Foxtel overhauls entertainment and lifestyle offering to be ‘unapologetically and unmistakably Foxtel’
Subscription TV provider Foxtel has overhauled its entertainment and lifestyle offering in a bid to reposition itself in the market, launching four new and exclusive Fox-branded channels and a refreshed Lifestyle franchise.
From November 7 Foxtel subscribers will have access to Fox One, Fox Funny, Fox Hits and Fox Crime in addition to the existing Fox Showcase, Fox 8, Fox Classics and Fox sports channels.
Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany said the new channels take advantage of the ‘global entertainment brand’ that is Fox.
Delany welcomed subscribers to the ‘new Foxtel experience’ a few months ago when the business announced integration with Netflix
“Fox is a breakthrough global entertainment brand known for surprising and shaking things up. These new Fox-branded TV channels allow us to take control of our entertainment programming based on bold channel personalities that keep things fresh and aligned to what our customers want from us. They will also deliver great outcomes for our advertisers,” said Delany.
The channels will be exclusive to Foxtel subscribers and will provide a new way for them to access the platform’s range of drama, crime and comedy, he said.
“The channels are unapologetically and unmistakably Foxtel,” said Delany, adding that there isn’t anything like them available anywhere else in Australia.
The new Fox channels won’t be the only change coming to Foxtel, with the Foxtel Lifestyle Group undergoing a “brand revision and revitalisation”. The group, which falls under the remit of former Pacific Magazines homes and food GM, Wendy Moore, will also include Arena and is very important to the business and its female audience according to Delany.
“Our female audiences are incredibly important and this wholesale revision and revitalisation of the Lifestyle Group doubles-down on delivering more value through relevant and contemporary programming for Australian women and their families,” he said.
Delany went on to say that the Lifestyle suite has built a “strong emotional connection with women” through its inspiring on-trend content. That content will go hand-in-hand on Foxtel with women’s other favourite programming – “salacious gossip and drama”.
Women love gossip and drama: Foxtel
“We know that seeing your own lives and dreams beam directly to your home is a powerful motivator. Our Lifestyle channels have built a strong emotional connection with women by inspiring them with what’s on-trend and what’s possible.
“We know however that life is about the perfect mixture of sugar and spice. Part of viewer enjoyment and well-being involves indulging their guilty pleasures.
“This is where the repositioning and refresh of the Arena channel fits in as the home of risqué reality, glamour and salacious gossip and drama. This will see the channel air a fresh, new series of Australia’s Real Housewives of Melbourne in 2020.”
Earlier this year, Foxtel promised it would “revolutionise” TV with Netflix integration, increased on-demand offering and a simplified interface which would begin rolling out across iQ3 and iQ4 set-top boxes. New and existing customers (who re-sign a new contract) would get sport and drama on a 12-month contract, including six months of free Netflix, for $58 per month under the new model.
Foxtel’s last big repositioning happened in 2017, with the company launching its streaming platform Foxtel Now and overhauling its “aggressive, arrogant and elitist” logo for a less masculine version. It then changed its branding again in 2018, choosing DDB Sydney to do the work.
Foxtel’s 2017 branding
A new Foxtel Original series, Find Me a Beach House, starring Deborah Hutton, had also been commissioned and the channels will also see the return of Lifestyle favourites Love It or List It Australia and The Great Australian Bake Off.
Fox One will be a new flagship channel and home to premium US network and cable programming, including Ballers, Chicago Fire and Mayans M.C., as well as new seasons Prodigal Son, All Rise and War of the Worlds.
Fox Funny will cover the latest in comedy including The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, The Office, 30 Rock and How I Met Your Mother. It will be paired with Fox Hits which covers classic comedy favourites from the 80s and 90s such as Friends, Will and Grace, Frasier and Malcolm in the Middle. Fox Funny and Fox Hits will replace 111 Funny.
Fox Crime will feature crime series including NCIS, Criminal Minds, CSI and Bones. Fox Crime will replace TV Hits and Binge will also be removed.
Foxtel also announced the launch of a new BBC channel earlier this week. BBC Earth will premier on October 10 and feature four of Sir David Attenborough’s biggest titles – Blue Planet II, Planet Earth II, Frozen Planet and The Hunt. BBC Earth will replace the existing channel BBC Knowledge.
This week has also seen Foxtel’s sales arm, Multi Channel Network (MCN) rebrand as Foxtel Media in order to further integrate with the business.
Foxtel Media: The new MCN
Foxtel has been struggling with its image lately as several marketers have left the company, seemingly around the same time, leading some to presume an exodus of the business. The company was also the focus of negative headlines earlier in the year when parent company News Corp’s fiscal year results showed its profits dropped 19% in FY18/19.
The constant changes in branding, agencies and positioning reek micromanaging by News Corp Australia.
no wonder no decent marketer would work there.
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bring back the dots!
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It’s just not worth the money any more we have cut down to basics and looking to cut it right off.. Have been customers since 1995 ?✌️
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So womens’ favourite programming is “salacious gossip and drama”? How out of touch can you be? Maybe Foxtel is going to bring back The Mike Walsh Show?
