Sorry Phil I hope you let this one through as I know you normally don't allow any topic regarding Pay TV from Foxtel or Austar. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> <br /><br />After reading other forums to see what the opinions are regarding Foxtels new line up I would like to see some opinions on this forum thats aren't biased as some other forums are, people just hate anything that foxtel ever does, so being a true FTA Forum with some members having Foxtel or Austar it would be good to see what patterns they are or do they differ from other forums.<br />Question 1<br />Are you happy with the existing channels?,<br />Question 2<br />What do you think about the way they sell their<br /> packages?, "eg" You can have Show and Encr but you have to pay extra for mov1, extra, greats and world movies<br />Question3<br />The quality of channels themself<br />Question 4<br />What your are paying for the service? and you are about to pay for their new digital services.<br /><br />Fred

Fred<br />This will be a very interesting thread as some of us will have Pay television, some of us have had it, and so will never get it.<br />Personally I can tell you that we disconnected from Foxtel 9 months ago, reason it was not the content as anything is better than watching nothing but what I opposed was the Intimidation factor where you were forced to subscribe to 3 different Movie Packages just to get all the Movies, My older Brother Has Foxtel and he has the gold package every channel except special events and the adults channel, that is costing him if I remember $98 per month, that is a lot of money.<br />For me its only FTA now as its not value for money and after watching the ABC 7.30 report last night you can make up your own mind to see what the general public thinks about the reason why Pay TV has not exploded in this country.<br />Its not my problem if foxtel/austar are paying too much in US Dollars for their movie content, thats their problem but as that gentleman on the 7.30 report said a basic package should cost between $15 to $20 and no more. That gold package should not be $98, it should be around $55 to $60 and the normal movie package without the Optus movie channels with all the documentary channels for around $35 to $40, if they would do this I would reconnect the next day.<br />Sorry Phil I know you don't allow Talk like this on this forum but you wonder why there is so much piracy getting around,<br />Example:<br />My brother pays $98 to foxtel, thats way too much.<br />I paid $46 for a DVD (Pearl Harbour)<br />I paid for my son attending Uni $1400 for software for his new computer that was Win XP pro, M/S office + another. Now you tell me is the pay tv worth it ??? is the DVD worth $46???, and this miserable software, Is that worth $1400?, you have to be joking, I am a respected person in my position and I have always been against ALL PIRACY <br /> but now I'm really starting to see who the real pirates are.<br />But now, my younger brother who has always punished me for being so much against all sorts of piracy, I am starting to see his way of thinking. The general public are just the suckers. We do not need DVD's, we do not need pay tv as the slightest recession in this country would bring an end to pay tv as the way it is now. But unfortunately, I do need microsoft Office and Windows XP professional and I am extorted to pay those ridiculous prices. On the other hand, I see my young brother who gets everything for nothing and I can't believe it that now he tells me there are ways around the new Foxtel encryption. On my last note to everyone, you want to remove piracy? Bring pay tv to a realistic price, then you will only be left with the nerds who want to use their young brains. Bring DVD's to $10.00 a movie, the chows at the markets will be out of business overnight, and as for Windows XP and Office, considering they sell millions around the world, you should not pay more than around $150.00 for each, and I don't give a shit about their research and development.<br /><br />Steve

Normally I don't allow anything posted regarding Foxtel/Austar/Optus but this could be interesting, Yes interesting to see what people like and what they call value for money.<br />For me I had Pay TV years ago, but disconnected because I could not see value for money, Again for me it was not about the crappy channels I can put up with that, its the case that there are too many packages which leaves you with a half an appetite, missing the extra channels that happen to be accidently on another package. In other words you need to get the lot to be satified and as Steve said thats around $98 and that is outrageous<br />I will NEVER AGAIN get Pay TV, not unless the prices drop, and they tell me the ABC 7.30 Report a segment was on the new services offered by Foxtel and it was quoted a Basic package should be around $15 to $20 Well!! Foxtel I'm feeling generous I would Pay $25 for the Basic package and NOT A CENT MORE.<br />Phil <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/default/mad.gif" />

Foxtel<br />You can stick it where it hurts.<br />If they realy want to sell that shit they should allow you to choose the channels you want.<br />I would select the favourite 20-30 channels and pay no more than $45 for them.<br />In case if foxtel reads this Put some good Leso <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" /> shows on the "W" channel and I might subscribe<br />Cathy <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" />

Cathy<br />Yak are you a lesbo, I always knew your were strange<br />Heeeeeeeeeeee Only Joking !!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> <br />Please All readers Don't send me e-mails join the forum to voice your opinions, You don't have to hide I won't bite or send your email addy to the Tax department, or better still Foxtel.<br />Phil

