
I am assured by the movie houses that they are not charging Foxtel and Telstra any more for Full HD content.
As one studio said “All our new content is Full HD, we are even shooting in 4K today”.
This has got to be one of the great cons ever on consumers by a content Company who have had a monopoly for years and now want to price gouge loyal customers for the simple reason that they can do.
On my estimates more than 1,000,000 Australians are paying Telstra and Foxtel $14 a month for the privilege of getting HD which in some cases is not even Full HD, this adds up to $14M a month.
Telstra and Foxtel executives have refused to explain what they have to do for their $14M a month revue from selling a HD package.
Earlier I phoned a Telstra Call Centre to enquire whether my $159 a month Telstra bill was set to be reduced following the release of new Foxtel packages, the blunt answer was no.
When I said that I did not want additional channels I was told that If I wanted a discount that I would have to downgrade my package.
When I pointed out that a $75 Foxtel Package was now reduced to $45 I was told that this did not apply to existing Platinum customers.
The Telstra staff also said that the new iQ3 set top box was not available and would not be available to current Foxtel customers.
All I can say is roll on Netflix and 2015, because for around $75 I can go out and buy a Netflix package for sub $25 and a Foxtel Sports HD package for $60 and still be $49 in front.
If you have a comment on Foxtel and their new pricing email me at dwr@4squaremedia.com