FOXTEL on Xbox 360 will begin appearing on the Xbox LIVE dashboard for Australian gamers from today, bringing heaps of live, catch-up, and on demand TV and movies to your Xbox 360. I figure many of you will have questions about the service, so here’s a quick FAQ and I will continue to update as I get more questions and tackle the answers.
Go here to skip the questions below and just get started.
I see FOXTEL in the Video Marketplace but it says “Coming Soon” and I can’t download it. Why?
We’ve obseerved a high demand for this service. In order to ensure a smooth user experience for those who have FOXTEL installed, we’re performing a gradual rollout of the service to all users across Australia. This may take a few days. Once your console has access to FOXTEL the text in the FOXTEL box will change and you will be able to download and launch the application.
Why can’t I have it now? Do you hate me?
No, we don’t hate you. Actually, we were just talking and we think you’re pretty cool. We like you so much that we want to be sure you have a good time when you get started with FOXTEL. We’ve automated the gradual rollout to ensure a good, smooth experience from the moment you download the FOXTEL application, rather than stuffing you into a crowded queue with no regard for your personal space.
I live in an Austar area. Can I still get FOXTEL on my Xbox 360?
Due to content distribution agreements, FOXTEL can only be provided to users in FOXTEL-serviced areas.
How do you know I’m not in a FOXTEL area?
This is determined by the billing postcode on your FOXTEL on Xbox 360 account. If you don’t live in a FOXTEL-serviced postcode you will not be eligible for this service.
How much does it cost?
The Get Started package is $19.50 and includes a bunch of great channels, like FOX8, Nickelodeon, FOX SPORTS News, MTV, and a ton more. There are additional packages available for Sports, Entertainment, and Movies so you can choose a programming set to meet your interests. Additional packages start from $10.
How much of my internet will this use?
We haven’t announced any unmetered plans for FOXTEL on Xbox 360, so before you install it and go crazy make sure your broadband internet can support your intended use. There are 3 different streaming qualities, and each will use a different amount of bandwidth. High quality streaming will use approximately 800mb/hr, medium quality will use approximately 540mb/hr, and low quality will use approximately 360mb/hr. Additionally, we recommend an internet connection speed of 1.5mbps for a smooth streaming experience.
Australia has recently seen some great improvements to most broadband plans so check yours. You may be due an upgrade in speed and/or bandwidth usage cap without it costing any more!
Where do I get started?
Visit this link to get started, and enjoy!
- jinx
Hey Jinx users should also be told theres a sneaky pre authorisation charge if you use a debit mastercard/visa of $10.00, Many users on the forums have reported this. So if your just browsing the service and add your debit card be pre paired for the $10.00 charge. Myself and other users had to race to the bank to add funds to the account when foxtel did this. Funny thing is if you call foxtel they dont even no about it!
Will we be able to watch AFL via this service?
Jinx, in your figures for bandwidth are you talking bits or bytes? So 800 megabits or megabytes per hour?
800 MB’s per hour! hence 1.6GB for a 2 hour watching.
holy sh*t! 800mb/hr!!!!!!!!! What sort of Aussie internet service can cope with that sort of bandwidth!
I would need at least 240GB/month to cover just what I know we would watch as a family on a normal weekly basis!
I have a download speed of 29.98mb/s with usage of 200Gb and unlimited homephone calls for $148 a month
Hey Jinx. Awesome news! I was one of the lucky ones who got my FOXTEL on Nov 1st, so I’ve enjoyed it for a week now and its awesome. However, any news on when some extra channels may become available? Also, I wish they’d add those +2 channels because most of the shows i watch are when I am at work, and well, a +2 alternative would be great.
Also, I noticed Foxtel charged me $20 for the Basic Pack, then I got a 50c credit, so all good now. Also I upgraded after a day to add the entertainement package for $15 more. Now I got all channels except sports and movies which is awesome value.
And get this, heres the kicker, I’ve noticed Foxtel and Telstra seem to be unmetered at present. Maybe its a mistake, but fingers crossed it lasts!
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Thanks for the info Jinx, shame about austar areas though.
Jinx ive been a lucky one too and had it a while but i cant seem to watch the good programs like for example when south park or a episode of two n a half men is on it wont play it says its unavailbale on this program im mean i have the standard pack and the entertament pack so i dont see the problem, but its getting really frustrating i just want to watch what is playing on the damm channels
I want to move to the States where you get stuff with your Gold account, not on top of it…
[...] that has not been included in any press releases, and that information can only be found on a post on the InsiderX [...]
[...] we recommend an internet connection speed of 1.5mbps for a smooth streaming experience. FOXTEL on Xbox 360 Launch FAQ InsiderX I read that there were some reports of bigpond users were getting it unmetered. My big question [...]
[...] 2. Xbox 360 Dashboard update / Kinect http://insiderx.com.au/2010/11/08/foxtel-on-xbox-360-launch-faq [...]
Sports needs some rethinking or negotiating. Very little live or interesting sport on FoxSports Play. Apparently wont have AFL or NRL. There has only been one or two live A-League games in the last week.
There is also very little available on the other non-movie channels which you can’t get on FTA.