Telstra tunes in to TV streaming service
TELSTRA is beefing up its TV offering with a new service that bundles streaming services from Netflix, Stan and Presto.
The telco giant is partnering US streaming device maker Roku to launch Telstra TV, which will offer the big three on- demand streaming services from September. New release rentals from Bigpond Movies and TV catch- up services will help Telstra take on Apple TV and Google’s Chromecast.
The new services expand on Telstra’s current TV offering which is based around its T- Box, a set- top box that allows viewers to rent movies and TV shows as well as access pay TV service Foxtel. Pricing and content for the new service are yet to be finalised, but the Roku 2 box is expected to cost about $ 100.
A bundle price is reportedly being negotiated that could allow customers to subscribe to all three for less than $ 30 a month. The catch is that it will only be available to Telstra broadband customers.
And while the Presto service won’t count towards your monthly data limit, subscribers of Netflix and Stan will be hit with data usage charges.
Telstra media managing director Joe Pollard says Roku devices are popular with consumers in the US, Canada and the UK, but the Telstra TV one will be tailored for Australians.
“Rather than restrict our customers’ choices, we want to host all the popular streaming video services on our platforms and make it easy for them to get all the content they want in the one place,” Ms Pollard said.
Netflix and Presto will be available immediately upon launch, while Stan will be added soon after.