Telstra is set to kick start a major HD content war with the launch of a new TV content delivery system that will compete with Foxtel, TiVo, FetchTV, IPTV services delivered by small ISP’s as well as DVD rental stores.
Using a brand digital set top box called T Box which will retail for $299 to existing BigPond customers Telstra is set appeal to the 70% of consumers who don’t have a Foxtel subscription.
The Telstra STB, which comes with a 320GB hard drive, twin tuners and the ability to attach a 1TB storage device will deliver free-to-air TV, movies and sport, BigPond TV and YouTube videos. It also allows users to get instant access to over 1300 movies at $3.99 a download.
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Over time Telstra is confident that they will be able to build a big enough customer base with their T Box to convince Hollywood studio’s to give them access to first release content that is currently being supplied to cinema’s and organisations like Blockbuster, VideoEasy, the struggling Civic Video chain and DVD rental kiosks like Red Box.
This year several organisations have attempted to launch into the IPTV market among them is TRANSACT a Canberra based telco who last week quietly launched Trans TV. Their package consists of 50 TV channels which are almost identical to what Foxtel offer, a set top box and a broadband subscription. Prices will range from $75 to $139 a month.
Also taking on both Foxtel and Telstra is FetchTV, who last week announced their new service and then instantly withdrew it after SmartHouse revealed that the Company did not have binding contracts with several of their content suppliers including, The Discovery Networks, National Geographic, MTV Networks, Fox International Channels, and E! Entertainment Television. Also included in the release were content deals with BBC World News, CNBC, ABC, Roadshow Entertainment, Disney Media Distribution, MGM, and content from Lions gate.
Also set to compete with Telstra is Sony with their PlayStation Network.
According to Craig Turner Executive Director of Fixed Broadband Products and Applications at Telstra the new T Box offering is ideal for the consumer who wants hassle free entertainment and information.
“The T Box will sit on the BigPond network we will maintain it, software upgrade it when new services become available. This is early days and over time we will expand the BigPond offering out as we deliver new content, applications and services.” He said.
When asked whether the service could be delivered direct to a TV he said “Despite some TV’s already having an IPTV connection they are not mature yet. The T Box has memory and processors as well as duel tuners and storage, most IP enabled TV’s don’t have this. The T Box does and Telstra will be there to support it 24/7.” he said.
One of the standout features of the new service is the content interface which SmartHouse was able to witness first. Significantly superior to any software interfaces that we have seen from Foxtel or set top box manufacturers like Topfield, TiVo or Beyonwiz the software was easy to navigate with information on TV program delivered to easy to read icons. Unlike Foxtel every program comes with series record.
A key feature of the new service is that it delivers access to over 1300 movies which are downloaded to the hard drive for up to 48hours. The unmetered service allows viewers to re activate the movie by paying an additional fee after 48 hours or delete it.
Telstra Chief Executive Officer David Thodey said “Internet connectivity is the biggest thing on TV since the launch of cable television, opening the door to boundless options for on-demand entertainment and Telstra’s new T-Box is the best way to access it. Our line-up of downloadable BigPond Movies has been expanded for the T-Box launch, with more than 1300 titles from Hollywood’s biggest studios and great independents with regular new releases, as well as a growing range of TV series”
He added “BigPond TV’s content on the T-Box also brings a host of channels for no extra cost, including 24/7 news, dedicated and exclusive AFL, NRL,V8 Supercars channels, plus a 24/7 BigPond Sports News channel, live horse racing from Sydney and Melbourne and a music channel called BPM.
Mr Thodey said customer trials of the T-Box identified the most popular features as downloading BigPond Movies and pausing and rewinding free-to-air TV
The T-Box provides HDMI, composite and component video connections to the TV and requires a high speed BigPond Broadband connection such as BigPond Cable Elite or BigPond ADSL 2+ Elite, connected via ethernet or WiFi. Additionally, the T-Box will enable analog televisions to receive digital broadcasts, ideal for customers who don’t want to upgrade their current TV to a digital set.
T-Box also supports connection to home theatre systems with digital audio and standard audio connections. It will receive remote software updates which automatically download and install, so your T-Box is always up to date.
