TV Cable Set-Top Australia 1995 - 2025

Click here for a full list of digital FTA (Free-to-air) channels in 2025

Foxtel & Optus launch separate 20 channel and FTA cable services in Sep 1995 using analog ("raster lines") at 6MHz per channel. Analog signal switched off in 2007.

1. Foxtel In March 2004 Foxtel launched 130 digital ("pixels") channels, including 27 "near video-on-demand" channels at $4.76 per show. In 2005, Foxtel released an iQ digital recorder (plugged into its wall plate) with iQ2 enabled for Ethernet in 2010
2012 Merges with Austar (satellite) subscribers now 2.2 million
2013 Foxtel Play streaming launched
2015 Now an ISP for NBN Internet via satellite (and cable)
2017 Foxtel Now set-top box based on Google Android
2019 Kayo Sports launched via Amazon Web Services AWS, Binge in 2020
October 2023 switched off cable network after 28 years of operation, 210MHz spectrum to NBN
March 2024 Hubbl (from Comcast) launched
April 2025 New Owner, UK-based DAZN
Click here for Sydney TV centre
Stats September 2024
Subscribers via iQ4 and iQ5 set-tops 1.42 million
Subscribers via Internet Streaming packages Foxtel Now (131,000), Kayo Sports (1.6 million), and Binge (1.6 million)
2. Optus In 2005 Optus switched to digital using Foxtel iQ set-tops. With the NBN ca 2014 Optus support ceased. From 2012 - 2022 Optus marketed Fetch TV.
Fetch TV launched its streaming service in 2010 using iiNet as its ISP. Based in Sydney, owner Astro Malaysia, Optus provided customers initially with a Gen 2 Linux-based set-top box (HDMI & RCA cables) and from 2016 a Fetch Mighty (m616T) Gen 3 Android-based set-top box (HDMI only) also Fetch Mini. It rivalled Foxtel Now and until 2022 Telstra. Since Aug 2nd 2022 Fetch is majority owned by Telstra, a customer base in 2025 estimated at about 715,000.
Click here for its TV guide.
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 to offset possible seconds of delay from "buffering" issues, and support for FF and Rewind through a playlist of small images.
Click here for the various standards, the two major protocols being 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 RTMP used with the YouTube launch in 2005. Other protocols are Microsoft Smooth Streaming developed for the IE browser, and WebRTC used in Google Meet (and recently in Zoom and WhatsApp).
Major Players in Australia in 2025 (estimates in 2024 from Telsyte)
Australian companies Stan launched Jan 2015 with 2.6 million subscribers and Binge (Foxtel) with 1.6 million.
US
Netflix launched Mar 2015 with 6.2 million subscribers.
Amazon Prime launched Jun 2018, with 4.8 million.
Disney+ (over Google) launched Nov 2019, with 3.1 million.
Paramount+ launched Aug 2021, with 1.8 million.
and Warner's HBO-Max launched Mar 2025.

Compatibility
Set-top: Telstra TV (2015 - 2022). Telstra TV was based on Roku OS, the Netflix streaming device built in 2007. On 31 Oct 2024 Telstra TV migrated its users to Fetch TV.
Smart TVs: including LG WebOS, Samsung Tizen, & Sony Google TV, plus the following three major devices below Apple TV set-tops, Amazon Fire TV set-tops, Google TV Streamer
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. TvOS
Apple TV app launched in 2016 on iPhones and iPads, in 2019 the Mac, in 2024 Windows
Apple TV+ video service launched in 2019

4. Amazon Fire TV Set-Top Box launched in 2014. FireOS
5. Google TV Streamer since 2024, replacing Chromecast dongles (2013-2024), and the earlier Google TV (2010-2014).

