Fetch TV Review & Guide
Streaming and watching our favourite shows and movies has drastically changed over the past few years, with no shortage of streaming services available to sign up to. But while being spoilt for choice is never anything to complain about, it also means that finding the best one to choose can be challenge, particularly when you add in options that become a hub for other platforms. One of these options is Fetch, the streaming video on-demand (SVOD) service that acts as a central hub for other platforms. Find out all you need to know about Fetch TV in this Canstar Blue guide, and whether it’s worth buying.
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What is Fetch TV?
Fetch TV is an Australian pay TV service which combines free-to-air TV, streaming services and other entertainment platforms into a central hub, allowing you to watch movies and shows from multiple sources. Available as a standalone service or as part of select internet providers, Fetch TV works by purchasing ‘Packs’ of entertainment – which allow you access to select channels and services – as well as purchasing or renting individual movie and TV titles.
Fetch TV Packs
Fetch TV offers a number of Packs for users to purchase, each giving access to select channels and services. Fetch TV Packs include:
- Kids: Priced at $6 per month, the Kids Pack includes children’s entertainment channels such as Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. BBC Kids and Baby TV.
- Knowledge: Priced at $6 per month, the Knowledge Pack includes news, hobby and documentary channels such as Discovery, National Geographic, CNBC, Bloomberg and Home & Garden TV.
- Variety: Priced at $6 per month, the Variety Pack includes entertainment channels such as MTV Classic, Universal TV, BBC UKTV and Oxygen.
- Vibe: Priced at $6 per month, the Vibe Pack includes sports and entertainment channels such as ESPN, E!, Comedy Central and MTV.
- Ultimate: Priced at $20 per month, the Ultimate Pack combines all channels from the Kids, Knowledge, Variety and Vibe Packs.
In addition to the Packs, Fetch TV offers a number of Special Interest Channels for you to optionally purchase, such as Optus Sport, Horse & Country, Hillsong and UFC pay-per-view. Each come at an additional cost and will require you to sign up to the other service, but allows you to view it through Fetch TV.
Fetch TV also offers free channels for you to enjoy, which are available to watch via the TV Guide section of Fetch TV, as well as free-to-air channels such as Channel 7, ABC and SBS. And if you’re looking to watch a particular movie or TV show, you can search from the 9,500 titles available on Fetch TV, with the ability to purchase and rent your title of choice.
How to watch Fetch TV
To watch Fetch TV, the first thing you’ll have to do is go to the Fetch TV website and set up an account, where you’ll then be sent an activation code which will help you finalise your set-up. Once you’ve created an account, connect the Fetch Box to your TV with a HDMI cable, as well as plugging in the power cable and free-to-air antenna cable. Connect the Box to your internet connection, and then turn on your TV and select the HDMI channel that you’ve plugged the box into, and follow the set-up prompts. This includes entering the activation code that you were sent after you’ve set up your online account.
Once this has been entered, and you set up any remote, audio and parental settings, your Fetch TV Box will run a channel scan and diagnostics test to ensure everything is working as it should be. From here, you’ll be able to access Fetch via the app on your TV, allowing you to watch the range of channels and entertainment.
- If you’re having issues watching or setting up your Fetch TV Box, Fetch has a number of ‘How-To’ guides on its website.
Internet and Fetch TV Bundles
Fetch TV is available as an optional add-on from a number of internet providers, including iiNet, Westnet, iPrimus, Internode and Aussie Broadband. Check out our guide on internet plans with Fetch bundles to get the full cost and features breakdown.
Fetch TV Box
There are three Fetch TV Boxes available, including the Mini, Mini 4K and Mighty, each of which have different features and price points, but all are essential to watching Fetch TV. Each can either be purchased from select electronic retailers, or come as part of the plan when you sign up through your internet provider. Below is a comparison of the Fetch TV Box range.
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| Box | Price (RRP) | Pause & Rewind Live TV | Record TV | 4K Movies | Parental Control | App Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | $169 | Y | N | N | Y | Y |
| Mini 4K | $199 | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Mighty | $449 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Source: Fetch TV. Accurate as of April, 2022.
The main difference between the models, apart from the price, is the Mighty’s ability to record TV. The Mighty can record via the app, record up to six shows at once, or record a whole series if you’re really invested, whereas the Mini and Mini 4K model has no recording capability. And with plenty of binge-worthy shows about, the ability to record is worth its weight in gold, but whether it outweighs the upfront price tag will be ultimately down to how much you actually watch TV, and how often you have to record shows.
The other difference between the models is the ability to watch 4K movies, with only the entry-level Mini without this capability. While not completely necessary to enjoy your movie, if you have a larger TV screen, or simply want to enjoy your movies in high quality, it may be worth spending extra on.
Fetch TV Costs
Fetch TV has a number of costs involved, including purchasing the Box, and signing up to channel Packs. The Fetch TV Boxes range in price between $169 and $449, while the base channel Packs cost between $6 and $20 per month, with additional Special Interest Packs available for purchase. You can also rent or purchase titles, although the final costs for these are dependent on each title, and how recently they were released.
As a result, how much Fetch TV will cost will be entirely dependent on what you want to watch, and which Box you purchase. Comparatively though, both Fetch TV’s upfront and monthly costs are higher than most other streaming services, although for some, the features may outweigh the cost.
Fetch TV App
Known as the Fetch Mobi App, the free app allows you to sign into your Fetch TV account and watch content, use your smartphone as a remote control and set recordings (if you have a Mighty Box). Three devices can be registered to a Fetch TV account, with up to two apps able to be used at the same time.
Sign up to Disney+ Australia
There are two plan options to choose from – a monthly subscription, or prepay for a year. Both plans include the same features, with unlimited downloads and the ability to stream on up to four screens at the same time. This table includes links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month or year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $13.99 over one month |
4 | $13.99 |
Get Deal |
|
min. cost $139.99 over one year |
4 | $139.99 |
Get Deal |
 |
^^View important information | |||
Is Fetch worth the money?
Fetch is a surprisingly welcome and refreshing change of pace in the streaming world. While it seems many people moved away from traditional pay TV outlets in favour of streaming services, there’s still a market for easy-access entertainment and sports packages. Add in the simplicity of being able to tick a box with your internet provider and get Fetch TV for a few dollars extra a month, movie night has never been easier to line up.
However, Fetch TV isn’t the cheapest option on the market, particularly if you’re opting for the Mighty Box, which can set you back over $400, in addition to extra costs if you want to rent or download a particular movie. The channel Packs may be more competitive in price, but do limit what you can watch, meaning the bill can be a tough pill to swallow.
At the end of the day, whether Fetch TV is worth buying will ultimately come down to your circumstances and preferences when it comes to entertainment. If you’re looking for a central hub that gives you access to both free-to-air and streaming platforms, then Fetch may be well worth exploring. But if you’re looking for a simple or affordable streaming platform, it may not fit the bill. If you’re looking to see what else is out there, check out our ratings on paid TV and streaming platforms for some movie night inspiration.
About the author of this page
This page was written and is regularly updated by Canstar Blue’s Telco Editor, Tara Donnelly. Having spent years writing for and editing telco comparison websites, she’s an expert in all things phone & internet, including phone plans and how to find the best deal for your family. She loves to highlight the next best phone deals, while also flagging the things you need to be aware of. Tara also acts as a spokesperson for Canstar Blue.