iiNet invites Australia to go Fetch(TV)

iiNet, Australia’s third largest ISP, has partnered with FetchTV to launch the country’s first true national IPTV service, giving customers access to the best of digital Free-to-Air and subscription television over their existing broadband connection.

iiNet’s first product, fetchtv 2, gives customers access to digital Free-to-Air channels and a range of subscription channels- all of which can be paused, rewound and recorded; plus video on command movies and TV shows; an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) and a range of web applications. All of this comes completely quota-free as part of the iiNet Freezone.

“We’re very excited about our fetchtv product – it brings choice to the Australian Pay-TV market and is designed to continually evolve as new content is added. People told us what they wanted and we listened,” says iiNet’s Chief Technology Officer Greg Bader.

“As a foundation partner, iiNet has been a key collaborator with FetchTV in the development of this groundbreaking service. We’re thrilled that they’re the first ISP to introduce our product to the market,” says FetchTV CEO Scott Lorson.

“iiNet’s fetchtv 2 service includes a state-of-the-art High Definition (HD) set top box that comes with a massive 1 terabyte hard drive and three HD digital tuners. This means not only is it possible to record two TV channels while watching a third, there’s enough memory to store hours of your favourite shows,” adds Bader.

Fetchtv 2 comes with access to a large subscription channel lineup, including CNBC Australia, BBC World News, National Geographic, Nat Geo Adventure, Baby TV, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Home & Health, Discovery Travel & Living, Discovery Science, Animal Planet, E! Entertainment Television, MTV Music Television, MTV Classic and MTV Hits.

On top of the subscription channels, one of the most exciting features of the fetchtv package is Movie Box, which comes as part of the video on command library included in the basic monthly subscription. With Movie Box, you’ll have 30 movies available to watch any time, with seven fresh titles being added to the set top box every week (including movies like Harry Potter, Legally Blonde, Spy Kids and Reservoir Dogs).

According to Bader, “Having an extensive video on command library is truly a breakthrough in the Australian Pay-TV market. It means you can watch the movies and shows you want, when you want to see them, with no download delay and no impact on your quota.”

The huge video on command library also features programs from Hijinx and Gekko TV (featuring kids programs like Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine and The Wiggles); Chronicles and Profiles (featuring popular non-fiction programs); Frontiers (featuring popular science fiction series) and Warner TV (featuring shows like The Big Bang Theory, Chuck, Gossip Girl and Two and a Half Men).

As an additional feature, iiNet customers will soon be able to access a range of new release movies and library titles from leading international studios that aren’t included in the subscription on a pay-per-view basis.
Finally, fetchtv 2 comes with access to a range of online multiplayer games that you can play from the comfort of your lounge room, including Drop Duel, Chess Challenge, Chewie Checkers and Texas Holdem; not to mention access to applications for Facebook, Wikipedia and Twitter.

“By teaming up with fetchtv, we’ve been able to deliver a service that brings the internet and television together. This is a truly game-changing service,” Bader continues.

iiNet customers have the option to rent the fetchtv set top box for $29.95 per month (with a once-off $99 setup fee) or purchase the box outright for just $399 (with the service costing just $19.95 per month).
To access fetchtv 2 you’ll need iiNet’s award-winning BoB™ modem. BoB has been developed to suit iiNet’s fetchtv service and for now is the only product which comes fully supported with fetchtv. Customers looking to add a BoB™, can purchase him outright or rent him for just $9.95 a month.

“We really see our fetchtv offering as a development platform for the future. Already iiNet and FetchTV are working on additional features. The possibilities are endless, so watch this space,” Bader concludes.