Australian company TV My Way is offering overseas content holders a cost effective method of distributing their channels in Australia.

TV My Way provides a cost effective platform for Network Broadcasters and niche television programmers to get their content out to Australian audiences.

The company is able to take an existing content providers live feed and securely distribute it to viewers via live multi casting and ADSL2+. They work closely with Eftel -Datafast, their broadband network partner, to optimize the ADSL2+ service to ensure extremely reliable delivery of IPTV network traffic.

Read more – IPTV Content distribution

TVMyWay – IPTV channel guide  - Israeli, Italian, Vietnamese, Greek TV channels.

Television viewers are voting with their mouse when it comes to choosing alternatives to free-to-air and pay TV.

No longer at the mercy of station programmers, viewers are flocking to their computers, smartphones and internet-enabled televisions to watch movies and shows when it suits them.

In the process, some are ditching pay TV subscriptions in favour of combining several entertainment options in one device. This includes opting for non-contract Foxtel on the Xbox, using broadband for streaming TV and considering an internet-enabled TV set.

Sydney resident Christine Kaard switched when her mobile broadband ran its contractual course three months ago. She and her 15-year-old son had been paying almost $100 for Foxtel each month, plus internet and landline access.

Advertisement: Story continues below ”We decided we weren’t getting much value because we don’t watch sport. And because we also wanted to change our broadband plan, we thought we could do with the T-Box,” Ms Kaard says.

Being able to access the internet throughout the house via the bundled Wi-Fi modem helped sway her decision. ”Now we’re paying about $90 for broadband and the T-Box with BigPond Movies.”

Telstra director, IPTV and pay TV, Ben Kinealy says consumers want choice.

”We took the decision to be everywhere – on Foxtel, online, T-Box and smart TVs. That is so powerful for the customer,” he says. BigPond TV on tablets will be next.

Foxtel announced this week that subscribers who watch Foxtel via Xbox 360 on a BigPond broadband connection will be exempt from data-download charges, making all content unmetered.

Other internet service providers are also increasing their internet-protocol TV (IPTV) offerings, with Optus, Westnet and Internode recently joining iiNet in offering FetchTV. The service that originally required iiNet’s Naked DSL broadband connection now works on ADSL too. It plans to be smartphone and tablet-ready this year.

What’s Out There

FetchTV
Rating: 3.5/5

FetchTV has come a long way since it was launched by iiNet late last year. We liked the picture quality, as well as the 30 free movies on-demand every month on the standard package. Set-up was fiddly but technical support was helpful. On-screen apps include Facebook, Twitter, weather and Mathletics, with YouTube to come. Fox Sports, BBC World News, National Geographic, digital free-to-air channels and on-demand movies are included. Bloomberg, European sports and foreign-language channels cost extra. The set-top box is also a personal video recorder. Prices start from $29.95 a month from iiNet for FetchTV2 subscription and box rental, plus $59 monthly broadband subscription, plus $69 for BoB modem purchase. Includes VoIP phone line. Coming: smartphone as remote control and a phone app to record shows remotely.

fetchtv.com.au

Telstra T-Box
Rating: 4/5

We were pleasantly surprised by the sleek and intuitive user interface and the EPG, which features images and text. It claims more video-on-demand titles than Foxtel but has no Showtime or Movie Network channels. We liked the ”related” movies menu, where you can find other movies with the same actors or related genres. It includes all digital free-to-air stations, plus BigPond TV channels and BigPond News, produced by SkyNews. Set-up is via a simple wizard but sign-up is done on an internet-connected computer. We were promised that, in future, it will all happen on the TV screen. The box is also a personal video recorder. Bundles start at $89 a month plus $35 up front and include set-top box, broadband plan, modem and landline. Coming: smartphone as remote control, phone app to record shows remotely, T-Box on iPad, Foxtel on T-Box.

