35-454: The Comedy Channel (promoted on air as comedy ) was an Australian subscription television channel available on Foxtel , and Optus Television . The channel ceased broadcasting on 1 September 2020. A joint venture between Artist Services (20%), Australis Media (40%), and Foxtel (40%), the channel began broadcasting on the Galaxy platform, and became available on Foxtel on 1 August 1996. After
70-1414: A virtual channel order that groups channels by their content. General entertainment channels are from 100 to 151 which includes metropolitan/state-based localised advertising primary channels the Nine Network , ABC TV , SBS TV , the Seven Network and Network 10 , with general entertainment and informational channels Crime , Arena , LifeStyle , Fox8 , Showcase , Foxtel One , WWE , Comedy , British , Comcast 's Universal TV , Real Life , LifeStyle Food , LifeStyle Home , Famous , Discovery , Real History , Real Crime , Warner Bros. Discovery 's Animal Planet , Discovery Turbo , Investigation Discovery , TLC , BoxSets and FashionTV . Metropolitan/state-based localised advertising multichannels are from 152 to 172 for ABC Kids / ABC Family , ABC Entertains , 7two , 7mate , 7flix , 7Bravo , 9Go! , 9Life , 9Gem , 10 Bold Drama , 10 Peach Comedy , Nickelodeon , SBS Viceland , SBS Food and NITV . Special interest channels are from 173 to 179 which includes Aurora , TVSN and Expo . Religious channels are from 180 to 189 which includes Australian Christian Channel , Daystar and SBN . High definition and Ultra High definition channels are from 200 to 299 which includes metropolitan/state-based localised advertising versions of
105-517: A Content Sharing Agreement between Foxtel and Optus Television was approved by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). On 11 July 2011, Austar announced that "it had entered into definitive transaction agreements with Liberty Global, Inc. (LGI) and Foxtel Management Pty Limited (Foxtel) under which Foxtel would acquire Austar by a series of transactions including a scheme of arrangement (Scheme)." This takeover involved
140-777: A minority shareholder approval on 30 March 2012, the approval of the ACCC on 10 April 2012, and has had approval from a Second Court Hearing. Austar shares were suspended from the ASX on 16 April 2012 and delisted on 27 April 2012. The takeover was completed on 24 May 2012. News Corporation acquired Consolidated Media Holdings in November 2012, bringing its stake in Foxtel to 50%, up from 25%. On 15 June 2015, Foxtel officially agreed to buyout 15% shares in Ten Network Holdings , subject to approval from
175-428: A venture between News Corporation (in particular 20th Century Fox Media ) and Telstra took place whereby Telstra would transmit a TV signal through its coaxial network and News Corporation would be the basis for offering channel negotiations and connections. Foxtel was formed ("Fox" representing News Corporation's Fox and "Tel" representing Telstra). On 23 October 1995, Foxtel commenced a 20 channel service, delivered over
210-460: Is Telstra's responsibility. In many markets Telstra has outsourced installation and maintenance to large communications contractors, including ABB Communications and Siemens - Thiess Communications joint venture. In 2007, Network 10 formed an agreement with Foxtel to allow them to carry a digital version of Ten's programming. Included in the deal is electronic program guide data, which allows Foxtel iQ users to schedule recordings on Ten. Before
245-602: Is now available within Telstra Next G (HSDPA/850 MHz) coverage areas, which covers 99% of the population. With the transfer in ownership of Telstra's HFC network to NBN Co for the provision of broadband services, Foxtel announced in 2022 that it would be abandoning HFC in favour of satellite and IPTV services. The transition was completed in 2023, after which no Foxtel services have been provided via HFC, thus making NBN's HFC network all-IP, solely carrying DOCSIS services. Telstra's network and Foxtel were created to combat
280-591: Is significantly lower compared with market penetration rates in the US (over 85%) and in Western Europe (over 55%). This is due to the fact that Australian pay-TV fees are significantly more expensive and pay-TV began delivering its service much later in Australia than in the US. Foxtel announced its maiden annual profit in 2006, more than 10 years after it commenced services. The installation and maintenance of Foxtel services
315-458: The 2007 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final between Australia and Japan , which drew an average of 419,000 viewers, an Australian pay television record at that time. This ratings record has since been eclipsed by the 2011 Rugby World Cup on Fox Sports 1 averaging around 500,000 viewers, which was smashed by the 2012 London Olympics Coverage, broadcast on 8 dedicated channels in both HD and SD formats, which saw an average of 946,432 viewers tuning in on
