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Foxtel

Australia's largest subscription television provider

Foxtel is a subscription television provider based in Australia. Foxtel subscribers have access to up to 127 channels of movies, sport, news, music, documentaries, children’s television and general entertainment. Of the 52 providers which supply content to Foxtel, 22 are Australian-owned or Australian-based media and communication companies.

Foxtel employs over 1,900 people in Sydney and Melbourne. Employment opportunities are limited in Brisbane. However, people in the Brisbane area are employed in direct door-to-door sales; their primary role being the full-time selling of Foxtel.

Over the last few years, Foxtel has increased its investment in digital television. In early 2007, Foxtel announced that its television broadcast service was 100 per cent digital. In May 2008 Foxtel began offering Foxtel HD+; a subscription package which broadcasts a number of channels in high definition. In 2009 it also unveiled Foxtel Download and Foxtel Mobile, services that allow subscribers to download television shows and movies and access them on their mobile phone. In 2010 Foxtel announced a partnership with Microsoft to offer around 30 Foxtel channels over the Internet direct to customers’ television sets via Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE. Foxtel was also the first Australian broadcaster to broadcast in 3D.

In October 1995, Foxtel was launched as a joint venture between Australia’s national communications carrier, Telstra Corporation and News Limited (the Australian subsidiary of the global entertainment media group, News Corporation).

Foxtel’s satellite service launched in March 1999, extending its reach to 70 per cent of Australian homes. In November 2002, the Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) approved the Content Supply Agreement (CSA) between Foxtel and Optus, increasing the amount of new services and consumer choices.

Last updated by Jayce Silvallana (2011-10-29)