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Fetch TV readies for
regional expansion
Australian pay-TV
platform Fetch TV is
preparing to expand its
service to the New
Zealand market, an
opportunity that CEO
Scott Lorson says the
firm has been monitoring
for some time. The New
Zealand offering would
also come with
integration of the
Netflix subscription
streaming service, which
has just been announced
for the Australian
market.
Lorson said that no date
for a NZ launch had yet
been set, but he
described the move as a
logical extension for
Fetch TV.
“Our priority has been
to achieve scale in
Australia first, and
support our sister
companies with their
technology roadmaps for
the Asian markets. We
are now well progressed
on both of these fronts
and have a very robust
set of initiatives for
launch in 2015 that will
be highly relevant in
the New Zealand market,”
Lorson told CommsDay.
In Australia Fetch TV
makes its platform
available to ISP
partners such as iiNet,
Optus and Dodo as well
as directly to consumers
through retail outlets
Harvey Norman, Domayne
and Joyce Mayne. No
decision has yet been
made on a possible model
for New Zealand,
although major service
providers Spark and
Vodafone already
have existing
subscription video on
demand offerings in
Lightbox and SkyTV's
just-launched Neon
service respectively.
Harvey Norman is also a
major retailer in New
Zealand.
NETFLIX BOOST: In
Australia, Fetch TV
announced that it would
be the first Australian
pay-TV provider to
integrate the Netflix
subscription streaming
service. Netflix will be
available to customers
that use its
2nd-generation set-top
box, which now has an
installed base of more
than 170,000 since it
launched a year ago.
Lorson has previously
stated that he
considered the Netflix
service complementary to
the Fetch TV platform
and had told CommsDay
last year that a tie-up
was possible.
“Today’s announcement
represents a significant
milestone for Fetch TV
and our partners, and a
very exciting
development for our
170,000 plus
customers,’’ Lorson
said. “Netflix is the
clear world leader in
online entertainment,
with a powerful brand,
compelling content, and
an unparalleled
reputation for
innovation and
disruption. Netflix
perfectly complements
the Fetch TV service. We
are now able to offer
Australian consumers a
world-class integrated
entertainment offering
at unprecedented
value.”
Pricing for the Netflix
subscription through
Fetch TV has not been
announced, although it
will be via an
additional monthly fee.
Additional access to
Fetch TV content is
provided through free
apps for iOS and Android
mobile devices. Its
subscribers can also
watch and record
free-to-air channels,
access catch-up TV
services, and use web
based apps like YouTube
for TV.
“Working with our ISP
partners, iiNet, Optus
and Dodo, Fetch TV has
established itself as a
disruptive force in the
Australian entertainment
market,’’ said Lorson.
“We have done this by
offering a
differentiated and
compelling entertainment
experience, at a very
attractive price
point.’’
Fetch TV provides a TB
personal video recorder
with 3 digital tuners, a
video store in the home
with around 4,000
movies, and access to up
to 38 subscription
channels from major
providers. The service
is delivered over a
broadband connection to
the TV via a Fetch TV
box.
Netflix business
development head Bill
Holmes said the company
had surveyed the
Australian market and
was impressed by the
Fetch TV service,
business model, and the
coalition of telco
partners.
“By partnering with
Fetch TV, we are making
it easy for TV fans and
movie lovers to watch
Netflix on their
televisions,” Holmes
said.
The arrival of Netflix
comes as competition for
streaming video services
intensifies on both
sides of the Tasman,
with new players
including Stan – a joint
venture between the Nine
Network and Fairfax –
and Lightbox and Neon in
New Zealand.
Asked about similar
tie-ups with other
services in future,
Fetch TV marketing
director Sue Brenchley
told CommsDay that the
company would “maintain
healthy dialogue with
all content
providers/aggregators”
but added that no other
SVOD deals are imminent.
“In the SVOD space, we
see Netflix as the clear
frontrunner and are
delighted to be a launch
partner. We intend to
work with our ISP
partners to heavily
promote the Netflix
service over the coming
months,” she said.
Geoff Long, CommsDay
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