350-3277: The ABC HD , 7HD , 7mateHD , 9HD , 9Gem HD , 10 HD , SBS HD , SBS Viceland HD and NITV HD , as well as timeshifted versions of general entertainment and informational channels for a two-hour delay of Fox8 , Crime , Foxtel One , Comedy , Arena , LifeStyle , LifeStyle Food , BBC UKTV , Showcase , British , Real Life , Discovery and Discovery Turbo . As well as national channels Fox8 (native & SD upscaled) and Discovery . Movie packaged channels are from 400 to 499 which includes Foxtel Movies Hits (themed movies and pop-up events), Ultra HD , Premiere , Action , Comedy , Romance , Family , Drama , Greats , LMN and SBS World Movies . Metropolitan/state-based localised advertising Sports Channels packaged channels are from 500 to 599 which includes Fox Sports News 500 , Fox Cricket 501 , Fox League 502 , Fox Sports 503 , Fox Footy 504 , Fox Sports 505 , Fox Sports 506 , Fox Sports Ultra HD 508 , Disney 's ESPN and ESPN 2 , Main Event (pay-per-view), Sky Racing 1 , Sky Racing 2 , Sky Thoroughbred Central , Racing.com , Fox Sports News , Fox Cricket , Fox League , Fox Sports , Fox Footy , Fox Sports More , ESPN and ESPN2 . Metropolitan/state-based localised advertising News and Coverage channels are from 600 to 699 which includes Sky News Australia , Sky News Weather Channel , Sky News Election Channel , Sky News UK , Fox News (U.S sister channel of Sky News Australia), Warner Bros. Discovery 's CNN International , NBCUniversal 's MSNBC and CNBC , ABC News , SBS WorldWatch , Bloomberg Television , Al Jazeera English , CGTN , CGTN Documentary and NHK World-Japan . Pre-Teenage entertainment channels are from 700 to 799 which includes Warner Bros. Discovery 's Cartoon Network and Boomerang and DreamWorks Channel . Music video channels (operated by Paramount ) are from 800 to 829 which includes MTV Hits , NickMusic , Club MTV , MTV 80s and CMT . Audio only channels are from 830 to 899 which includes Foxtel Music (formerly known as Air Active), SBS AM , SBS FM and SBS Chill. Foreign language channels are from 900 to 989 which includes Greek radio Ant1 Radio and Antenna , Italian radio Rai Radio 1 and Rai Italia . Interactive services available are Foxtel Music and Modem Connection Test. Also available on iQ3, iQ4 and iQ5 set top boxes are ABC iView , ABC Kids , SBS On Demand , 7plus , 9Now , 10Play , Netflix , Disney+ , Paramount+ , F1 TV , Optus Sport , YouTube , YouTube Kids , Vevo , Amazon Prime Video and Stan apps. Channels that were re-branded include: 13th Street (rebranded as Fox Sleuth), Syfy (rebranded as Fox Sci-Fi), 111 Funny (split and rebranded into Fox Hits and Fox Funny), W (renamed SoHo ), BBC HD (replaced by BBC UKTV HD), Fox Kids Australia (shared with Fox Classics), Weather 21 (replaced by The Weather Channel), The Weather Channel (replaced by Sky News Weather), Encore (renamed to Showtime Greats) (replaced by Showtime Action, Showtime Comedy and Showtime Drama, both swallowed with Foxtel Movies), VH1 Australia (Replaced by MTV Classic), MTV Live HD, Air Active (which
385-567: The Brisbane , Sydney, Melbourne , Adelaide and Perth metropolitan areas, along with the Gold Coast . Foxtel now also transmits its satellite service into these cities as well as all over Australia, including regional areas since the takeover of Austar. Previous Austar customers are now 100% Foxtel customers with the conversion from Austar to Foxtel in regional Australia now complete. Foxtel on Mobile launched on Telstra's Next G Network in late 2006 and
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#1732873283895420-407: The ACCC. Prior to the acquisition, Discovery backed out from bidding partnership with Foxtel. Ten was later fully acquired by American media group CBS Corporation (now Paramount ) in 2017. In June 2017, Foxtel announced that it would be undergoing a major rebrand – the first in its 22-year history – as part of a move to convey an image that "Foxtel is for everyone". The former logo (inspired from
455-472: The American Fox network's 1996–present logo), described by the company as "quite aggressive, quite arrogant, quite elitist", would be replaced with an all lowercase logo, and its Foxtel Play service would rebranded to Foxtel Now . On 6 March 2018, News Corp Australia announced a merger of Fox Sports Australia with Foxtel (co-owned by News Corp Australia and Telstra ). News Corp owns a 65 percent stake in
490-502: The American broadcast, aired completely uncensored with profanity intact. The new incarnation also premiered a lot of other Adult Swim shows including Moral Orel , Titan Maximum , Robot Chicken: Star Wars , Frisky Dingo , Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job and Childrens Hospital (airing uncensored with profanity intact), along with the latest additions but aired at a different time, Metalocalypse and The Venture Bros ,
525-565: The Comedy Channel hosted Stand Up Australia ; and H.G. Nelson , who hosts Comedy Slapdown . The Comedy Channel transferred from 4:3 to Widescreen 16:9 broadcasting on Thursday 1 April 2010 at 5:30am as part of Foxtel's plan to convert all of its channels to widescreen before the end of 2010. On 31 July 2020, it was announced that Comedy would cease broadcasting in September, alongside sister network Fox Hits , and both channels merged onto
