Foxtel Play Has Launched; What Do You Get For Your Money?

Foxtel's long-awaited streaming service Foxtel Play has launched today, with a series of packages designed to target those interested in specific genres of television viewing available to be streamed into Australian homes.

The packages are made up of already existing Foxtel channels and can be streamed through a computer, Xbox 360 or some specific Samsung Smart TVs. The service also includes access to Foxtel Go on smartphones and tablet devices.

The monthly rate for one set of channels is $25, two will cost $35 per month, three will be $45 and $50 will secure all four packages.

Sport and movie packages, which show channels that currently provide Foxtel with substantial subscriber numbers, are $25 apiece.

The channel packages are as follows:

Drama: UKTV, SoHo, SF (Sci Fi), Universal, FX
Documentaries: History, BBC Knowledge, Discovery, National Geographic, Nat Geo Adventure, Discovery Turbo Max, A&E
Kids: Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Disney Junior, Boomerang, Baby TV (on-demand only)
Entertainment: Lifestyle, FOX8, Lifestyle You, Arena, Comedy Channel, TV1, MTV
Movies: Movies Premiere, Movies Action/ Adventure, Movies Family, Movies Comedy, Movies Drama/ Romance, Movies Thriller/ Crime, Masterpiece, Showcase, World Movies
Sport: Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Fox Sports 3, SPEED, Footy Play, ESPN, ESPN 2, Eurosport, Fuel

Quickflix currently offer streaming of certain television shows and movies for $14.99 per month, but with no live Foxtel channels. FetchTV currently offers packages through a number of Australian ISPs at around the $20 per month mark, with the ability to add on packages of certain Foxtel channels at extra cost.

This isn't bearing in mind the recent trend of Australian households finding loopholes allowing them to subscribe to the cheaper and more extensive American Netflix catalogue.

Foxtel are currently offering a free, seven day trial of their new service.