Cable TV and Pay TV in Australia FAQ
Section 1: Introduction
1.1 What's new in this edition?
Changes to channels and services:
- Channel [V] Australia replaced Red Music Television on
Galaxy, Austar, East Coast Television and Foxtel.
- Included Television Oceania again, as this service
appears to be still available via cable to some hotels in
Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns
- Added information about The Cairns Channel
- Added information about Telstra LaserCast. This is
the Telstra cable TV service available to a limited
number of hotels that wa mentionned in Section 2.1.
- Galaxy has changed its enquiries number to 1300 555 111.
They also offer a discount installation fee of $49.95 for
MDS installation in homes where Foxtel is available (may
also apply for Optus Vision). Additional decoder now
costs $29.95.
- Updated listing of galaxy radio channels.
- TNT & Cartoon Network now available on Galaxy and
Austar.
- thecomedychannel now available on Austar and East Coast
Television
- Lifestyle Channel is now available on Austar and East
Coast Television
- National Geographic Channel and Lifestyle Channel is now
available on Foxtel (commenced September 1 1997).
- Foxtel has lifted its basic monthly fee to $42.95.
- Updated information about Foxtel charges.
- Ovation, an arts and entertainment channel, is now
available on Optus Vision.
- Odyssey, a documentaries channel, is now available on
Optus Vision (commenced July 1 1997).
- Antenna, a Greek Language channel, is now available on
Optus Vision.
- Nightmoves is now available on Foxtel and Austar for
$19.95 per month.
- CNBC Asia and Asia Business News have merged into the one
channel - CNBC Asia business News, since February 1998.
- Foxtel can now be viewed at Myer's Melbourne City store.
- Optus Vision has renamed its premium movie channels. The
Movie Network has been renamed Movie One. The Movie
Network 2 has been rernamed Movie Extra, and features
made for TV movies and mini-series, as well as reruns of
movies from Movie One.
- World Movies commenced May 1 1998 on Optus Vision for
$6.95 per month, but free until June 1.
- WBTV - The Warner Channel will not be coming to
Australia, nor to Optus Vision.
- Optus Vision has repackaged its channels under new
packages and reduced its prices. Packages are now Gateway
($9.95 per month), First Choice ($19.95 per month), Super
Sport ($29.95 per month), Movie Magic ($29.95 per month),
Deluxe ($39.95 per month) and Super Deluxe ($49.95 per
month).
- Optus Vision is transmitting 16 channels via satellite as
part of a trial. It intends to offer satellite channels
in the near future.
- Galaxy has stopped transmission since it went into
receivership on May 20 1998. Austar is now transmitting
its channels via satellite instead of using Galaxy's
channels. Foxtel has taken over Galaxy's satellite
subscribers, while Galaxy's MDS service has been off the
air since May 20. Foxtel currently uses the Austar
signal, but intends to switch to another satellite later
this year.
The signal is currently unscrambled. Scrambling is
expected to begin again some time this month.
- Nightmoves is not available via satellite due to the loss
of scrambling, caused by Galaxy's liquidation.
- Sports Australia, Sports Austarlia 2 and Sports AFL will
cease transmission in the near future. They will be
replaced by new sports channels on Optus Vision.
- Three new sports channels are expected to begin on Optus
Vision: a sports channel, a weekend sports channel and a
special events channel.
- TeleItalia and New World Television have ceased
transmission. There is rumour that TeleItalia will be
available on Foxtel in the future.
- NBC Asia has gone off the air in Asia, replaced by
National Geographic Channel.
- CTN (Zhong Tian Channel) is no longer available on
Optus Vision.
- TVB-J, a new Chinese channel, has replaced CTN on Optus
Vision.
- There are rumours of TBS, a general entertainment
channel, being available on Optus Vision in the near
future.
- Austar has purchased East Coast Pay Television.
- Sky Racing, a racing channel, will commence trnasmission
on Foxtel and Optus Vision on September 5 1998.
- LBC, a Lebanese channel, has commenced transmission on
Optus Vision from August 1 1998.
- National Geographic Channel will be available on Austar
around October 1.
Changes to the FAQ:
- Updated info on cable TV services in Section
2.1.
- Updated info subscriber numbers in Section
2.3.
- Updated info on ESPN in Section 3.1.
- Updated info in Section 3.2 on
Australian versions of international pay TV channels.
- Updated info in Section 5.2.
- Removed section 5.3 on why there were commercials on Pay
TV when it was supposed to be commercial free until Jusly
1997. It is now after July 1997 and there are commercials
on pay TV.
New Links:
Superceded Links:
1.2 Are there any disclaimers, copyright,
etc. applying to this FAQ?
Yes. Please read Section 6 for all the details.
1.3 How can I contribute to this FAQ
To contribute to this FAQ please send your e-mail to liron@netspace.net.au.
People whose contributions are included in the FAQ will be
listed in the Credits section at the end of the FAQ, unless you
ask to be anonymous.
1.4 Where can I get a copy of the latest
version of this FAQ?
You can get a copy of the latest version of this FAQ on the
World Wide Web, and via news
- Via the World Wide Web:
- The World Wide Web URL is: http://netspace.net.au/~liron/cable-pay-tv/australia/faq.html
- Via news:
- This FAQ is posted every second month to newsgroups aus.tv, alt.satellite.tv.australasia,
rec.video.cable-tv,
rec.video.satellite.dbs
and soc.culture.australian.
However, it may be posted more frequently from time to
time at times when things change significantly in
Australian pay TV.