Foxtel Review - Is the TV Service Worth It?

Nearly half of all Australian homes now have Foxtel, giving Aussies extensive access to the largest range of drama, comedy, sport, and entertainment around. If you’re not in one of those homes, you’re missing out!

What is Foxtel?

Australia’s first pay TV service, Foxtel has over 25 years of experience in the industry, and has grown to encompass a vast range of channels that cater to all tastes — handily divided up into separate channel packages so that you can pick and choose which Foxtel experience suits you best.

Foxtel even has their own subscription service with Foxtel Now, but we will cover that later. Foxtel has spent a lot of time, effort, and money to gain access to the best TV programming available.

Foxtel has stunning TV shows and movies express from the US and UK, like House of the Dragon, Succession, and Euphoria. There’s also a huge range of exclusive live premium sport including tennis from Roland-Garros, V8 and F1 motorsport, AFL, NRL, and much more — all in high definition and even 4K.

Foxtel — Pros and Cons

What can I watch on Foxtel?

Foxtel has simplified their whole system of channel packs, making the entire process fully customisable so that you’re only paying for the content and services you actually want.

The base of it all is the Foxtel Plus package, which is included with every Foxtel service and supplies a range of over 60 channels, including Showcase (the home of all things HBO), Foxtel One, FOX8, Arena, and Cartoon Network for the kids, and a bunch of news and information channels ranging from CNN and Sky News to Sky’s racing channels and Fox Sports News. Every Foxtel subscriber gets this package of channels.

For sport fans, the Sport pack adds 9 channels of 24/7 sport that take in live coverage of the world’s major events as well as all the action and excitement from Australia’s sporting codes.

The Movies bundle also adds 9 channels of ad-break-free movies from all genres – classics as well as new releases straight from the cinema, with the addition of the ultra HD movie channel as a free bonus for those with compatible TVs. There’s also music video channels, lifestyle channels, documentary channels, news channels… it’s a channel surfer’s dream.

The biggest shows on television

Foxtel is home to an extensive library of HBO originals with complete seasons available to stream anytime. This includes iconic shows such as Game of Thrones and Westworld, as well as award-winning dramas such as Big Little Lies, Succession, Watchmen and Chernobyl.

Newly added shows are also a must-watch, including the new season of True Detective. In addition, Foxtel also has many highly acclaimed originals, including Colin from Accounts, Love Me, Wentworth, Secret City, Picnic At Hanging Rock, Lambs of God, the award-winning Mr Inbetween, Tim Minchin’s superb series Upright, the crime drama, The Twelve, and many more.

The world’s best sport

For all you sports fans, through Foxtel you can watch over 50 different sports including live coverage of AFL, NRL, NBA, NFL, Formula 1 Grand Prix, Supercars, and more.

Entertainment on demand

TV shows and sports aren’t the only forms of entertainment that Foxtel delivers. Their content library has something for just about any kind of interest.

From the latest movie releases to thought-provoking docos, as well as the shows your kids wouldn’t want to miss, Foxtel has got you covered with new additions to their ever-expanding library every single week.

How much does Foxtel cost?

Foxtel’s progressive pricing plans means it costs pretty much as much or as little as you want it to cost – depending of course on which packages you want. To start with, you’ll need to take the Foxtel Plus pack for $70 per month. Then add as few or as many additional packages as you like, including Sport ($30 per month) and Movies ($25 per month).

Don’t want to pick and choose? Simply take the Platinum Plus with a $140 subscription fee, which will also get you access to bonus on demand HD content and comes with a Netflix subscription included.

All packages are available on a 12-month or a month-to-month plan, although you’ll save on upfront costs if you lock it in for year. Special discounts are often available, such as the Platinum Plus bundle at $99.

As of 2024, all Foxtel packages include Multiscreen with the Kids and Favourites channels added into the base Foxtel Plus package. 

Should I get Foxtel Now instead?

Foxtel Now — the internet-based, online-streaming version of Foxtel — has a slightly different pricing structure to standard satellite Foxtel. Subscribers add a selection of channel packs on top of a basic Essentials bundle, which delivers over 30 channels.

Those premium packs include Drama Extra, Sports, Movies, as well as an all-packs bundle that includes Kids and Docos. A free Foxtel Now trial is available to new subscribers, too, so you can make sure the service is what you’re after before forking out any cash.

If you buy into all of the packs available via Foxtel Now, it can be cheaper than buying the entire channel selection on Foxtel cable or satellite – though not all Foxtel channels are included. It’s worth noting that Foxtel Now’s video quality currently only streams in HD on the Telstra TV set-top box, Foxtel’s own Foxtel Now box, Playstation 4, on the new LG and Samsung smart TV apps, and in the Google Chrome and Safari web browsers.