telstra.com.au

Samsung Smart TV
Rating: 4.5/5

There are three ranges of Samsung Smart LED TVs (series 6, 7 and in various sizes. All connect to the internet for streaming TV and web browsing. All are HD, 3D, offer 2D to 3D conversion, have HDMI, USB and Wi-Fi connections and claim better picture and sound quality. The Smart Hub is the gateway to internet entertainment. We found the user interface busy but liked the options. Browsing the internet on the TV screen feels awkward at first but we liked browsing while watching TV at the same time. The hub includes apps for BigPond TV and BigPond Movies (subscription required), YouTube, Twitter, Skype, Picasa, games, sports and more than you’ll ever have time for. The TVs are DLNA (digital living network alliance) friendly, which means they are just another device on your home network capable of sharing content. Priced from $3199 for Series 7 46-inch.

samsung.com.au/tv

Read more – Brisbane News

Telstra BigPond broadband customers will not be charged for any data when using FOXTEL on Xbox 360, and there will be six BigPond TV channels added to the service from Monday, May 30, 2011.

This means all video content will be unmetered for Telstra BigPond customers when viewing the FOXTEL on Xbox 360 service, including watching TV shows from up to 30 world-leading FOXTEL channels on the live streaming television service, the six BigPond TV channels, Catch Up TV, and hundreds of new release films, library movies and TV episodes from the FOXTEL on Xbox 360 On Demand service.

The six channels from BigPond TV cover sport, racing and news including: FOOTY TV the AFL channel, LEAGUE TV the NRL channel, V8 Supercars Australia, RACING TV with TVN, BigPond Sport TV, and BigPond News. These channels will be available on the FOXTEL on Xbox 360 service to all Get Started subscribers at no additional charge.

This is the first time FOXTEL on Xbox 360 subscribers will have the benefit of both selected live coverage of sports via FOX SPORTS PLAY and ESPN, as well as streamed AFL and NRL games available on delay.

In addition, from June games from the current season of AFL and NRL will be available on the service as Catch Up video on demand, and a highlights piece will also be available for each AFL and NRL game. Live AFL will come to FOXTEL on Xbox 360 from the start of the 2012 season.

FOXTEL Executive Director of Product & Sales, Patrick Delany said, “This arrangement with Telstra is a big win for FOXTEL on Xbox 360 users, allowing unmetered access to thousands of hours of great programming – all without a FOXTEL fixed term contract.* There are around 1.3 million Xbox consoles in Australia and getting unmetered access to FOXTEL on Xbox 360 is now as simple as plugging into BigPond internet to give subscription TV a go.

“The FOXTEL on Xbox 360 service offers FOXTEL’s huge amount of exclusive and first run TV programming, plus access to hours and hours of On Demand TV episodes, new release films and movie favourites. There’s always something to watch, either live or On Demand and it’s simple to sign up online and start watching straight away.”

Telstra’s Executive Director of Media, J-B Rousselot said, “Hundreds of thousands of Australian homes now have access to BigPond TV channels which makes a compelling reason to get online through Telstra. BigPond’s unmetered content is already a hit with T-Box, Samsung and LG customers, and we’re pleased to be bringing unmetering to customers connected to FOXTEL on Xbox 360.”

Try FOXTEL on Xbox 360 for free for a month by signing up any time in June. Watch over 35 live streaming channels (including BigPond’s AFL and NRL channels), there’s no installation required, no FOXTEL fixed term contract, and you can change your subscription anytime – with everything delivered over your broadband connection.* Plus it’s unmetered on Telstra BigPond which means there’s no maximum download limit.

Existing FOXTEL on Xbox360 subscribers who don’t already subscribe to the showtime movies or Movie Network packages will be able to watch all movies from these channels for free throughout June.*

The FOXTEL on Xbox 360 premiere programming highlights this June include: Big Fat Gypsy Weddings on Lifestyle YOU, True Blood (Season One) on FOX8, Torchwood: Miracle Day on UKTV, Upstairs Downstairs on UKTV, Lip Service on showcase, The Real King’s Speech on National Geographic Channel, Tennis: Wimbledon Championships on FOX SPORTS PLAY, and NBA Finals on ESPN.

