History

1995

The Galaxy subscription TV service offers 8 channels via microwave & satellite.

1995

AUSTAR, Optus Vision & FOXTEL launch satellite & cable STV services.

1996

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that the take up rate of subscription television had reached 5%.

1997

ASTRA is formed as the peak industry body representing the STV and radio industry in Australia.

1997

The regulatory restriction banning paid advertising and sponsorship on STV is lifted.

1998

Australian Bureau of Statistics reports 11% of Australian households have taken up subscription television services.

1998

Due to excessive financial burdens the Galaxy subscription service is declared insolvent.

1999

Optus Vision satellite is launched and is operating in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

1999

AUSTAR satellite is launched and is available in regional areas & Hobart.

1999

Mandatory local content expenditure quota of 10% per financial year imposed on subscription adult & children’s drama channel providers.

1999

FOXTEL satellite launched and established in the 5 major capital cities & the Gold Coast.

1999

Anti-hoarding provisions introduced in BSA, following several examples of hoarding sporting content by free to airs.

2000

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a STV household take up rate of 17%.

2000

Productivity Commission recommends a new & shorter anti-siphoning list & for responsibility to be transferred from the Minister to the ABA.

2001

Automatic delisting of sporting events under the anti-siphoning scheme extends from 1 to 6 weeks.

2002

ACCC approves a content sharing arrangement between Optus and FOXTEL.

2002

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a STV household take up rate of 21%.

2003

Optus successfully launches the new C1 satellite.

2003

AUSTAR migrates the satellite television signal to the C1 satellite and extended coverage to 200,000 new homes.

2004

FOXTEL digital & AUSTAR digital launch, increasing channel offering to 130 channels.

2005

FOXTEL announces one million subscribers.

2005

FOXTEL iQ was launched, enabling Australian subscribers to record around 60 hrs of programming & simultaneously watch 1 channel while recording another.

2005

FOXTEL digital on Optus is made available to Australian consumers.

2005

The automatic delisting of sporting events under the anti-siphoning scheme extends from 6 to 12 weeks.

2006

Mobile by FOXTEL launches, offering subscribers a wide range of FOXTEL channels over their Telstra mobile devices.

2007

Government introduces the ‘use it or lose it’ scheme applying to events on the anti-siphoning list. To date this scheme has not been implemented.

2007

FOXTEL launches its ON DEMAND service providing iQ subscribers with the ability to watch a selection of FOXTEL’s best programming instantly.

2007

FOXTEL had completed the migration of customers to the FOXTEL Digital platform in a remarkable 3 year period.

2008

AUSTAR has 710,000 regional and rural residential and commercial subscribers.

2008

FOXTEL launches 10 new channels including A-PAC - Australia’s first public affairs channel.

2008

AUSTAR launches the MyStar PVR in Feb 2008 giving customers the ability to access local free to air digital channels as well as those offered on digital.

2008

FOXTEL HD launches with 5 HD channels & a new HD capable iQ.

2009

FOXTEL, AUSTAR and OPTUS report 2.3 million subscribers. Auspoll research reports that STV had achieved 33% household penetration.

2009

The Productivity Commission releases a report that once again highlights the anti-competitive nature of the anti-siphoning provisions, calling on the Government to substantially reduce the anti-siphoning list.

2009

FOXTEL launches Next Generation service, with 30 additional channels, 12 new channel brands, 10 new HD channels, rich new interactive features & FOXTEL Download - free from 38 channels

2009

AUSTAR launches Next Generation service with 15 new SD channels, 8 new time shift channels and 13 HD channels.

2009

The Government releases a discussion paper: Sport on Television: a review of the anti-siphoning scheme in the contemporary digital environment.

2009

30 Mobile FOXTEL channels now available on the iPhone

2010

FOXTEL offers unprecedented coverage of the Winter Olympics: 4 HD and 4 SD dedicated interactive channels provide 24hr coverage of all events, totalling over 1600 hours.

2010

OzTAM incorporates Time Shift Viewing into ratings data for the first time, accounting for viewing on PVRs which are now in 45% of STV homes.

2010

FOXTEL broadcasts unprecedented coverage of the Delhi 2010 XIX Commonwealth Games over 6 HD/SD channels with 500 hours of live events and over 1700 hours of coverage.

2010

The Government announces range of reforms to the anti-siphoning list to go into effect 2011-2015.

2010

ASTRA announces STV’s 2009 investment into Australian content: $541.4million

2010

FOXTEL launches 30 channels on XBOX360

2010

FOXTEL launches OnDemand Service with choice of 5000 titles

2011

FOXTEL, AUSTAR, Telstra and FOX SPORTS negotiate groundbreaking AFL coverage deal to bring all games to subscribers in 2012.

FOXTEL on Telstra T-Box broadband service launches

FOXTEL announces agreement with AUSTAR and Liberty Global to acquire AUSTAR, pending necessary approvals

2012

New Channels launch: SoHo, A&E, FOX FOOTY and FX

Unprecedented Olympic coverage across 8 HD channels and available to view on tablets

Foxtel and Austar merge to create a national subscription television service

Foxtel Go launches 21 live channels available to view on tablets