560-531: The East Coast (satellite) and 7two and GO! to cable subscribers. ABC3 was recently introduced on 4 December 2009 to all Foxtel and Austar subscribers. On 20 May 2010, Foxtel and Microsoft announced a new way of receiving Foxtel through Xbox 360's online service Xbox LIVE. The service launched November 2010 with 30+ channels and an additional 12 Video-on-demand channels. It also provided Foxtel's movie service, known as Foxtel On Demand, to non-subscribers for
595-506: The Fox Hits channel space as Fox Comedy . Its current-day programming was dispersed across Foxtel 's Fox8 and Fox Showcase , as well as ViacomCBS ' free-to-air 10 Shake . Foxtel NXE Australia Pty Ltd , trading as the Foxtel Group , is an Australian pay television company—operating in cable television , direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It
630-630: The Interactive Sports Selector. Also discontinued in July 2020 were music channels [V], Max, Country Music Channel and Foxtel Smooth (replaced by NickMusic, MTV Classic and CMT respectively, with Foxtel Smooth closed down). TV1 and SF ceased transmission at 11:59pm, on 31 December 2013 after Foxtel chose not to renew their contracts as they wanted to bring as many channels in house as they did with their movie offerings. STUDIO ceased transmission at 11:59pm, on 27 March 2015 after choosing not to renew
665-656: The Russian television network RT in Australia. In late September 2022, Foxtel extended their partnership with WWE to become Australia's exclusive home of WWE. Foxtel is to relocate WWE Network into Foxtel's Binge streaming service in January 2023, following the launch of its dedicated linear TV channel in December 2022. In August 2024, News Corp put Foxtel up for sale. Foxtel grew rapidly in 2007, with most of Foxtel's highest-ever rating events being broadcast that year, including
700-748: The Telstra Hybrid Fibre Coaxial network. In May 1998, Australis Media, the owner of a satellite television service known as Galaxy , was declared insolvent. In June 1998, Foxtel was able to significantly boost its customer base by acquiring Galaxy subscribers from the liquidator of Australis Media and immediately commenced supplying programming to Galaxy's subscribers on an interim basis. In February 1999, Foxtel began offering its own satellite service to new customers. Publishing & Broadcasting Limited bought half of News Corporation's shares in October 1998, giving each quarter ownership. In 2002,
735-634: The US ;– Pawn Stars (85,000), Hardcore Pawn (85,000), and Storage Wars (90,000). BBC UKTV also consistently rates well with British soaps EastEnders (80,000) and Coronation Street (65,000). The LifeStyle channel has experienced audiences in excess of 100,000 people for its Premiere shows Location Location Location Australia , Grand Designs Australia , Selling Houses Australia , Disney Channel (Australia) and The Real Housewives of Melbourne brings strong ratings. Foxtel transmitted its cable service via Telstra hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) cable into
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#1732873283895770-431: The agreement, Ten was carried in an analogue format on cable only. In 2008, Seven Network entered an agreement to allow Foxtel to carry its SD signal. In 2008, the first Pay TV package comparison site YouCompare was launched to allow Foxtel packages and pricing to be compared to SelecTV , however this service was ceased along with the ceasing of SelecTV 's service in late 2010. On 24 November 2009, Foxtel added 7two to
805-479: The collapse of Australis in 1998, Foxtel's share of the channel increased to 80%. The channel became fully owned by Foxtel after it purchased Artist Services' (now ITV Studios Australia , formerly Granada Australia) 20% stake in August 2002. In 2006–2007, the channel moved headquarters from Sydney to Melbourne, into the studios vacated by Fox Footy Channel . Until the launch of Comedy Central in 2016, The Comedy Channel
840-453: The combined entity, with Telstra owning 35 percent. The combining of the two businesses places emphasis on live-streaming sports and entertainment. On 4 May 2020, it was announced that Foxtel would be closing down its owned & operated music video networks and replacing them with a new suite of MTV , Nick and CMT -branded channels, as part of a wider deal with Paramount . On 26 February 2022, Foxtel suspended broadcast distribution of
875-621: The contract with SBS Television . This was replaced by Foxtel Arts in both SD & HD on Channel 132. Turner Classic Movies (TCM) was discontinued on 13 December 2016. Disney XD ceased transmission on 6 January 2019. The Comedy Channel ceased transmission on 1 September 2020. Fox Hits Fox Hits was an Australian television channel focused on airing comedy shows. It was launched by Foxtel Networks on November 7, 2019, along with Fox One , Crime and Funny . On September 1, 2020, Foxtel announced that it would shutdown, along with The Comedy Channel , to create Fox Comedy , which
