Foxtel's new online movie streaming service that it hopes will keep overseas equivalents like Netflix and Hulu at bay launches today with a new director to take the helm. Shaun James has been appointed director of the new Presto service and of video-on-demand.
Meanwhile, a campaign by BWM – which won the business from The Works in December – to launch the service will kick off on Sunday 16 March.
Presto will enable users to stream Foxtel movies from the broadcaster's eight movie channels both live and on demand – and ad break-free – via a monthly pass that costs $19.99.
Netflix has yet to arrrive locally, but already has a local audience of subscribers who use geo-blocking to access the streaming service. Meanwhile, telcos other than Foxtel's partner are thinking about what they could do with all that bandwidth, given the relatively small cost of entry and current competition.
Another potential threat is Amazon, which has set up a local office and poached former Yahoo7 CEO Stuart Sayers to run it. In the UK, Amazon is using its Love Film platform to stream TV and movies.
Foxtel has also announced a new movie channel to add to the collection – Foxtel Movies Disney, which is due to launch on April 10.
James was previously general manager of music channels and head of digital for Foxtel Networks Australia, and prior to that spent four years at XYZ Networks as general manager of music.
Richard Freudenstein, Foxtel CEO, said: “Presto is a game-changing new way to experience great movies, when and where you want. I'm delighted that Shaun James, who is such a strong member of the Foxtel team, has agreed to take on this role. Under his leadership, Presto is certain to go from strength to strength.”
Local streaming service Quickflix has jumped on the launch of Presto to release a statement spruiking its own service. "We welcome the competition," CEO Stephen Langsford said. "Foxtel's entry into the market is acknowledgement by a major industry player that there is consumer demand for 'over-the-top' internet-delivered services at a lower price point than expensive traditional pay TV requiring a set top box and long-term contract."
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