Foxtel may have long been the dominant force in pay TV in Australia, but the company saw the potential for internet streaming entertainment way back in 2013. Formerly known as Foxtel Play, Foxtel Now is the pay TV of the digital age. It offers subscriptions to more than 70 live television channels and thousands of titles on demand.
The online service allows users to subscribe to various channel packages based on their interests. Unlike BINGE, which offers access to the entire content library for a flat fee, what you can watch on Foxtel Now depends on what you're willing to pay for.
Customise your subscription and opt for TV shows (including HBO content), movies, live sport and more. You can pay on a monthly basis so you can cancel your subscription anytime.
10-day free trial of Foxtel Now
To get Foxtel Now, you need to subscribe to the basic Essentials pack for a month. After that, you can add other packs to your subscription. Each add-on pack incurs an additional monthly fee.
With all packs added on, Foxtel Now can cost up to a month.
Below is a full comparison of Foxtel Now plans and packages. Promotions are often running, so you might score a discount, but sometimes these will require a 12-month commitment.
Every channel pack expands your entertainment horizons even further. The Essentials pack, for instance, gives you access to Foxtel originals, HBO content, news and reality TV. You can watch popular shows like Succession, The Last of Us, Colin from Accounts, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon and The Twelve.
The Sport channel pack offers 12 dedicated sports channels and enables subscribers to watch every game of the AFL, NRL and Super Netball, plus F1, Supercars, MotoGP and more. Meanwhile, the Movies pack grants you access to over 1,000 movies on demand and Drama Extra adds 7 more drama-heavy channels to your subscription. The Ultimate Bundle delivers everything mentioned above, as well as Kids and Docos content.
Technically there's a difference. Foxtel Now is its own standalone streaming service and Foxtel GO is a free add-on service you get for being a Foxtel iQ subscriber.
However, in 2023 they are exactly the same. In fact if you tried to download the Foxtel Now app on the App Store or Google Play Store you'll actually download the Foxtel GO app.
You can register up to 5 devices on a single Foxtel Now account. You can then watch content on any 2 of those devices at the same time. To stream on some devices, you need to use the Foxtel GO app, but the service is the same either way. Similarly, PS3 is only compatible with the older Foxtel Play app.
Check out the complete device list below:
You can also use Google Nest to control Foxtel Now. We have instructions on how to set up Foxtel Now on your device of choice.
Foxtel Now offers quality programming (hello HBO shows), but you have to pay a lot for it. Following the model of its pay TV parent, you sign up for different packs to watch certain things. If you want to watch everything on Foxtel Now, the cost is an eye-watering $104 a month, which in the era of monthly streaming packages available in the realm of $10–$15 doesn't compare price-wise, no matter how good the TV shows featured on it are.
The user interface is fine to use, but like most streaming services, it is hard to discover content, especially when teasers and previews are shown alongside actual shows and movies. There is the attraction of live TV, but outside of something like news or sport, live programming isn't that important unless you want to avoid spoilers. Device capability is an issue, especially when there are still devices that use a Foxtel Play app, which is confusing when it changed its name from that back in 2017.
If you prefer an a la carte option you could get Foxtel Now, but when there are cheaper, all-you-can-eat options available, you'd be better off with the latter.
Mark Neilsen
Streaming writer at Finder
Once the undisputed champ of Australia's pay TV scene, the arrival of streaming has threatened Foxtel's relevancy. Especially given the price of Foxtel Now is extremely hard to justify in 2023. But it still does have a use case.
If you want one app to rule them all, then Foxtel Now can give you a lot of the world's best TV, movies, sport, docos, news and kids' programming in one place. It's true some content has been corralled into rival platforms like Disney Plus and Paramount Plus, but there's still plenty of quality on offer.
What I enjoy most is the linear channels. Yes, you can watch content on demand, but being able to channel surf takes away the endless scroll discovery issue of other apps. I also like the dedicated Movie Premiere channel, which points you straight to the latest flicks rather than hiding them among legacy content.
Do these joys justify the price? Probably not. It's still only HD at best, and the audio quality is very poor. And I encounter more bugs with the Foxtel apps than any other. If nothing else, the lack of investment in improving the app is worrying.
Chris Stead
Finder innovations editor
Depending on channel packs, Foxtel Now comes with a generous library of live and on-demand content, including sport. Here's how it stacks up against Paramount Plus, Netflix, BINGE and Kayo Sports.
Compare even more streaming services using our table below.
Hi, I am new to Foxtel Now and have noticed that once I have viewed a show, it is no longer available to watch again. Is this correct?
Hi Keith,
Thanks for your message and for contacting finder.
Sorry to hear that you can’t replay a show on Foxtel. We don’t have any knowledge why this is happening to your Foxtel Now. It would be a good idea to contact Foxtel now and inform them of the error you’re getting.
Sorry I couldn’t be of service to you at this time. Feel free to message us should you have further questions.
Cheers,
Nikki
Please can you tell me if it possible to watch the WNBL from New Zealand?
Hi WNBL,
Thank you for leaving a question.
If you are currently subscribed to Foxtel, you may need to add the sports package on top of the base content for you to be able to get Fox Sports who is currently airing WNBL games for an additional $39.00. You also get these channels included in this package.
Fox Sports 1, Fox League, Fox Sports 3, Fox Footy Play, Fox Sports 5, Fox Sports 6, Fox Sports More+, BeIn Sports 1, BeIn Sports 2, BeIn Sports 3, ESPN, ESPN 2, EuroSport
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
are you able to access the complete series of Fox8 Shows through Foxtel Now or just the current episodes?
Hi Daryl,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
You can also watch current Fox shows through Foxtel Now. We have an updated list of new and upcoming shows in Foxtel Now.
Cheers,
Joel
Hey
I am thinking of moving At the moment I don’t have Foxtel, and the unit I am moving to is in a Retirement village with no Internet connection. Would it be possible to receive the Internet through Foxtel? I would be lost without my Internet and I desperately want to move to the new property I am not very tech savvy Would you be able to help please Thank you Gwynn Sheather
Hi Gwynn,
Thanks for your message and for visiting Finder.
Your point of reference would be Finder’s NBN tracker. Your address in the NBN tracker will be marked with “Ready for Service”, “Build Commenced”, “Remediation”, “3 Year Plan”, “Wireless Tower” or “none”. We have a page for a list of NBN plans that will help you compare your options. You can use our comparison table and search filters to help narrow down your options. Once you have chosen a particular plan, you may then click on the “Go to site” button and you will be redirected to the provider’s website where you can proceed with your application or get in touch with their representatives for further assistance.
Hope this helps! Feel free to message us anytime should you have further questions.
Cheers,
Nikki
I have Austar /Foxtel using Satellite connection. Do I still have to have a landline telephone for it still to work as I am thinking of cancelling the landline. The box is IQ3
Hi Denise,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
All you need to set up your Foxtel IQ3 are Foxtel Cable(new customers only), HDMI Cable and Ethernet Cable (optional).
If you want to cancel your homephone line then you can do so as it won’t affect your Foxtel/Austar service.
I hope this helps.
Have a great day!
Cheers,
Jeni