Foxtel Fast-Tracks Game Of Thrones, Girls, Boardwalk Empire & More

The Home Box Office network (aka HBO) who has been responsible for countless revered shows – from The Sopranos to Curb Your Enthusiasm to True Blood – has struck a deal with Australian pay TV provider Foxtel that will see Australian audiences able to legally view their new release programs just hours after they screen in the United States.

The deal comes after the Network Ten struck a similar deal that would see them fast-track programs such as Homeland, NCIS and New Girl, though the clout of HBO is another matter and Foxtel are no doubt hoping this will entice more of the public to sign up so they can view these programs legally, rather than obtaining them through other channels.

Audiences will now be able to view Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, Girls, Treme, Veep, Eastbound & Down and new police drama True Detective through the showcase channel shortly following its screening in the United States.

Home Box Office have begun to establish a direct TV service that doesn't require any kind of cable or satellite TV subscription, HBO Nordic offering a wide range of programming to audiences in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway with consumers requiring only an internet connection to subscribe. Whether this deal is part of a Foxtel strategy to get a jump on a potential HBO Oceanic launch remains to be seen.

Foxtel has previously fast tracked FX's Sons Of Anarchy to Australian audiences.