We had foxtel 12 months ago but we disconnected it, reason you cant select the channels you want, I not paying $80 for a fucking service that I only watch 12 out of 50 odd channels.<br />Tell me If Foxtel and Austars disconnection rate is around 18% per year, how many years will it be before <br />they start to recycle them in again<br />Drop you prices and I will consider connecting again.<br />Pete <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/default/mad.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/default/mad.gif" />

If it was not so serious it would be truly amusing! So what are the new channels - simply delayed programs spat out in differnt delay / random shuffle. Just like the Spectravision stuff in Hotels, same movies on at different times and make it look like 6 movie channels in reality its programming for one! Cheap to set up such delay systems.<br /><br />Whats next, I bet they will turn on macrovision stopping you using your VCR (unless your lucky and have a TBC so who gives a rat <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> ) and when you call complaing say sorry the studios are forcing us to do this, but for a extra X.XX per month we can give you interactive!<br /><br />I will much rather spend my $$$ on broadband internet that IS truely entertaining, educational and whats more a useful tool, not old re-runs that you could not give away and movies that are in the damn WEEKLY section in video stores.<br /><br />These people need to get in touch with reality, or get a life what ever comes first!

Phil. we live not far from you and myself and my brother both have foxtel cable service, we are not happy because we cannot select the channels we want for a reduced price. we will stay just to see if they are offering more channels for the same price when they go digital.<br />If we don't get anymore new channels to make up for the rubbish and if the new channels will cost us more money they can stick it, nothing worst to knowingly knowing that there is new channels and they want more $$$$ where does it stop.<br />it will stop whe we disconnect and my opinion is lots will be offended if they are more channels and you have to pay more to view them<br />George

By the look of it Dollars seems to be the problem not so much the content. This problem goes back to the early days with "GALAXY", they were in such a hurry to get up and running that they were screwed by the yanks and paid outrageous prices in US dollars for their movie contents. In other words compared to the rest of the world Galaxy was paying far too much. When Foxtel first started operations, when Galaxy and Austar were still around, Foxtel wanted Galaxy's channels, so Foxtel entered into a ridiculous contract with Galaxy where they were able to use Galaxy's channels but for a price and it was hefty. Like around $19.00 US per customer. Convert that to australian dollars, that didn't leave much for Foxtel for their operational costs day to day. Foxtel tried to get out of this contract but it was binding. So, its like a country that owes too much to another country, they can never repay that debt...its in the interest of the country with the debt to declare war on the other country so the debt can be squashed. It has been proven that Foxtel had a massive helping hand of the destabilising of Galaxy which bought on their downfall. Now, how does this all affect today... till today Foxtel are paying too much and get it out of you head, they are in a big catch 22, the prices will never go down because they can't afford it. Prices will only go up which means that fewer and fewer new subscribers will join the pay tv arena. After all, they can't force you to have pay tv...and the economy will preach to that. The only thing I have against pay tv regardless of where it comes from, is depending on how old you fellows are out there, my friends have reminded me that up to 20 years ago on the FTA (Free to air) scene there were plenty of good channels available on different satellites. All you needed was a 3.7 to 4 metre dish, analogue and digital receiver and you could watch HBO, Cinemax, discovery channel, national geographic channel, numerous news channels and the last to disappear was Fox News channel. These channels were either removed or encrypted because they were ordered to by the big wigs of pay tv. If this is the way that they try to force people to get pay tv, they can stick it, dirty tactics can be played on both sides. On a final note, Foxtels prices are too expensive today. For people to consider it, they would have to throw all their plus two hour channels in, plus all their new channels (around 10) for todays prices. In other words, more new channels plus the copy channels and no price increases, but can you see that???? <br /><br />I cannot believe that they don't listen to the people, or is it because they are in such a catch 22??? As far as I'm concerned, either drop your prices as suggested by 90% of the population and experts in this field, or increase your channel loading without an extra cents cost. Which one are you going to do???? A good example would be their so called Gold package (I think thats what they call it), $98.00 for the lot except the adults only and pay per view... you should be able to get the gold package plus all the plus two hour channels, plus all the new channels for the same price of $98.00, and some people might think about it. But if you increase your prices over this, you have to be joking.<br />The elections are coming soon, labor might win and we might end up having a Paul Keating recession that we had to have. Now considering that back in the 80's only around 72% of the population had a loan which averaged about $40,000 and only 40% of the population had a credit card and today 96% of the population has a loan or a credit card and the average loan is between $250,000-300,000, it would not take much of a hiccup and the precious pay tv would be out the window. <br /><br />Phil <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/default/confused.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/default/confused.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/default/confused.gif" />