Continuing highlights available on FOXTEL on Xbox 360 include Balls of Steel Australia from The Comedy Channel, Jersey Shore from MTV, Tim Winton’s cloudstreet from showcase, Boardwalk Empire from showcase, Man vs Wild from Discovery, and B430 on channel [V].

BigPond TV Channels include:

FOOTY TV: AFL TV is around-the-clock action featuring the best of the AFL regular-season and finals series. With match replays, highlights, player interviews, International Rules action and much more, this is 24/7 footy at its best. From June AFL games will be available as Catch Up video on demand after a twelve hour delay following the live game.

LEAGUE TV: Catch every game of the Telstra Premiership, Finals Series, State of Origin, City v Country, Four Nations and Test Matches on LEAGUE TV. LEAGUE TV offers match highlights, full game replays, NRL news, player interviews and more. From June NRL games will be available as Catch Up video on demand after a twenty-four hour delay following the live game.

V8 TV: Suit up for 24/7 streaming of the big events including, live action, interviews and driver features, expert analysis, race recaps, crash compiles and more. V8 races are streamed live and a highlights piece from each race is available as Catch Up video on demand.

RACING TV: TVN is a dedicated thoroughbred racing channel including local and international racing, commentary, tipping services and the latest thoroughbred industry news and information from Australia and around the world.

BigPond News: BigPond News provides the latest entertainment, finance and technology stories, regular weather updates, live crosses to breaking news, broadcast around the clock.

BigPond Sport: BigPond Sport TV covers everything to do with sport – tune in and sit back for big news, plus live events, big-match replays, highlights, opinion and profiles from all the sport you love.

FOXTEL on Xbox 360 subscribers can choose the amount of data used when watching live streamed TV by selecting the “Change Quality” option when watching a channel, and choose from any of the High, Medium or Low settings. The download file size of Catch Up TV and On Demand movies or TV episodes varies depending on the duration of the title selected, and this information is clearly communicated onscreen prior to viewing on FOXTEL on Xbox 360.

* Only available to Xbox 360 owners who live in FOXTEL metropolitan areas of Australia and who subscribe to both the Xbox LIVE service and the FOXTEL on Xbox 360 service. Xbox LIVE Gold subscription required for all live TV packages.

www.foxtel.com.au/xbox

GoConnect (GCN) is pleased to announce it has joined forces with Netbay Internet, an Australian based Broadband Service provider, to launch a number of Asian language IPTV channels on GoConnect’s IPTV network of properties.

Netbay Internet is a Melbourne based broadband ISP that provides IPTV service through its subsidiary company MyiTV.

MyiTV is currently providing Triple-Play Services – ADSL2+ Broadband, VOIP and IPTV subscription service of Cantonese and Mandarin Speaking television channels through its multi-casting IPTV network under its agreement with Television Broadcasting Australia (“TVBA”).   TVBA is the Australian subsidiary of TVB, the dominant free to air TV network in Hong Kong.

Services are multi cast to the exchange and then delivered out to customers Televisions and IPTV Set Top boxes via ADSL2+.

MyiTV’s initial concentration has been on the Asian populations living in High Rise Apartment buildings in the inner cities of Melbourne and Sydney. The inner city market consists of large concentrations of Asian students who are keen to subscribe to Asian language TV services and watch their favourite channels from back home.

The partnership with Netbay internet will be operated under an equally owned company with GoConnect responsible for distribution of the programs via its IPTV properties and Netbay responsible for hosting and distributing the programs within its broadband network. A number of Asian language channels will be introduced over time including Korean, Indian, Chinese and Vietnamese.

Richard Li, Executive Chairman of GoConnect says, “We are excited to be involved with Netbay Internet to launch our Asian language IPTV service.

Australia is a nation of migrants and many Asian migrant households are already subscribers to satellite TV services provided by various TV networks from their countries of origin. The increasing maturity of broadband Internet penetration will underpin the rapid development of IPTV globally.

