Foxtel Now - Features, price and what to watch

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Foxtel Now is a premium streaming service offered by Foxtel, once the most popular pay TV provider in Australia and now evolved into streaming TV.

The service provides access to all of Foxtel’s content without the inconvenience of having to install a Foxtel box or signing up for an expensive lock-in subscription.

Instead, Foxtel Now requires no installation, does not require a lock-in contract and can be cancelled at any time.

What is Foxtel Now?

Foxtel Now is a streaming service that has evolved from pay TV service Foxtel’s digital catch-up service, Foxtel Go. It used to be called Foxtel Play and has been renamed as Foxtel Now.

Foxtel Now allows you to stream live TV, as well as provide you on demand access to over 70 live entertainment channels, including pop and lifestyle, drama, comedy, news and sports.

It has also embraced the design ethos of streaming TV with services like Netflix to bring its customers a sleek, user-friendly interface and HD streaming.

How much is Foxtel Now?

The amount you pay for your Foxtel Now subscription depends on how many monthly Foxtel Now packages you add onto your base Essentials subscription.

Pricing for Foxtel Now ranges from $35 per month for the Starter pack to $104 a month for the premium Ultimate All Packs option, which includes all add-ons, along with extras like the Kids pack.

If you’re looking for middle ground, the popular combo of Starter, Sports and Movies (Sports + Movies bundle) will set you back $84 per month while allowing you to watch a comprehensive selection of entertainment options.

Does Foxtel Now have a free trial?

If you want to find out if the service is right for you, then you can sign up for a no-obligation 10 day free trial which you can cancel at any time within this period and not pay a cent.

This will provide you with access to all the channel packs, allowing you to watch the full range of entertainment on offer.

At the end of the free trial period you’ll start getting billed monthly, using the payment details submitted when you registered for your account.

Foxtel Now offer

For a limited time, new customers can get the All Packs Ultimate Bundle for only $65/month for 12 months. Originally $104 monthly, this saves you as much as $39 per month for an entire year!

Sports streaming is another reason why the service proves more valuable especially this sports season in Australia, which makes it the best time to take advantage of this new offer. Gain exclusive access to Foxtel’s sports channels to watch AFL, NRL, Formula 1, and many more!

What’s on Foxtel Now?

There’s a full suite of entertainment options available, including a massive on demand library of movies online, live TV, kids channels, drama, comedy, news and sports. You’ll also be able to watch some of the best TV shows out there thanks to Foxtel’s partnership with HBO.

Latest shows

To find out more about available programming, check out our guide for what’s on Foxtel Now or explore latest releases available to watch tonight.

Best dramas on Foxtel Now

Access to the most popular news channels, shows and series, including HBO and Foxtel originals, comes standard with the Essentials pack.

If you want to watch an even larger selection of drama shows you can add the Drama Extra pack to your subscription, which provides access to BBC First, UKTV, Fox Crime, Universal and Fox One. Here are just some of the best Foxtel Now shows you can stream instantly.

Comedy shows on Foxtel Now

You can watch both the latest and classic comedy shows on the Essentials pack, which includes the FOX Funny channel. If you want to add comedy movies to the mix, simply opt in for the Movies pack.

What sports can I watch on Foxtel Now

If you’re a sports fan, the Sport pack has you covered. This offers 12 dedicated sports streaming channels 24/7. Channels include Fox Sports, Fox League, Fox Cricket, ESPN 1 and 2. Coverage spans all AFL and NRL league action, MotoGP, Formula 1, Supercars and more.

Kids shows on Foxtel Now

Sign up to the premium All Packs subscription and you’ll get the Kids pack thrown in with the deal. The Kids add-on features only G and PG-rated content. It also gives kids their own home page packed with the most popular kids shows, including Paw Patrol, Ben 10, SpongeBob SquarePants and much more.

Action & adventure on Foxtel Now

You can instantly watch some of the world’s classic action and adventure films, as well as many of the latest releases you can’t wait to stream on demand. Check out some of the best Foxtel Now movies you can start watching today.