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Hi what about some Indian channels
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I literally lol’d at this
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Too much rubbish and way too mant commercials. I did not sign up for this and over the years it has gotten worse.
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What about a decent music channel
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Foxtel has gotten worse over the years, not the best material and too many commercials.
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The all-boys club decided that their less counterpart ie, the women in frocks need a hug…so brought in ’emotionally bonding’ Arena.
VOMIT!!
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According to our white folks, we butter chickens don’t exist in their spectrum of marketing. So, tough luck buddy, you are stuck with what they have to offer…100% pure white programs.
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Of course, there’s nothing else like it Australia, it’s a state-sanctioned monopoly.
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Hey just saw on Adnews – ZEE5 announced a partnership with Lebara Australia to bring entertainment content for South Asians. Will be hitting Ozland shores soon. So getting ready to do the Bollywood jiggle!
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They need to come up with a way for their offering to be one price for all. I don’t know how they can make it make business sense but I don’t see why anyone is paying their monthly rate when people are now expecting a ‘one price for all content’.
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We don’t need more channels we need more new programs and NOT repeats – repeat -repea – repe – rep – repeatedly !!!!!!!!!
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Way too little, way too late! Foxtel burnt me off long ago with their bs overpriced packages when they were the only show in town. Now with competition & their subscribers leaving in droves, they want you to come back plus sign a contract. Don’t fall for this three card trick, Foxtel is at the bottom of the pile where they need to be for a few more years yet.
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Can you tell me what has happened to shows like Chicago PD Chicargo fire have been no new series for quite a while??
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It doesn’t really matter what Foxtel or News Corp do, someone is going to blow up or complain on Mumbrella lololol
How is any of this a negative to the consumer or advertiser?
How does this negatively effect your life?
My god people love to whinge and complain about absolutely nothing.
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Yeah this all sounds familiar to subscribers.Folks it’s not worth it yet again.Foxtel even linking up with Netfix.Kayo and Foxtel who are under the same ownership are the two most expensive ways to watch TV.Ive. e’en with Foxtel for years paying above and beyond (ripped off).Iam now on a $10pm ,just to keep the box for 12months.Then it’s good bye Foxtel hello DISNEY PLUS.
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Bring back Channel [V]!
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That’s odd. I’m on ‘one price for all content’ agreement and have been for years.
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Go Tubi … ??
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its good to see the overhaul but I would like to know if the crime channel will be included in fox crime or just crime drama shows. they also need to reduce prices, that is their biggest problem Netflix, stan, hayu etc are all much cheaper than foxtel
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Affect is the verb. Mind you, you probably read the Daily Tele
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WhAt the he’ll happened to nfl red zone
First its was english football league now nfl redzone, I hate hostel. Very pissed off sports fan right here
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No doubt they will rebrand the channels to News Corp as well.
Look out for Game Of Thrones on Body & Soul!
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I agree with you 100% all everyone has done is be negative and whinge whinge whinge
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I have had Foxtel for at least 20 years and sick of seeing out of date DIY shows on Lifestyle played over and over and over. It’s about time you put on new programs on most Chanel’s or you will be loosing me too.
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I get sports, drama + hd for $39 per month no joke.
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Why would you pay a subscription fee to watch adverts? Shouldn’t they be paying you to watch?
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‘unapologetically and unmistakably Foxtel’ is code for LOTS of repeats & paying money to watch ads.
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Yes Foxtel has got worse over the years far too many repeats shows that were on the basic package are now on showcase s where subscribers have to pay 20 bucks how many time.do.really wanna sex and the city.and Friends.constantly movin channels appalling service no value for.money anymore its time.to.go Foxtel.
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It’s to late! As soon as britbox arrives in Australia Foxtel is going, already got acorn. Repeats. I thought BBC first was great now, repeats. Uk channel is a joke. If it wasn’t for Eastenders Casualty. I’d have got rid years ago.
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How about bringing back Jerry Springer and Maury Povich.
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Foxtel is too write white centric for a multicultural society that Australia has become. No shows to cater for the Chinese, Indians, Africans and African American, etc. For example, MTV base and BET are on UK Sky but Foxtel doesn’t want them here.
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4 mins of show and 6 mins of ads, repeats after repeats,
Movie channel at no extra cost, $40 to $100 a month to much.
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The NFL took redzone in house. Only available via league pass now.
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Foxtel think their customers are morons same shows repeat after repeat all their pricing is geared toward new customers but once they have you they jack up the price. Extra price for every package extra price for HD its a rip off.
If they wanted a good subscriber base then it should be max $59 a month for everything in HD and then they would get some people signing up. Transfer all their existing customers to this same price/ package Instead of waiting for us to ring up to cancel the service before offering us a decent deal.
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What about Foxtel bringing back the hallmark channel as well.
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Far too many repeats especially BBCFirst
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I watch mainly fox 8 for cw, Freeform tv shows
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Absolutely
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Please explain, I’m genuinely curious.
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My wife and I would love to see Fashion TV back on.
We really miss the Saturday Real Estate Programme as well.
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When is ncis la season 11 release on australia foxtel channel 118
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