Samsung Australia is set launch a brand new Foxtel service that will be integrated into their new Smart TVs the CEO of Foxtel has said.Richard Freudenstein, the CEO of Foxtel also said that Foxtel will launch a brand new IQ 3 digital set top box in time for the London Olympics.
Speaking at the Astra Conference in Sydney, Freudenstein said the introduction of the new Samsung-Foxtel service will help the subscription TV Company further expand their footprint into Australian homes.
He did not reveal the cost of the new Foxtel service via the Samsung TV; however, SmartHouse has been told that it will be similar to the $10 a month Foxtel service that is available on the Telstra T Box.
The new range of Samsung Smart TVs that come with dual and quad core processors will be revealed in Australia on March 13th. Samsung is also expected to announce a new Blockbuster movie service as well as show their new OLED offering along with a new home theatre and audio range.
The new Foxtel digital set top box appears to be smaller than the current Foxtel iQ offering and according to Freudenstein the device will also be capable of delivering pay as you go content.
Foxtel is also developing a new electronic program guide.
Foxtel is the only TV broadcaster in Australia that can deliver Full HD TV coverage Freudenstein claims. He said free-to-air channels were not delivering Full HD which will be noticeable when Foxtel delivers their coverage of the London Olympics in Full HD next year on 8 channels.
He said that as part of the Foxtel Olympics package consumers will be able to watch the Foxtel coverage on both tablets and smartphones.
Frudenstin claims that he wants to increase pay-TV penetration in Australian households from 30 per cent to 50 per cent.
“I want to get to 50 per cent of Australian households. There is no timetable for that,” said Freudenstein, who took over the top job in December after Kim Williams who today was presentended with the Astar Pioneer Award.
“I think integrating Austar gives us a big opportunity to have a national brand and talk to customers with one voice, and we’ll also look more and more at reaching consumers on different platforms.
“In terms of penetration, the new AFL deal will be very beneficial for us because we should, over a relatively short space of time, get penetration in Melbourne and South Australia up to northern states’ level.”