Horror & thriller on Foxtel Now

Every week you get access to blockbuster movies old and new. So grab your popcorn and soda and bring that cinematic experience to the comfort of your living room. If you’re a big fan of the horror or thriller genre, even better, because the streaming service happens to have plenty of those.

Documentaries on Foxtel Now

For fans of factual content, there are dozens of docos to stream instantly. Here are just some of them. 

How to sign up for Foxtel Now? 

If you’ve had bad experiences with the cost and complexity of installing pay TV services in the past, we have good news for you: signing up couldn’t be simpler.

All you need to do to start streaming is:

1. Visit the website.
2. Sign up for an account, which will allow you to access Foxtel channels.
3. Sign in using a web browser or the Foxtel Now app.
4. Start streaming.

You’ll be asked to provide payment details while registering. Foxtel will then initiate monthly billing for your subscription.

How much you pay for your subscription is based on the entertainment packs you choose.

As mentioned earlier, the cheapest package is the Starter pack, which provides access to the most popular lifestyle, comedy, reality, drama and news shows at $35 per month.

You can cancel or re-join, as well as add or remove packs, at any time. You’ll only pay for Foxtel’s content when and where you want to watch it.

Foxtel Now channels

The streaming service is the only way you can access Foxtel channels on your streaming devices, without the need for a traditional Foxtel subscription. All you need is an internet connection to begin streaming TV shows, movies, sports and more. The channels you can access will depend on the channel packs you’re subscribed to. 

Below we elaborate the different channel packs and what specific channels are included in each bundle. 

Starter

Starter is the base package. You’ll need to sign up for this bundle before you can add any premium channel packs. Some of the channels that are included are drama channels like Showcase, FOX8, as well as lifestyle and comedy channels such as Arena and LifeStyle.

For those who are into factual content, Starter also includes documentaries and some news channels, including CNN and BBC World News. The previously separate Drama Extra pack is also now included in the Starter package, adding channels like BBC UKTV, Foxtel One, and Universal into the mix.

Sport + Movies

Foxtel Now just simplified its entertainment packages by combining Starter, Sports, and Movies packs, culminating in the Sports + Movies bundle. This offers 30+ channels from the base Starter pack and 9 sports channels for watching over 50 of sporting events live and on demand. Some of these are FOX League, FOX Cricket, FOX Footy, ESPN 1-2 and more.

You also get 9 movie channels, including Movies Premiere, Movies Greats, and Movies Family, giving you access to blockbusters like Barbie, Oppenheimer, Wonka, and many more.

Ultimate

If you want everything in one bundle, there’s the Ultimate bundle or the All Packs. It’s got everything, plus the Docos and Kids packs.

You can also check all the channels below.

Foxtel Now usability

It features an intuitive menu that allows you to browse its content using four menu options. The customised home screen features recommendations and watch history based on your usage.

The other menu items link to live TV feeds, on demand content and kids content. Content on these feeds is organised by theme, such as best of HBO and Foxtel Originals.

You are also able to add any content to a future watch list.

However, a couple of user experience issues are present. The most notable being the ads that play before your content begins streaming, which adds friction to the viewing experience.

Apart from a dedicated kids section on the All Packs subscription, individual user profiles are not available, which means household members don’t benefit from a customised user experience.

Also, it requires account holders to register devices on the app, allowing up to five devices. While this is not the only streaming service to require device registration, it does limit your flexibility when moving between devices.

What’s the streaming quality like?

All channels are available in standard definition, while a smaller selection of channels are streamed in in 720p High Definition.

To stream HD content, you’ll need to stream using the Google Chrome browser on PC or Mac or a compatible streaming box. HD content is also available on Chromecast.

Streaming quality will also be determined by the speed of your Internet connection and the resolution of your viewing device.

A 3Mbps Internet connection is recommended for streaming at standard definition, while a 7Mbps connection is optimal for HD viewing.

How does Foxtel Now compare to other streaming services?