910-585: The first time on a pay-per-view basis. Further linear channels were added in April 2011 with the addition of 7 Telstra BigPond channels. In June 2011, Foxtel launched an over-the-top service on Telstra's IPTV set top box called Foxtel on T-Box carrying the same services as the Foxtel on Xbox service. Also as of June 2011, Foxtel's subscribers numbered just over 1.65 million. In November 2014, Foxtel added 2 new SD channels, 9 new HD channels and rebranded 2 sports channels to satellite and cable subscribers. Foxtel defines
945-719: The latter making it the third show with Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Harvey Birdman to have been aired on both the old and the new block. Some series that aired on Adult Swim have been released to Region 4 DVD by Madman Entertainment , including shows that have never been shown on Australian television before, such as Metalocalypse , Minoriteam , 12 oz. Mouse , Xavier Renegade Angel . The Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters has also been quietly released to DVD. Comedy Channel personalities include Frank Woodley , who hosts Aussie Gold ; Tim Ross and Merrick Watts , who together host The Merrick & Rosso Show ; Cameron Knight , who amongst other things for
980-504: The opening weekend, with around 600,000 to 700,000 viewers nightly thereafter. As of 2012, Fox Sports channels, particularly Fox Footy , average between 90,000 and 300,000 + viewers for NRL/AFL matches throughout the week. The highest-rated light entertainment shows are The Simpsons most weeknights on FOX8 with around 110,000 viewers, as well as Family Guy with around 70,000 viewers. A&E has also recorded healthy audience numbers for its TruTV & A&E US syndicated shows from
1015-570: The programming on 1 July. The Boondocks also airs on the same channel although it is not under the Adult Swim banner and instead airs separately. Moral Orel has premiered on Australian television. Titan Maximum also premiered on 6 January 2010. Frisky Dingo joined the Comedy Channel’s "Animania" line-up as of 21 July 2010. Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job premiered on 26 January 2011 along with Childrens Hospital which unlike
1050-404: The threat posed to Telstra's local call business by the combination of Optus Television content bundling with Optus ' local telephony services; Foxtel was the content arm of Telstra's defence strategy, while Telstra's multimedia broadband network was originally the sole delivery system. In 2002, Foxtel and Optus Television agreed to a content-sharing arrangement. Programming competition between
1085-479: The two companies has now dissipated. Prior to its acquisition by Foxtel in 2011, Austar , a regional pay television operator, also carried most Foxtel programming. As of 2011 , Foxtel is Australia's largest pay television operator, with programming available to over 70% of Australian homes, and delivered to over 1.65 million, either directly or by Foxtel's wholesale customers. In April 2008, Foxtel's penetration into Australian homes passed 30%. This penetration rate
The Comedy Channel - Misplaced Pages Continue
1120-516: Was formed in April 2018, superseding an earlier company from 1995. The service was established as a 50/50 joint venture between News Limited and Telstra , with News Corp and Telstra holding 65% and 35% ownership shares respectively. It shares many features with the Sky service in the UK and Ireland — including the iQ box, the electronic programme guide , a similar remote control, and Red Button Active. In 1995,
1155-602: Was reduced to SD) and 9Gem (replaced by 9HD , rebranded today as 9Gem and was reduced to SD). 9Gem later relaunched an HD simulcast. Channels completely discontinued include the beIN Sports channels, MTV , Nickelodeon , Nick Jr. , PBS Kids, Disney XD, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Binge, Discovery Science, Discovery Kids, Foxtel Movies Disney, Eurosport, Your Money, The Soundtrack Channel, Movie Network (replaced by Foxtel Movies), Showtime Network (replaced by Foxtel Movies), TechTV, Ovation, KidsCo, History+2, Starpics (replaced by Foxtel Movies), Gamesworld Interactive Games and
1190-454: Was replaced by Foxtel Music), KidsCo (Replaced by Discovery Kids), Fuel TV , Speed (both replaced by Fox Sports 505 & 506 respectively), SoHo (Replaced by Binge), Channel [V] (Replaced by [V] Hits, later renamed [V]), MTV Music and MTV Dance (relaunched as MTV Hits and Club MTV respectively) and MTV Classic (replaced by MTV 80s ). HD multichannels that were replaced by other HD channels include 10 Bold (replaced by 10 HD , 10 Bold
1225-494: Was the only channel in Australia specifically dedicated to comedy around the clock. It primarily features stand-up comedy , sitcoms , animated comedy series , sketch comedy , comedy films, and talk shows . Started on 11 March 2008 but the comedy shows are now airing on The Comedy Channel on 11 March 2008. The block returned with Robot Chicken and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law , in March 2008, with Aqua Teen Hunger Force joining
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