Foxtel & Optus launch separate 20 channel and FTA cable services in Sep 1995 using analog ("raster lines") at 6MHz per channel. Analog signal switched off in 2007.
1. Foxtel	In March 2004 Foxtel launched 130 digital ("pixels") channels, including 27 "near video-on-demand" channels at $4.76 per show. In 2005, Foxtel released an iQ digital recorder (plugged into its wall plate) with iQ2 enabled for Ethernet in 2010 2012 Merges with Austar (satellite) subscribers now 2.2 million 2013 Foxtel Play streaming launched 2015 Now an ISP for NBN Internet via satellite (and cable) 2017 Foxtel Now set-top box based on Google Android 2019 Kayo Sports launched via Amazon Web Services AWS, Binge in 2020 October 2023 switched off cable network after 28 years of operation, 210MHz spectrum to NBN March 2024 Hubbl (from Comcast) launched April 2025 New Owner, UK-based DAZN Click here for Sydney TV centre Stats September 2024 Subscribers via iQ4 and iQ5 set-tops 1.42 million Subscribers via Internet Streaming packages Foxtel Now (131,000), Kayo Sports (1.6 million), and Binge (1.6 million)
2. Optus	In 2005 Optus switched to digital using Foxtel iQ set-tops. With the NBN ca 2014 Optus support ceased. From 2012 - 2022 Optus marketed Fetch TV. Fetch TV launched its streaming service in 2010 using iiNet as its ISP. Based in Sydney, owner Astro Malaysia, Optus provided customers initially with a Gen 2 Linux-based set-top box (HDMI & RCA cables) and from 2016 a Fetch Mighty (m616T) Gen 3 Android-based set-top box (HDMI only) also Fetch Mini. It rivalled Foxtel Now and until 2022 Telstra. Since Aug 2nd 2022 Fetch is majority owned by Telstra, a customer base in 2025 estimated at about 715,000. Click here for its TV guide.
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 to offset possible seconds of delay from "buffering" issues, and support for FF and Rewind through a playlist of small images. Click here for the various standards, the two major protocols being 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 RTMP used with the YouTube launch in 2005. Other protocols are Microsoft Smooth Streaming developed for the IE browser, and WebRTC used in Google Meet (and recently in Zoom and WhatsApp). Major Players in Australia in 2025 (estimates in 2024 from Telsyte) Australian companies Stan launched Jan 2015 with 2.6 million subscribers and Binge (Foxtel) with 1.6 million. US Netflix launched Mar 2015 with 6.2 million subscribers. Amazon Prime launched Jun 2018, with 4.8 million. Disney+ (over Google) launched Nov 2019, with 3.1 million. Paramount+ launched Aug 2021, with 1.8 million. and Warner's HBO-Max launched Mar 2025. Compatibility Set-top: Telstra TV (2015 - 2022). Telstra TV was based on Roku OS, the Netflix streaming device built in 2007. On 31 Oct 2024 Telstra TV migrated its users to Fetch TV. Smart TVs: including LG WebOS, Samsung Tizen, & Sony Google TV, plus the following three major devices below Apple TV set-tops, Amazon Fire TV set-tops, Google TV Streamer 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. TvOS Apple TV app launched in 2016 on iPhones and iPads, in 2019 the Mac, in 2024 Windows Apple TV+ video service launched in 2019
4. Amazon Fire TV	Set-Top Box launched in 2014. FireOS
5. Google TV	Streamer since 2024, replacing Chromecast dongles (2013-2024), and the earlier Google TV (2010-2014).

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 in a nation-wide lockdown from late March until late May and Victoria a second, longer, lockdown soon after.

17.3 million Australians (82.1%) watched a subscription TV service in an average four weeks.

All major subscription TV services were big winners during 2020 with large increases in viewers for Netflix, Foxtel, Stan, Disney+ and Amazon Prime.

Netflix is by far Australia’s most watched subscription television service, with 14 million viewers in an average four weeks.

Foxtel experienced faster growth, reporting 7.7 million viewers of either Foxtel, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports or Binge in an average four weeks. Also growing viewership strongly during 2020 have been third-placed Stan which grew to 4.9 million viewers, Amazon Prime which went to 3.3 million viewers and newcomer Disney+ which now has 2.8 million viewers after being launched in late 2019.

This new data comes from Roy Morgan Single Source, derived from in-depth interviews with around 50,000 Australians.

** End of File

Go Top