Foxtel's blog

From November 1, 2009 all FOXTEL iQ set-top-units will start receiving a software upgrade delivering new features to the onscreen FOXTEL iQ Guide as part of FOXTEL Next Generation. FOXTEL iQ2 set-top-units were delivered the same software upgrade progressively from October 1, 2009.

This software upgrade will be the third significant roll-outi for FOXTEL, and for the first time will include the 690,000 iQ set-top-units installed in FOXTEL homes. All iQ or iQ2 set-topunits receive the new software, following which both the iQ and iQ2 will then have the same advanced FOXTEL iQ Guide.

The FOXTEL Guide updates are designed to make the iQ Guide more intuitive to use and will support two exciting new enhancements available to iQ and iQ2 subscribers from November 15, 2009 – iSuggest and Record Me that enable our subscribers to find the shows they love and record them.

iSUGGEST

iSuggest brings posters and recommendation functionality to the new iQ Guide. It brings the TV Guide to life with posters and recommends from 200 outstanding television programs and movies at any one time – available to iQ and iQ2 subscribers from November 15, 2009.

iSuggest lets subscribers browse through rows of TV show and movie posters to discover new shows they will love highlighting FOXTEL programming across all genres, refreshed many times a week so there’s always something new to send to the Planner for record.

iSuggest provides a poster for each program or movie, the summary, and a star rating which gives subscribers more detail than just the title helping them choose the shows they want to watch.

Selected programs are categorised into four portals – FOXTEL, showtime, Movie Network Channels and FOXTEL Box Office – making the best movies and shows easy to find.

The FOXTEL portal is broken down into the following categories for easier navigation through iSuggest:

- Must See: Recommendations, new to FOXTEL, exclusives, world and Australian premieres, and first-run shows on FOXTEL.
- Sports: Sports programming and magazine shows.
- Knowledge & Adventure: Best of documentaries and news specials.
- Drama & Lifestyle: The best of entertainment including drama, comedy, food and lifestyle shows.
- Kids & Music: Family friendly programming and kid’s shows, rated ‘G’ and ‘PG’.
- HD: Showcasing the best of FOXTEL’s High Definition programming.

The three dedicated movie sections in iSuggest – showtime, Movie Network Channels and FOXTEL Box Office – recommend from over 50 movies at any one time. It’s like having an interactive movie store on the iQ with

Subscribers love to build libraries of movies in their Planner, and iSuggest is the perfect navigation tool to find the movie and record it to watch at any time, as many times as you like.

iSuggest can be accessed through the TV Guide by pressing the green button, and also through a dedicated listing on the ACTIVE menu. Once subscribers select the show they want to record, it’s easy

RECORD ME

From November 15, 2009 FOXTEL iQ and iQ2 subscribers will be able to record shows with the touch of one button whenever they see a program promo which has the Record Me icon.

Record Me is the ultimate convenience – subscribers see a promo for a show they love, press one button, and it’s sent to the Planner for record. This means subscribers will no longer have to go into the TV Guide to search for programs to record, but will simply press the green button on the FOXTEL remote control during a promo with the Record Me icon and the program will appear instantly in their Planner for record.

The Record Me icon will appear when a promo has a recordable program linked to it. The subscriber simply presses the green button on their remote and the confirmation icon appears when the item is in the subscriber’s Planner. The subscriber will have to press the back button on their remote control for the icon to disappear from the screen. When the subscriber next enters their Planner, they will see their program booked.

The software that runs Record Me is so sophisticated, it’s able to detect when there is a recording clash in the Planner and automatically select an alternate program recording time.

Over 20 popular FOXTEL channels from a range of FOXTEL programming genres will have Record Me functionality assigned to selected programming and the number of channels supporting Record Me will continue to be added to in 2010.

iQ GUIDE

FOXTEL’s new iQ Guide enables the following handy features, enhancing the FOXTEL Next Generation service and making it easier for subscribers to find what they want to watch, when they want to watch it.

Posters in iSuggest: The new iQ Guide includes posters and recommendation functionality in iSuggest. iSuggest is a new interactive television features that displays up to 200 posters at any one time of shows FOXTEL recommends divided into categories separating TV shows from movies. To get to iSuggest press green in the TV Guide or go through the ACTIVE menu.

