Fetch partners with Australian FTA’s to introduce 4 Virtual Playlist Channels

APOS Bali, Wednesday 24 April 2019
Reissued Sydney - 16 July 2019. Fetch TV today announced that it has partnered with four Australian Free-To-Air (FTA) networks to introduce Virtual Playlist Channels for 7Plus, 9Now, 10 Play and SBS On Demand.

Virtual Playlist Channels (VPC’s) are a new Fetch TV format designed to bridge the linear and on-demand worlds. VPC’s provide additional visibility of, and navigation to, the great content available on the FTA Broadcast Video On Demand (BVOD) services via a dedicated listing on the Fetch EPG. The VPC’s will be scheduled by the FTA’s, taking into consideration time of day and content popularity.

The new dual navigation VPC format, with content available to be accessed via EPG or the BVOD app, recognises both the popularity of the FTA BVOD content and the enduring nature of the traditional EPG as the principal means of content discovery. Three quarters of all Fetch viewing continues to be traditional FTA and Subscription linear content, both live and recorded. The VPC’s effectively expand the number of FTA channels available, but with the added functionality of an on- demand experience.

VPC shows selected from the EPG play out seamlessly via the FTA BVOD apps. Fetch subscribers can select a current listing on the EPG, or go forward in time to select a future listing. All episodes selected commence from the start, with fast forward and rewind functionality available. At the completion of each show, viewers are given the option of viewing the next scheduled programme or selecting from the other available episodes of the show they have been watching.

Scott Lorson, CEO of Fetch TV, said: "Consumer viewing behaviours continue to evolve. Fetch is committed to working with our content partners to provide the best possible user experience, one that caters to the diverse content discovery preferences of Australian households. We are delighted to partner with the FTA networks to offer Fetch subscribers more choice, flexibility and convenience via the four new Virtual Playlist Channels.”

Fetch introduced the NBCU’s Oxygen as its first Virtual Playlist Channel in January. The new channel regularly ranks as a top 10 most popular non-kids’ channel on Fetch, and consumers are utilising the dual navigation options with circa 89% of the show views originating via the EPG or Now & Next listings, and the remainder directly from the dedicated Oxygen Catch Up app.

The 4 new FTA Virtual Playlist Channels well be available to Fetch subscribers in June.

About Fetch TV

Fetch TV partners with leading internet service providers Optus, the iiNet Group (iiNet, Internode, and Westnet), and Vocus (Dodo and iPrimus) along with leading retailers Harvey Norman, JB Hi Fi, Bing Lee and The Good Guys to provide subscribers with an entertainment service delivered to the TV over a broadband connection to a set top box. In addition to a 1 terabyte personal video recorder for recording TV, the content line up includes an in-home movie store with over 8,000 titles including the latest new releases, a TV store with leading TV shows to purchase, leading SVOD services Netflix and Stan, Free to Air and subscription Catch-Up TV services, Pay per View access to UFC, apps including YouTube, as well as the option to add subscription entertainment channel packs from major content providers. Visit fetchtv.com.au for more information.