GoConnect was a pioneer in the delivery of IPTV. With the experience and expertise we have gained in IPTV over 11 years, GoConnect is well placed to take advantage of the continuing growth in consumer demand for IPTV by expanding the program mix. Together with Netbay Internet, our jointly owned company, Asia IPTV, will be working closely with various major Asian TV networks to provide on demand IPTV services to their subscribers. These services are expected to be introduced in the second half of 2011.”

Keith Lam, Sales Director of Netbay Internet says, “TV consumers will be able to access their favourite TV programs from their home countries without even the need for a set-top box. Accessing our Asian language channels will be made easy with the latest Smart TVs that are coming onto the market. They simply have to ‘point and click’ the Asia Channel icon on their Smart TV screen with their remote control to play the programs. We look forward to providing our service to many Australian households as a first step, before expanding outside of Australia.”

Great article on Foxtel and its win with AFL media rights and how this will position them in the IPTV market over the next 5 years.

Talks about the effect of the AFL rights driving subscriber numbers with IPTV ready set top boxes.

Read more on Frostglobal.com

Adam Shand interviews Richard Li, Executive Chairman of GoConnect Limited on the company’s performance, vision and strategy including his views on IPTV in Australia.

Watch the interview on The Business Show

In 2010, GoConnect merged with Undercover, one of the world’s most respected music news sites and independent music label, PLW Entertainment. This merger created uctv.fm, GoConnect’s premium IPTV music channel which is distributed online and on mobile, as well as on the Sony BRAVIA IPTV platform and LG Netcast IPTV platform.

IPTV has now fully eclipsed 3D as Panasonic’s key television technology, with all 26 new models in the Panasonic range containing some form of internet connectivity…
By Patrick Avenell SYDNEY, NSW:

Read more on  Current.com.au

Whilst Australians have been using 3G mobile broadband networks for some time, and found them perfectly adequate to start with, the demand for mobile broadband and internet services has grown enormously over the past couple of years, and the existing networks are now struggling to cope with the popularity of these services.

Lack of capacity on 3G networks means that both business and casual users who have become reliant on mobile broadband services may experience a variety of problems, and this stems from the difficulties that the 3G networks have when it comes to coping with the increased demand for mobile broadband and internet services.

Amongst the problems that may be experienced by those using 3G networks are poor connectivity, slow speeds, reduced coverage, lack of reliability, and a general low quality mobile broadband service. As a result of this many industry groups and consumers have been calling for upgrades to existing networks, with many keen to see 4G or Fourth Generation broadband networks being rolled out to eliminate the problems being experienced with 3G networks.

A 4G solution with Vividwireless

Earlier this year mobile broadband operator Vividwireless announced that it was launching a 4G WiMAX Broadband Network and services for the Perth region, and with speeds of up to 20Mbps offered even in peak times many have been keen to enjoy the benefits of having access to mobile broadband speeds that are superior to those offered with standard mobile broadband plans from providers such as Telstra.

Vividwireless’ 4G network is also said to have the capacity to be upgraded to the same standard as LTE or Long Term Evolution technology, which is a technology that has the potential to reach 100Mbps speeds. Given the wide range of purposes that consumers use their broadband connections for these days, such as streaming data and online gaming, the ability to achieve these greater speeds has become even more vital for many people.

In addition to already having launched its 4G network and services in some areas Vividwireless also has ambitious plans with regards to the expansion of these services over the course of this year. If things go to plan, a rising number of consumers across Australia will be able to enjoy the benefits of being able to access the 4G network, which is something that will prove invaluable to a wide range of people, from casual users to business users and students.

A number of other major areas in Australia have already been earmarked for the provision of the Vividwireless broadband network and service this year, and it is thought that major university campuses will be amongst the first to benefit from the services, which is something that will prove invaluable for students, many of whom rely on mobile broadband services for a variety of reasons, from conducting research to keeping in touch with loved ones or simply enjoying entertainment.

Source

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