Fetch TV

Fetch TV is an Australian IPTV provider that offers a subscription television service over a user's regular internet connection. Its majority owned by Telstra, who acquired a 51.4% stake in the company on the 2nd of August 2022.[1] Fetch TV was initially launched in July 2010 by Malaysian Astro Malaysia Holdings.[2][3]

Fetch TV
TypeIndependent Pay TV Provider
IndustryInternet television
FoundedJuly 2010
Headquarters
North Sydney
,
Australia
Area served
Australia
ProductsIndependent, IPTV, Pay-per-view, Pay television
OwnerTelstra (51.4%)
Astro Malaysia Holdings (48.6%)
Websitewww.fetchtv.com.au

Fetch TV provides a set-top box with a digital TV tuner, a personal video recorder, and up to 45 subscription channels. It also offers video-on-demand, pay-per-view movies, web applications, and a mobile app.[4]

The service is delivered using HLS adaptive bitrate streaming. The minimum internet sync speed required varies depending on the ISP delivery method. Most of Fetch TV's content is unmetered when delivered over a broadband connection from a Fetch TV ISP partner.[5]

History
  • On 25 May 2010, Fetch TV announced that they would commence offering their first-generation set-top box PVRs through their partner, iiNet. These boxes featured three digital tuners to receive Australian terrestrial channels, along with fourteen linear subscription channels and six Video on Demand-based channels. On 21 July, they introduced five international news channels to the subscription channel package. On 6 August, they included the SVOD service, WarnerTV.
  • The Ovation channel and Setanta Sports were added shortly after. Setanta was later made available as a $15/month add-on to the basic subscription package. The Travel Channel joined on 15 September 2011, and Optus started reselling the service.
  • On 16 February 2015, Fetch TV announced plans to become the first Australian pay-TV provider to integrate the Netflix service into its platform. This allowed users with a separate Netflix subscription to access Netflix content through the Fetch TV set-top box. In March 2016, it was revealed that Optus would add its Optus Sport channels, featuring the English Premier League, to the service. These channels were exclusively available to Optus customers. On 15 June 2016, Fetch TV unveiled their third-generation boxes: the 4k-capable Mighty and the puck-like Mini. This announcement also included the addition of Spike to the channel pack and plans to add the Presto and 9Now apps to the service.[6] Their press release from the event hinted at a future catch-up service for content available on the entertainment pack channels.
  • On 27 February 2017, Fetch launched their new channel packs. They divided their available channels into four groups, allowing them to be purchased separately or as a bundle. They also confirmed that several channels would be delivered in HD, with 'more improvements to come in the next 60 days'.[7]
  • In October 2016, Fetch launched the next generation of their mobile app.
  • In July 2017, Fetch became the 'Official Broadcaster of the UFC' in Australia. They offered pay-per-view fights at $54.95 AUD and other content broadcast exclusively through their 'Edge Sport HD' channel.[8]
  • On 10 October 2019, BBC Earth was launched as part of BBC's global rollout. It featured a live channel and on-demand content, replacing BBC Knowledge.

Models and Features

Fetch TV offers two set-top boxes: the Mighty and the Mini. Both boxes receive all Free-to-Air Australian television channels via antenna connections and offer subscription packages via IPTV. Both boxes contain apps such as Netflix and Stan, which require external subscriptions, as well as apps like the Seven Sport 'Olympicson7' and '7CommGames' apps. The boxes connect when using the same network and are registered to the same account, allowing for "multi-room" functionality, such as using the Mini in another room to watch recorded programs from a connected Mighty device.

Fetch Mighty

The Mighty has a recommended retail price (RRP) of $449 AUD (previously $399). It can support resolutions up to UHD 3840 x 2160 and has a 1TB hard drive for recording live television and storing downloaded content.[9] It features 4 TV tuners to support simultaneous recording and can record multiple multiplex channels at once using the same tuner.

Fetch Mini

The Mini has an RRP of $169 AUD. It can support resolutions up to HD 1920 x 1080 and has 4GB of flash memory for pausing live television. It comes with 1 TV tuner.

