A leaked iQ2 pricing document — available from Foxtel before the sites went down for several hours — suggests Platinum HD will be AU$130.90.
A document leaked onto rumour site KnowFirst suggests that basic HD packages start at AU$75.85 with the included AU$10 iQ2 service charge and culminates in the Platinum service for $130.90.
The two main packages appear to be HD Sport with the two new Sport channels being Fox Sports HD and ESPN HD, and HD Explore with BBC HD, Discovery HD and Nat Geo HD. They appear to be priced at AU$9.95 for one or AU$14.95 for both (HD Complete), with HD movies available separately for the cost of AU$6.95 each.
The Platinum HD Service includes the current Platinum plan, plus the HD Complete channels and two movies in a choice of either SD or HD.
Up until 4PM, many internal links to pricing and information appeared to be broken — including http://www.foxtel.com.au/hd — and Foxtel was unable to give an official explanation at time of writing.
Callers to the sales centre are reportedly experiencing long waits of 30 minutes or more as people rush to order the new service.
Foxtel has been unable to give a launch date, but a spokesperson said last week that rumours of a June 2 release were "pulled out of a hat".
At this stage, customers in the eastern states will also be able to access all of the FTA HD channels via the new iQ2 box.
Foxtel is also offering customers who sign up before August 31 a chance to win a 40-inch Sony X series TV plus the Sony DAVIS10 system according to the email.
Foxtel appears to have fixed its pricing page — you can now visit it here.
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tallackn
19/05/2008 04:40 PM
Foxtel are a little rude with their pricing model. I have two existing low-def STB's, and called today to order two of the new HD IQ2 STB's. They told me that the $200 install fee would have to be paid TWICE. Once for each STB. Even though I already have two STB's that they will replace, they still want me to pay double the install fee. I tried pointing out that there is no additional outlets to be cabled or anything. The engineer is already there, and I will be paying the extra monthly fee as required for the additional IQ2 STB. But Foxtel would NOT budge on the issue. They INSISTED that I would have to pay the install fee twice if I wanted to get both of the STB's swapped out for the IQ2 boxes. VERY disappointing.
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ruairiau
20/05/2008 04:33 PM
its simply not good value for money when freeview tv is already HD, has more content and there are plenty of good PVR's on the market. Besides, who watches TV anymore? I play the XBox more than I watch TV.
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gatsbyassassin
21/05/2008 10:52 AM
The pricing was hardly leaked. It was available directly from the outgoing marketing email sent to everyone and was an internet facing pdf. All public knowledge.
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Marty.
25/05/2008 07:13 AM
I think foxtel should fix there current SD Picture it looks terrible on a big screen! It is no where near dvd quality. Does anyone else notice this?
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marsblakmon
10/06/2008 11:37 PM
foxtel is going to lose the battle by pricing itself out of the market. foxtel has always been an overpriced, inflexable service, now with more freedom coming with better broadband you'd think foxtel would finally realize getting more marketshare and retaining customers means pricing without the elite view and to add flexability. generally foxtel should be at least cheaper than broadband. oh sorry that's right it is cheaper than telstra's broadband - but not much else......
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Spin
12/06/2008 10:31 AM
@ruairiau, lol? FTA HD is crap... Mornings with Kerri Anne in HD, WOW! Channel 9 has the best HD selection and it's 30 hours a week at best. So how is that more content that 24/7X5 channels of HD? No downscaling either....
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playa4eva
13/06/2008 04:25 PM
I own a 52" Sony Bravia LCD screen and have the existing IQ box and the quality of the picture is the worst thing i have ever seen, im sure getting HD wudnt even make a difference
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Cate
16/06/2008 03:37 PM
$200 for installation is not only a joke but a slap in the face for those of us that already have IQ. I won't be getting IQ2 until Foxtel rethink the installation charge. On the plus side, my IQ box pooped itself last night and they'd have come as early as Weds if it was convenient to me but it wasn't so they're coming Saturday morning - I can't really complain about that.
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Relax
17/06/2008 11:42 PM
$200 is pretty cheap for a HD PVR with 3+ tuners. On this box you can record two different channels whilst watching a third channel live. A comparable dual tuner HD PVR for FTA TV retails for around $600. I haven't got IQ yet but have a SD PVR and this IQ2 looks like very good value.
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disgusted
30/06/2008 10:03 AM
@Relax - nice try being a corporate shill Do you really think that $200 allows you to keep the box? When you're done with Foxtel - they get it back. As tallackn has pointed out, the install fee is offensive as it is being charged even if you are a current IQ customer. They even tried to justify the fee by saying I get an HDMI cable with it - WTF? Who cares - my HDTV doesn't even have an HDMI port. No way they're getting my dough until they drop the stupid charge - it's not worth it.
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expom
07/07/2008 01:11 PM
as per previous comments....foxtel can think again if they for one minute assume loyal customers are gong to shell out $200 just to come and change a box over. Rang up and told them so and informed them that i'd get one when they bring down the prices as per their usual deals. The girl i spoke to seemed to be quite surprised by the attitude........I suggest more people give them a ring to inform them that they're dreaming if they think the majority of their customers are stupid enough to install it
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