FetchTV who is currently striking deals with several ISP’s in Australia to deliver IPTV content with Optus tipped to be on their list, has taken their fight for TV marke tshare right up to the Free to air TV channels and Telstra with their BigPond movie service with several new Hollywood Studio content deals.
Also coming under threat is Foxtel and the Seven Network with their TiVo investment. The deal will also see Australian’s get access to first release movies in Australia at the same time that content is being given to distributors like Blockbuster.
In an announcement earlier today Fetch TV announced extensions to its agreements with Warner and Roadshow to include comprehensive content across library movies, PPV movies and television content to be provided as video on demand. They have also announced deals with Warner that will see early release movies made available in Australia.
The content is available immediately on iiNet’s fetchtv2 service as part of a basic subscription package priced at $29.95 per month (with a $99 set up fee).
Programs from Roadshow’s Gekko children’s channel will be available as video-on-demand content within the basic subscription package, priced under $30 per month. It includes shows such as Lazytown, Wordworld, Numberjacks and The Doodlebops.
Also included in the basic subscription is the Movie Box service that features 30 video-on-demand movies available at any time. Movie Box includes classic titles from the Roadshow catalog including: The Matrix, Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, Miss Congeniality and Dumb and Dumber.
FetchTV’s pay-per-view movie line-up will also include new releases from Village Roadshow including titles like Where the Wild Things Are, Sherlock Holmes and upcoming films such as Academy Award winner for best picture The Hurt Locker and the critically acclaimed film Bright Star.
Warner Bros. Entertainment has also announced a comprehensive agreement with Fetch TV that will see first launch of Warner Bros. International Branded Services’ WarnerTV subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) branded programming service in Australia. FetchTV viewers can also access new-release movies day-and-date with their release on Blu-ray and DVD from Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD).
Roger Clarke commented: “FetchTV offers an exciting opportunity for Warner to extend its distribution network in Australia. FetchTV’s blend of high quality linear and video-on-demand delivery provides a great fit for us to offer movies and TV shows in a way that viewers want to watch, when they choose to watch them.”
Scott Lorson said: “Warner Bros. is an important producer of top quality content, known for its highly successful movies and TV series. The strength of our model is about the quality and breadth of our content, and Warner was always a crucial partner.”
The deal with Warner Bros. International Branded Services makes the WarnerTV SVOD service, which features around-the-clock, on-demand access to drama, comedy and sci-fi television series from the Studio, available to viewers as part of FetchTV’s starter package, priced at under $30 per month.
WarnerTV will showcase more than 300 television series episodes each year to viewers in Australia, including the following hit shows:
· “The Big Bang Theory,” U.S. television’s #1 scripted series among Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54
· “Two and a Half Men,” the #1 comedy on U.S. television among Total Viewers
· “The Vampire Diaries,” the #1 series on U.S. network The CW
· “Fringe,” the one-hour drama from J.J. Abrams which begins its third season in the U.S. this fall
· “Chuck,” the action-comedy from creators Josh Schwarz (“Gossip Girl,” “The O.C.”) and Chris Fedak which begins its fourth season in the U.S. this fall
· “Gossip Girl,” the stylish, trend-setting drama which begins its fourth season in the U.S. this summer· “Supernatural,” the hit one-hour series which begins its sixth season in the U.S. soon.
In an agreement with WBDD, FetchTV will give viewers access to new release movies for a separate charge. Titles available at launch will include “Invictus,” “Free Willy: Escape from Pirates Cove,” and “Ninja Assassins”.
