Foxtel has long been at the forefront of the Australian streaming market, although it may have lost ground to on-demand streaming services such as Netflix and Stan over the years. Its own streaming service – Foxtel Now – looked to stem the tide, offering households a means to watch both movies and sports all in the once place, and at a cheaper price than traditional Foxtel plans, although it does also come with a few additional requirements to actually watching your favourite show or sport.
To allow you to settle in for the evening, Foxtel also offers the Foxtel Now Box, but what exactly is it, and how does it work? Find out all you need to know about the Foxtel Now Box in this Canstar Blue guide.
What does the Foxtel Now Box do?
The main purpose of the Foxtel Now Box is to stream Foxtel Now to your TV, but it does much more than that. Not only will you have access to the Foxtel Now app, but the Foxtel Now Box also works as a general TV set top box, much like Fetch TV, with access to free-to-air channels and catch-up TV apps.
In addition to free-to-air TV and catch-up apps, including ABC iView, you’ll also have access to YouTube, the Google Play store, Spotify and Stan, although, of course, you’ll need your own subscription to some of these services in order to access the content. It also comes with Chromecast built-in, so the Foxtel Now Box could be a good option if you’re looking to stream more content to your TV.
How much does the Foxtel Now Box cost?
The Foxtel Now Box costs upwards of $39.99 depending on the retailer, but there are no setup fees as installing the device yourself is easy — all you need is an internet connection.
Where can you buy the Foxtel Now Box?
You can buy the Foxtel Now Box outright through retailers Kogan and Dick Smith, although you may be able to get it (at an additional one-off cost) if you sign up to a Foxtel Now plan, although it’s best to contact Foxtel if you’re looking to sign up to a plan.
Do you need to be a Foxtel customer to buy a Foxtel Now Box?
Technically anyone can buy a Foxtel Now Box, however you will need a Foxtel Now subscription to access content. Without a Foxtel Now subscription, you can only really use the box for free-to-air channels, and to access apps that don’t require a paid subscription. Ultimately, the main purpose of the Box is to access Foxtel Now, so you can stream popular Foxtel-exclusive content, although there’s nothing stopping you from purchasing the Box individually.
Can you stream Foxtel Now without the Foxtel Now Box?
There are several different ways to stream Foxtel Now to your TV without the Foxtel Now Box, including:
- Smart TVs: Many of the newer smart TVs – including Sony, Samsung, Hisense and LG – are able to stream Foxtel content. Simply download the Foxtel Now app to your TV (smart Sony TVs prior to 2015 will list the app as Foxtel Play).
- Chromecast or AirPlay: Stream Foxtel Now from your portable device through Google Chromecast, or Apple TV via AirPlay
- NVIDIA Shield TV: Stream Foxtel Now straight from your Shield TV or Shield TV Pro.
- Telstra TV: If you’re a Telstra customer and have a Telstra TV box already set up, you can download the Foxtel Now app to your Telstra TV, login and start streaming. In addition, all new Telstra TV customers are offered one month of Foxtel Now for free.
- Sony PlayStation 3, 4 and 4Pro: When you’re signed in to the PlayStation network, go to the TV & Video section, select the Foxtel Now icon, download to your Play Station, log in and start watching.
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What’s the difference between a Foxtel Now Box and Foxtel iQ?
Foxtel has three generations of the Foxtel iQ Box: iQ3, iQ4 and iQ5. These are what you’ll need in order to access ‘pay TV’ Foxtel, which is the traditional form of Foxtel. To get Foxtel to your home, a technician will need to come to your address to install your new iQ box. Once it’s connected, you can access the channels you’ve subscribed to, along with a range of other functions such as recording live TV, series linking and more. You might have to pay for installation and activation costs, or these might be waived if you sign up for 24 months.
Rather than connecting to cable or satellite, the Foxtel Now Box relies on an internet connection, whether you plug directly into the modem with an ethernet cable or simply use WiFi to connect the device. The Foxtel Now Box, while it does let you watch live free-to-air TV, is primarily for streaming content.
Foxtel Now Box, Telstra TV & Fetch TV Compared
All three of these services operate as set top boxes, and while all three do allow you to watch live free-to-air TV, there are quite a few differences when it comes to functionality.
The Foxtel Now Box is primarily for streaming Foxtel Now, but you will also have access to other streaming apps including Stan and Spotify, plus free-to-air catch-up apps. Plus, you can pause and rewind live TV and access a range of other features. It’s also portable, so you can take your Foxtel Now Box with you on holidays as long as you have an internet connection.
Telstra TV is exclusive to Telstra broadband customers, and not only can you watch live free-to-air TV, you can also stop and rewind live TV. You’ll have access to a large range of apps including Foxtel Now, Telstra TV Box Office, Netflix, Stan, ABC iView, SBS On Demand, Kayo, NRL, AFL, YouTube, and more. Of course, you’ll need to pay for subscriptions to apps like Foxtel Now, Kayo, Netflix and Stan. New customers can choose to pay $216 outright for Telstra TV, or $9 a month for 24 months.
There are two Fetch TV boxes available: the Mini Box at $169 and the Mighty Box at $449. Fetch TV is similar to Telstra TV, in that it lets you watch, pause and rewind live TV; however, if you have the Mighty Box, you can also record live TV. You’ll also have access to apps including free-to-air catch up apps, YouTube, Netflix, and Stan. Fetch TV can also be bundled with an internet plan from a range of telcos, including Optus, iiNet and Internode. However, it’s worth noting that currently you can’t access the Foxtel Now app through Fetch TV.
Should I get the Foxtel Now Box?
Whether a Foxtel Now Box is right for you really depends on what you want from a set top box. If you have a Foxtel Now subscription and want to watch it on your TV rather than your phone, tablet or computer, the Foxtel Now Box could be the solution for you.
However, before you jump in, it could be worth looking at the other options for streaming Foxtel Now to your TV. For example, if you already own a PlayStation 4 or if you have a smart TV, you might already have access to the Foxtel Now app — all you’ll need to do is download it. If you’re already a Telstra customer, or considered signing up to Telstra for your broadband, you might find that Telstra TV could be a good option for you, especially as it does have access to the Foxtel Now app. Ultimately whether you need a Foxtel Now Box is up to you, with plenty of ways to stream Foxtel Now available without one, although you may find it a good way to get Foxtel Now content as well as traditional free-to-air channels if you don’t already have a set top box.
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