Telstra TV launches in Australia


Details

Rebecca Hawkes

| 28 October 2015





Australian telecommunications company Telstra has launched its A$109 Telstra TV video streaming device to replace its discontinued T-Box personal video recorder.


Among the launch applications are subscription video-on-demand (VOD) services from Netflix and Presto along with Bigpond Movies, and free-to-air catch up TV services. SVOD service Stan will be added, along with ABC iView and Tenplay later this year.

Foxtel Play is not available, despite Telstra being co-owner of the pay-TV platform with News Corp. However, two of Australia's biggest sporting leagues, the NRL and AFL, will reportedly be available on Telstra TV before Christmas.

"Telstra TV is the simple way to stream your favourite television on demand and puts Telstra customers in control of what they watch, giving them even greater value entertainment choices in the home. The powerful combination of Telstra's world-class networks, quality content and ease of use gives our customers an entertainment experience that is truly world class," said Joe Pollard, chief marketing officer and group executive media, Telstra.

Based on a Roku 2 streaming device, Telstra TV has an HDMI port to connect to a television set, plus built-in Ethernet and Wi-Fi. The Roku Media Player app plays files from a USB stick or streams them from a DLNA server running on a computer.

Pre-installed online video apps on Telstra TV include YouTube, TuneIn, Vimeo, Red Bull TV, GoPro and Crunchyroll. A free three-month trial of the Foxtel/Seven joint venture Presto is also being offered as part of the Telstra TV launch.

"Telstra TV is a fantastic device and we're thrilled that they have selected Presto as a launch partner as it recognises our ability to bring their customers an unrivalled selection of quality movies and TV entertainment. Telstra TV helps put Telstra customers in control of what they want to stream from Presto," said Shaun James, CEO, Presto.

The fourth-generation Apple TV also launches in Australia this week, which unlike Telstra TV has the added benefits of connection to an app store and universal search across supported SVOD services.