Living dead: Foxtel CEO says Hubbl in ‘maintenance mode’
Hamish and Andy were tapped to be the faces of Hubbl
Foxtel’s CEO Patrick Delany has confirmed to Mumbrella that its one-stop streaming shop Hubbl is in “maintenance mode”, and won’t be receiving further marketing support.
Delany told Tim Burrowes in an extended Unmade interview he was no longer marketing the device, and could not confirm whether it would exist in a year’s time.
Launched in March 2024, Hubbl is a streaming service aggregator that allows viewers to bundle various subscriptions onto the one device and menu system, simplifying the fractured streaming landscape and effectively making Foxtel the middleman between video services and the audience.
Imagine buying a Hubbl Glass TV yesterday for $1400, only to hear that there may be no Hubbl in 12 months from now.
ACCC? Refund for everyone?
Everyone who is Hubbling may soon have to stop.
I got my Hubbl for free – not sure what he’s talking about.
They sent emails and texts for months with free offers for former customers.
I got 2 Hubbl’s for free, due to having 2 different email addresses for 2 different foxtel app accounts on whatever foxtel database they were using to send out free Hubbl devices soon after launch.
Brilliant example of house of brands egomania.
What was Foxtel supposed to be if not an aggregator of the best professionally-made content from home and abroad, on a premium UX. Agnostic of screen manufacturer.
Streaming era didn’t threaten that proposition, it gave it new opportunity for delivery and revitalised relevance.
Hubbl devices were certainly given away or sold heavily discounted. I don’t mind it and use it (although a little buggy at times) but certainly would of never of paid for it which were lays the problem. I can totally understand on cutting back on the promotion
It’s giving TiVo vibes. Had a strong user base but then was killed off and those who invested had their devices rendered bricked and obsolete
Was a crap product – even on-line. Got a taste of that when forced to use it to get Kayo. Was harder to unsubscribe – strange tick system that didn’t easily turn off what you didn’t want. Had Apple TV box from get go so no need for an inferior product annoying promoted by the two most over-hyped ‘talents’ on Australian TV. It was also a victim of greed – subscriptions got too expensive to have them all – not enough quality content – so consumers switch apps regularly and cut the number they have to get best options. No need for Hubbl. Apple does it all and better. Lemon.