Internode offers FetchTV to all customers

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 11 May 2011 16:22

Your IT - Entertainment

Internode has formally launched its version of the FetchTV IPTV service offering video-on-demand, time-shifted television viewing and a range of TV channels. The launch coincides with a redesign of the FetchTV user interface

Internode managing director Simon Hackett said: "Our six-month trial identified how customers use this sort of service, so we've optimised our national network and our service to ensure that FetchTV delivers a great customer experience'¦We expect demand to grow strongly as people recognise just how great it is."

Internode joins iiNet (and its Westnet arm) as the second ISP in Australia to offer the full FetchTV service. Optus announced this week plans to launch the service later this year along with a version for smartphones and tablets. Adam Internet is due to launch soon and FetchTV says "further ISP partnership announcements are'¦imminent."

FetchTV CEO Scott Lorson said the new interface was "a major step forward. It includes a simple and clear navigation system that 'floats' above the channel you are watching. It features an on-screen carousel offering content suggestions directly from the front page, so you are only one click away from watching a great movie or TV show."

Internode announced last August that it would offer the FetchTV service initially to a select group customers using its Extreme or NakedExtreme ADSL2+ services. It kicked off the trial in October at a reduced price but with a limited range of supported ADSL modems.

Like iiNet Internode has launched a 'lite' version for customers on slow DSL lines or on non-Internode DSLAMs. This includes the three-tuner digital free-to-air PVR with electronic program guide and unmetered access to a large range of current release video-on-demand movies from all the major studios on a pay-per-view basis.

Internode customers with a fast connection (above 4.5Mbps) via an Internode-direct DSLAM port can upgrade to the FetchTV Full service, which adds more than 20 new TV channels in the base offering, a selection of 30 free 'library' (ie old) movie titles each month and a variety of free TV show episodes from major studios. FetchTV Full subscribers can also purchase extra channel package subscriptions directly from their "My Internode" toolbox on the Internode website.

The FetchTV Full service costs $29.95 per month (with free setup) and FetchTV Lite $14.95 per month (with free setup) on 24 month contracts, including supply and rental of the FetchTV set top box. If customers instead elect to purchase the set top box up front for $399, the price of FetchTV Lite reduces to $5.95 per month without a contract and the full service to $19.95 per month.

Internode has certified its FRITZ!Box 7390 and 7270 routers and its Billion 7800 series routers for use with the service but also provides sample IPTV configuration guides for a range of other routers including the Billion 740x and 730x, OpenNetworks and the NetComm NB64 series.