The entertainment streaming space in Australia is becoming increasingly crowded; however, there is no other Australian streaming provider that can match the streaming service’s breadth and variety of content.

However, services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video compete in specific entertainment niches, like TV shows and movies, and typically charge lower subscription rates.

Foxtel Now vs Netflix, Stan, and Prime Video

Netflix is a popular option for streaming TV shows, movies and kids content, but does not provide extensive access to HBO’s catalogue and does not include sports or news.

Like Netflix, Amazon Prime has low subscription fees and offers unique content commissioned by the channel along with popular TV shows, movies and programming for kids.

However, Prime Video’s entertainment selection is far from comprehensive and leave sports fans high and dry.

Meanwhile, streaming service Stan is Australia’s answer to Netflix, providing a mix of drama, movies, kids entertainment and limited sports coverage.

Stan is cost effective but doesn’t offer comparable access to the HBO content or the variety of live sport you can watch on Foxtel Now.

Foxtel Now compared to BINGE

Streaming service BINGE is owned by the same parent company as Foxtel Now, and therefore offers a similar selection of drama content, albeit with fewer live channels.

The monthly fee is less than half of the Starter subscription, and if drama is all you are after, you won’t be paying for content you don’t watch.

Foxtel Now compared to Foxtel

From sport to drama, there is a lot of overlap between the two, and both services share the same on-demand content library via the Foxtel Go app. However, there are differences between the way they structure their content and add-on packs.

The biggest difference is the way the content is delivered. Foxtel requires the installation of a satellite system to view live channels, while its streaming counterpart serves all its content online.

However, the arrival of the new iQ5 changes that since the new iQ box eliminates the need for a satellite installation. Customers with the iQ5 can now watch content through their internet connection, which is similar to how you can stream content using Foxtel Now.

Another major difference between the two is that Foxtel encourages its users to opt into a lock-in contract if they want to benefit from lower monthly fees and reduced setup costs. By comparison Foxtel’s streaming version emphasises flexibility and the ability to jump on and off the service at any time.

Devices to watch Foxtel Now with

You can watch stream content in Australia on several smart TVs. If you don’t have a smart TV you can use a streaming box, such as the Foxtel Now box to stream Foxtel content.

To ensure high-quality streaming, Apple TV is one of the best devices you can use.

Do I need the Foxtel iQ box for Foxtel Now?

Content can be streamed via a wide range of compatible devices without needing Foxtel’s iQ box. It is a separate standalone subscription that offers another way to watch your favourite shows on the big screen with the use of streaming devices mentioned above.

Can you Chromecast Foxtel Go?

It can also be streamed to your smart TV using Chromecast, which is supported by iOS and Android devices as well as PC/laptop web browsers. With Google Chromecast, you’re able to cast Foxtel GO from your smartphone or tablet so you can stream its content on your big screen TV.

Finally, Android and iOS apps are available for mobile devices, and you can stream content from your browser on any Internet-connected device.

Check out the complete list of compatible devices in the list below:

What is the Foxtel iQ5?

You might have heard about the Foxtel iQ4, however, this hardware technology has now been replaced by the Foxtel iQ5 box. While it is initially offered to only select customers this year, the new iQ5 became widely available at the beginning of 2022.

The main difference being that you can select its setup via satellite or your internet connection. Fundamentally, you can now watch Foxtel with the Foxtel iQ5 through your internet connection – this is similar to what you can do with the Foxtel Now box. However, it doesn’t allow recording of sports and your favourite shows, but the Foxtel iQ5 still can! 

The box records two internet channels and one free to air channel at the same time while allowing you to watch a fourth. So if you can’t or don’t want to install a Foxtel satellite dish on your roof (and who would!), then the iQ5 connects through your broadband connection while allowing you to watch Foxtel’s 4K channels.

Foxtel Now contact number

If you need to get in touch with customer service, call 131 999 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm from Monday to Sunday. They’ll be happy to assist you with account, billing, and subscription queries, as well as technical troubleshooting. The website also provides Support and FAQ sections to help you with some or most of your questions.

What people are asking about Foxtel Now