Foxtel features

With Foxtel, you can add the packages that appeal to you and get a TV experience tailored to your interests. It also includes a “Box Sets” channel where complete seasons of shows can be found airing with back-to-back episodes, like True Blood and The Walking Dead.

Get Netflix with your Foxtel subscription

Foxtel now includes the full Netflix app on the iQ3, iQ4 and the new iQ5 boxes. And for the first time, you can add Netflix to your Foxtel service – or enjoy it at no extra cost if you opt for the all-inclusive Platinum Plus bundle. Netflix recommendations even show up as part of the iQ4’s on-demand interface, so you can go right to the latest shows.

You can now add Netflix to any Foxtel plan or bundle, or use your existing Netflix account if you already have one. On top of that, free-to-air catch-up services ABC iView and SBS On Demand have been added to both the iQ3 and iQ4 set-top boxes.

The iQ5 Box: smarter and faster

Foxtel’s iQ4 box introduced the new Foxtel Experience where the world’s biggest TV shows like Game of Thrones, live sports (some available in 4K Ultra HD), blockbuster movies, alongside Netflix, YouTube, and catch-up TV, are all in one place.

The iQ4 box is now replaced by the new iQ5, which gives customers the option to connect via their internet connection instead of iQ4’s satellite installation setup. This new iQ box was initially pre-released to mostly cable customers but is now available to some satellite customers. Those who sign up for a Foxtel service will receive either an iQ4 or an iQ5.

The iQ4 Box

With the launch of the new 4K channels – a first for Australia – came the release of the iQ4 set-top box. This powerful box can stream 4K video from Netflix, and can receive 4K broadcasts right now – with live cricket games, AFL, NRL, Formula One and more, as well as Ultra HD movies – all in pristine 4K picture quality.

But make no mistake, they’re not going to stop at two channels if all goes to plan. Satellite is an ideal delivery method for 4K – the only real limit is how much capacity Foxtel has on the satellite.

This also means that even if you’re one of the many suffering from slow broadband and can’t stream 4K video via the internet, you’ll have no such problems with the iQ4 – the use of satellite means pristine 4K video is available to everyone.

Compared to the iQ3, which had rather sluggish performance that was always an annoyance to one degree or another, the iQ4 is a fast, feature-rich and hugely capable box which makes the experience of using Foxtel magnitudes better.

The fact that it comes with access to 4K broadcasts via satellite, well, that’s just the icing on the cake. You’ll get one if you sign up now, but if you’re an existing customer you can order an upgrade to the iQ4 with a simple phone call.

Hubbl from Foxtel

In 2024, Foxtel finally unveiled Hubbl, the company’s latest “transformative TV technology” with the aim to simplify the user’s streaming experience. 

Delivered in two forms: a puck-like device and a 4K Smart TV with a built-in soundbar called Hubbl Glass, every major global and local streaming app is integrated into its system so everything you need is on one platform. 

Global streaming services Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Paramount+, Apple TV+ and video-sharing app YouTube, join local streamers BINGE, Kayo Sports, Stan, Flash, Optus Sport, Foxtel’s new app, LifeStyle. 

Australia’s free streaming apps, ABC iView and ABC Kids, SBS On Demand, 9Now, 7plus, and 10 Play are also part of Hubbl’s streaming line-up.

How to watch Foxtel

Foxtel can be watched with an active pay TV subscription through them directly. This will require a cable connection or satellite dish as well as a Foxtel box, all supplied by the company themselves.

As a side-bonus, access to the Foxtel Go app is bundled with Foxtel, allowing you to stream Foxtel’s channels on mobile devices such as an iPhone or iPad, for those times when you really need to see that footy game but aren’t anywhere near a TV.

Foxtel Go also brings the complete Foxtel experience – both live channels and on-demand streaming – to your computer’s web browser at no extra cost. For a complete list of Foxtel Go devices, check out the table below:

How to contact Foxtel

If you’re keen to sign up to a brand new Foxtel plan, their customer service service can talk you through the various options available. You can call the friendly sales team on 1300 130 799 and they’ll put you in touch with the right people. That’s also the number to remember if you’re already a Foxtel customer since it’s your gateway to the support you need if you have any technical issues or need help with your account.

Foxtel review verdict

Foxtel is one of the very few major players left in the traditional pay-TV sector, and instead of resting on their laurels, the company has been investing in both content and technology to make sure that you have the best experience and value possible.

Foxtel’s pricing is becoming more competitive — and if you’re looking for ways to get Foxtel cheaper, you might also want to check out Foxtel Now or streaming service BINGE.

Foxtel FAQs

What people are asking about Foxtel