TV Cable Set-Top Australia Timeline
| Foxtel and Optus Cable launch Sep 1995 with analog ("lines") per frame (at 6MHz per channel) till 2007, plus FTA channels. |
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| 1. Foxtel | In 2004 Foxtel launch digital ("pixels") channels, and in 2005 iQ set-tops with iQ2 enabled for Internet streaming in 2010.
In 2013 Foxtel Now launched with IPTV streaming as Foxtel Play, plus its own set-top box after 2017.
On 7th September 2021 the iQ5 became the latest model accessible via satellite or NBN.
In late October 2023 Foxtel switched off its cable network after 28 years of operation.
The Hubbl puck launched on 10 March 2024.
In December 2021,
- Subscribers using Foxtel IQ Set Tops via satellite and cable were 1.78 million subscribers.
- Subscribers to Foxtel's Internet Streaming products were Foxtel Now (219,000), Kayo Sports (1.03 million), and Binge (1.04 million).
| 2. Optus | In 2005, Optus switched to digital using Foxtel iQ set-tops, but with the NBN, Optus support ceased.
In its place from 2012 - 2022 Optus became a major onseller for Fetch live stream TV.
Fetch TV Set Tops originally launched in 2010 using iiNet as its ISP. Based in Sydney, owner Astro Malaysia, it provides customers with a Fetch Mighty (m616T) set-top box with Fetch Mini also available, a rival to Foxtel TV and until 2022 Telstra TV, see below.
Since Aug 2nd 2022 it is majority owned by Telstra, who acquired a 51.4% stake in the company.
In 2019 Fetch TV's customer base was estimated at about 760,000.
| Internet Streaming How it works
Each on-demand show has been broken into tiny files progressively downloaded. Streaming automatically adapts to bandwidth e.g. SD=3mbps, HD=7mbps, 4K=25mbps with usually a 20-60 second delay to avoid buffering issues, and support for FF and Rewind through a playlist of small images.
The two major protocols are HLS, launched on the Apple iPhone in 2009, and MPEG-DASH based on Qualcomm's 3G work with Mobile Phone circuitry prior to 2011. Dash's large users are Netflix, Amazon and YouTube. Combined with HTML5 found in computer browsers since 2012, the two protocols replaced earlier plug-in Adobe Flash used with the YouTube launch in 2005. Another protocol developed in 2010 for the IE browser, Microsoft Smooth Streaming currently sees little use.
Major Players in Australia in 2024
- Australian companies Binge (Foxtel) and Stan launched Jan 2015 with 2.4 million subscribers in 2021.
- US companies
- Netflix launched Mar 2015 now with 6 million.
- Amazon Prime launched Jun 2018, with 2.9 million.
- Disney+ launched Nov 2019, with 2.6 million.
Compatibility
- Set-top: Telstra TV (2015 - 2022). Telstra TV was based on Roku, the Netflix streaming device built in 2007. During 2024 Telstra TV plans to migrate its users to Fetch TV.
- Smart TVs: including LG & Samsung TVs, plus the following three major devices below Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast / Android TVs
- Computers: Windows, Mac & Google Chrome
- Mobiles and Tablets: Google Android, Apple iPhone & iPad
- Game Consoles: Sony Playstation (PS4 & PS5) and Microsoft Xbox (One & Series X & S)
| | 3. Apple TV | Set-Top Box launched in 2007.
In 2016 Apple TV app released for iPhones, iPads and in 2019 the Mac.
In 2019 Apple TV+ launched, providing a video service. |
| 4. Fire TV | Set-Top Box launched in 2014, developed by Amazon.
| | 5. Google Chromecast | Dongle device launched in 2020, using a modified Android TV operating system, successor to Google TV (2010-2014). |
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Viewers
According to Roy Morgan research surveys, the actual viewer totals are much higher 
January 12 2021
New data from Roy Morgan shows Australians consumed subscription TV services at an astonishing rate during 2020 as Australians endured a nation-wide lockdown from late March until late May and Victorians experienced a second, and longer, lockdown soon after.
17.3 million Australians (82.1%) watched a subscription TV service in an average four weeks, up 2.4 million (+16.2%) from a year ago. During the last 12 months Australians have spent a lot of time indoors as smoke from summer bushfires a year ago soon gave way to COVID-19 restrictions that kept people largely at home for weeks and months on end.
All the major subscription TV services have been big winners during 2020 with large increases in viewers for Netflix, Foxtel, Stan, Disney+ and Amazon Prime in the three months to September 2020 compared to the same three month period a year ago.
Netflix is by far Australia’s most watched subscription television service, with 14,168,000 viewers in an average four weeks, an increase of 2,265,000 viewers from a year ago (+19.0%). Over two-thirds of all Australians aged 14+ (67.2%) now watch Netflix in an average four weeks.
Foxtel experienced even faster growth across its services this year and now has a total of 7,748,000 viewers of either Foxtel, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports or Binge in an average four weeks, up 2,363,000 viewers from a year ago (+43.9%).
Also growing viewership strongly during 2020 have been third-placed Stan which grew 1,562,000 (+46.4%) to 4,928,000 viewers, Amazon Prime which was up 2,158,000 (+190.2%) to 3,293,000 viewers and newcomer Disney+ which now has 2,870,000 viewers after being launched in late 2019.
This new data comes from Roy Morgan Single Source, Australia’s most comprehensive consumer survey, derived from in-depth interviews with around 50,000 Australians each year.
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