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Foxtel launches no contract option while its streaming service Presto hunts for new CEO

Foxtel has launched a no lock-in contract option as the pay-TV provider seeks to further drive up its market penetration in Australia and attract viewers from streaming rivals.

The move was mooted by marketing boss Ed Smith last month, and comes as Foxtel and Seven formalised their joint venture with their streaming platform Presto and that it is seeking a separate management team for the service.

Courtesy of Savvy Media Monitoring

“We’ve being watching consumer confidence closely and this year we want to give people an opportunity to try Foxtel, at our new low price, and know that if they don’t like it, or their circumstances change, they can walk away,” Smith told Mumbrella.

“May/June is traditionally the end of financial sale period for Foxtel, a lot of people know our EOFYS sale. With our move to everyday low prices in November 2014 our entertainment package for 43 channels is only $25 a month all day, every day.”

The Foxtel television commercial prompting the offer shows “Paulie”, a member of the mafia, going to the boss of the family and asking to leave the family. After a dramatic pause the boss responds: “Ok, stay in touch.”

The tagline for the campaign is: “Leave without the drama”.

In the separate Presto announcement the company also said it was looking for a new management team with its current boss Shaun James, director of Presto and On Demand at Foxtel, acting as interim CEO of the joint venture.

“Presto has been steadily building its content proposition and the formalisation of our joint venture with Seven puts us in a position to dramatically ramp up our plans to be a major player in Australia’s SVOD sector,” said James.

“We’ve already confirmed key agreements with content providers such as HBO, Showtime and with our key shareholders Foxtel and Seven West Media and we recently announced our first-run exclusive Australian launch of the entire series of Aquarius, starring David Duchovny, coming to Presto Entertainment and Presto TV on Friday, May 29.”

The TV ad was created by Clemenger group Sydney, with production by Soundrel.

Nic Christensen 

Mumbrella will be hosting a panel with all of the bosses of the local streaming players represented at the Mumbrella360 conference in a session called “the State of Streaming”.

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