We have austar and the channels are fair but i hope they dont increase the prices as my dad said we will disconnect.and if we disconnect we can burn DVD's the money we would save we would spend it on dvd's<br />philip

Have you heard the latest and probally all know this, all the brains on all forums involving piracy have gone missing <br />And they only communicate via encrypted ICQ or whatever, the day of the openess is over and when you think of it it was stupid, why would you want to boast on a forum what you can do or how to do it when everybody or anybody can read<br />Fred <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/default/confused.gif" />

Fred <br />You have a very valid point there.<br />Don't worry Foxtel will see no activity on forums anymore??? so for them will it be the end of piracy?? It will be end of the sellers the trash that went around selling something thats not theirs<br />but on the other end will the pay tv industry ever win against hobbiest or nerds? "NO".<br />Phil <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" />

Question 1<br />Are you happy with the existing channels?<br />*They are not too bad<br /><br />Question 2<br />What do you think about the way they sell their<br />packages?, "eg" You can have Show and Encr but you have to pay extra for mov1, extra, greats and world movies<br />*They need a better system as everyones viewing preference is different <br /><br />Question3<br />The quality of channels themself<br />*Too many repeats <br /><br />Question 4<br />What your are paying for the service? and you are about to pay for their new digital services.<br />*Zilch Don't have it anymore.<br />Did have the basic package with the do it your self enchancement method.<br /><br /><br />Sellers <br />they are still out there making a fortune<br />The changes are just producing more hitech sellers. I wonder if they have cleaned up the dodgy inside sellers if they haven't then they will just make a killing as they will just use the new system as easy as they did the old. <br />Also other providers are now been targeted more, $1500 just for a modifyed tarbs box. Umm is that really free pay tv <br /><br />Hobbiest <br />The sharing off information openly has just about stopped snippets are given out on O/S forums to give a hint on whats happening.<br /><br />So if they dropped the price and/or gave people more choice for choosing their own packages it would lower most off the piracy problem but off course it won't stop those people who insist on paying large sums for free pay tv.

Some of the things that pissed me off when I Had Foxtel were and I had the top package <br /><br />1. I was paying $70 plus Bucks for pay TV and there was still Commercials on the service ( so I was paying for commercials ) <br />2. Because Foxtel hand no cable in my street I had to pay more for a Satellite system to deliver the same content that the Cable system was delivering (that really pissed me off ) <br />3. the content was not coherent i.e. went you watched any of the sitcoms etc some times the same episodes will be replayed the next week and these programs have well more than 14 episodes I think it was just plain laziness on there part <br />4. I paid for the Olympic package back it 2000 and the signal was very pour i.e. a lot of bit error rate (does any one remember this they did get around to fixing it about 1 week in to the games but) and when I contacted Foxtel they said it was not there problem that I should contact Seven. I found this to be a bit of a shit since I paid Foxtel for the service <br /><br /><br />Therefore, I did what all you who are not satisfied with the value for money should do and I cancelled my service.<br /><br />If you feel that, it is not value for money you are a sucker if you keep paying for it <br /><br />You have no one to blame but yourselves its not Foxtel fault they sell some thing for a price and if people buy it they will keep selling it for the same price no make it cheaper it goes with any product but if people stop buying it they might drop there prices its simple economics the consumer always sets they price think about <br /><br />Tell Foxtel with YOUR CASH <br /><br />Something that would be nice would be if as follows <br />1. one set price for every thing if Foxtel supply and maintain your equipment cable or sat say $35 dollars a month ( this would cut out the pirates for sure who would bother to save $420 bucks a year for the risk )<br />2. Or if you have your own equipment buy a Annual lic and Foxtel gives you a authorized smart card for say 200 bucks a year but the equipment will be your own responsibility ( this will have a great affect on our economy there will be new legitimate industry for installations carried our by ACA accredited installers and the GST will go to the Government not be a black market industry as the dirty sellers do now <br />Or maybe have a service for say 10 dollars a month but it has Commercials in the programming (let big business pay the bill like what happens now on free to air)<br /><br />To finish <br />I can go to my local video store and get 4 new releases over night for $14 Dollars or can mix and match new release with 3 niters or weekly’s or Xbox games or playstaion game what ever so for the money I use to pay to Foxtel now goes into the local community i.e. local kids working in these store etc and do this about 2 times a month and still have change to buy some DVDs at the end that I can watch and keep that’s just what me and my wife do

Good one Jason<br />It has been suggested that people with their own equipment pay only for the card, and they fit the bill for the rest. But thats like pushing shit up hill they will never agree to that.<br />Phil <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/default/confused.gif" />