Availability

Fetch TV can be purchased at retailers such as JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys, Bing Lee, Harvey Norman, Joyce Mayne, and Domayne. It is also available through Australian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Telstra, Optus, Dodo, iPrimus, TPG Telecom, and its subsidiaries: iiNet, Internode, Westnet, Adam Internet, Aussie Broadband, and TransACT. Fetch TV boxes can also be directly purchased from Fetch through their eBay presence.

Subscriber Base

Fetch TV Australia faced significant competition in the marketplace from rivals like Foxtel and Telstra TV. In 2014, mainstream technology and financial media sources suggested that the service needed to increase its subscriber base to thrive.[10] In response, the company stated in 2013 that it had strategies in place to achieve success and significantly increase its subscription base.[11][12]

In early 2016, it was revealed that the service had 400,000 active subscribers and aimed to reach 600,000 by the end of the year.[3] This goal was achieved in late 2017, with Fetch citing the growth of Australia's National Broadband Network as a key driver. On the back of the NBN, Fetch added an average of 20,000 customers per month in 2017.[13]

The service operates an industry TV ratings app that provides an indication of which boxes are subscribed at any given time and which channels have what share of their audience.[14]

Subscription channels

Fetch TV has broadcast rights to channels from Paramount Networks, BBC Studios, NBCUniversal & Warner Bros. Discovery.

As of 2 October 2023, the following Fetch Channel Packages are offered:[15]

Kids Channels (7 channels)

Knowledge Channels (18 channels)

Vibe Channels (10 channels)

Variety Channels (10 channels)

Ultimate Pack

The Ultimate Pack includes all four 'skinny' channel packs: Kids, Knowledge, Vibe, and Variety.

Note:
1 These channels are exclusively available through Fetch TV in Australia.
2 This channel is a different version to the one provided by the Seven Network on free-to-air television until December 2019.
3 Content from this channel is available on demand.

Special Interest Packs

As of December 2020, the following channels are offered through the Fetch TV Special Interest Packs in Australia:

Fetch offers UFC pay-per-view fights at $54.95 AUD per event.

Note:
1 These channels are exclusively available through Fetch TV in Australia.

Former Channels

The following channels were available on Fetch TV but are no longer in service:

Ultimate Pack Channel List

The following channels are included in the Ultimate Pack:

Note:
1 These channels are exclusively available through Fetch TV in Australia.
2 This channel is a different version to the one provided by the Seven Network on free-to-air television until December 2019.

World Language Channels

Apps

Fetch boxes receive the following apps:

Note:
1 Appears in 'Catch Up' menu.
2 Appears in 'TV' menu.

See Also

References
  1. "Telstra Completes Its Majority Acquisition of Fetch TV". Mediaweek. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  2. "New FetchTV Box + Service Review: It's a Game Changer". Delimiter. LeMay & Galt Media. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  3. Mason, Max (29 May 2016). "Fetch TV Keeps Challenger Mindset While Aiming for 600,000 Subscribers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  4. Turner, Adam (16 February 2014). "Fetch TV vs. Telstra T-Box: Which Is the Best PVR?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  5. "FetchTV: An Updated Review for 2012". Delimiter. LeMay & Galt Media. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  6. "FetchTV Update 15 June 2016" (PDF).
  7. French, Stephen (24 February 2017). "Fetch TV goes "Skinny" with new and affordable channel packs". Tech Guide. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  8. Knox, David (25 July 2017). "UFC joins Fetch". TV Tonight. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  9. "Compare". Fetch. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  10. Ramli, David (25 January 2014). "Optus, iiNet join Fetch in ad campaign". Australian Financial Review. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  11. Polites, Harrison (22 July 2013). "Poor metrics cast a shadow over Fetch TV's growth plans". Technology Spectator. Business Spectator Pty Ltd.
  12. Hutchinson, James (11 May 2011). "FetchTV eyes top 10 ISPs to take on Telstra". Computerworld. IDG Communications. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  13. Groves, Don (2 October 2017). "Fetch's growth spurt outpaces Foxtel and Stan". if.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  14. "Fetch TV creates a new ratings app but downplays the potential to challenge Oztam". Mumbrella. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  15. "Fetch TV - Packages". Fetch TV. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
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