Channel View: Currently subscribers can only view what is on a particular channel in a horizontal grid, the new vertical channel view will enable the subscriber to clearly view the program titles and times in a vertical list. The subscriber will also see programming across only one channel in this view. Enter Channel View by pressing the Green button in the TV Guide top level menu and navigate through channels in this view by using left and right arrow keys on the remote, or the keypad on your remote.

Create your own Guide: My Favourites is an area of the TV Guide where subscribers can save shortcuts to their favourite channels creating their own personalised TV Guide filled with only their favourite channels. Subscribers can now save up to 50 favourites, which can be viewed in either the grid view or video view simply by pressing the Red button after entering My Favourites. Subscribers enter the My Favourites section of the guide by pressing the Yellow button after entering the TV Guide at the top level menu.

Live Viewing Window: This video view functionality lets subscribers continue to watch their program while searching for new programs to record. To enter video view, press the red button in the TV Guide and the last live program watched will play in a quarter screen view. To close video view and return to the grid, the subscriber simply presses the red button again. The subscriber can also set video view as a default in their TV Guide settings.

Planner Viewing Window: The new iQ Guide is specifically designed to empower subscribers to find the shows the love and watch them either live from the planner or recorded to the iQ disk drive. Features like iSuggest, Record Me, FOXTEL’s Online Guide and Remote Record make recording shows and movies incredibly simple. With lots of shows in the Planner, subscribers need the tools to find the show they feel like watching. FOXTEL has provided search and an optional viewing window in the Planner that is similar to the FOXTEL Box Office HD On Demand service, so when you move through the Planner the new iQ Guide starts previewing recorded shows in a quarter screen window.

This video view playback is in the Planner search menu and will playback the recorded item highlighted in the grid. As the subscriber scrolls through their list of recordings in their Planner, the video will change. This video view is set as default in the Planner Search menu and can be changed back to grid view by pressing the red button.

Orange or Blue Colour Swap: Currently, the iQ has a blue and yellow FOXTEL Guide and the iQ2 has an orange and grey FOXTEL Guide. The new Guide lets subscribers choose from either colour schemes for both the iQ and iQ2. Subscribers go to the TV Guide Settings in the Set Up menu and choose which colour scheme they prefer, or which one works best with their television.

Planner Search: By default all items in the Planner appear in alphabetical order with video view. Subscribers can enter Planner Search by pressing “0” and using the following search items:

- A-Z
- Time
- Genre

Time remaining: For recorded FOXTEL Box Office movies and Main Event programs that have been purchased the subscriber will see in the status field a green background and a countdown of the remaining rental period they have to view the program. The subscriber can also see what is fully recorded and part recorded.

Fast Find Buttons: The TV Guide has been updated to include:

- Red button – Search
- Green button – iSuggest
- Yellow button – My Favourites

The new Guide functionality will be delivered automatically to every FOXTEL iQ and iQ2, meaning all iQ and iQ2 subscribers will not be required to do anything to receive the new features. As the automatic download will happen progressively starting from October 1, 2009, all current and new iQ and iQ2 subscribers should be able to access the new Guide functionality, plus iSuggest and Record Me by November 15, 2009.

For more information on the new iQ Guide visit www.foxtel.com.au/nextgeneration

In a week that saw the launch of FOXTEL Next Generation, The Hollywood Reporter has recognised the talent of Travis Conneeley, Creative Director of the FOXTEL Owned and Operated Channels, with a place on its inaugural list of the Next Generation of International Television.

The list acknowledges 20 people under-35 who are redefining television internationally.

Conneeley and Packed to the Rafters’ Jessica Marais are the only two on the list working in the Australian television industry.

Conneeley, 33, is responsible for overseeing the creative teams, presentation and tone of the channel brands owned and operated by FOXTEL – 111 HITS, Arena, Bio, CI, Comedy, FOX Classics, FOX8, The History Channel, W, FOXTEL Box Office and Main Event. Last year, he served as an executive producer on FOXTEL’s live coverage of Sydney’s Mardi Gras Parade.

He has been a winner of New York Festival’s International Awards, ASTRA Awards and many World and Australia & NZ Promax and BDA Awards.

Conneeley started in television in 1994 as a runner on Home and Away before securing an internship with the Seven Network’s On-Air Promotions Department where he rose through ranks to become the position of Senior Network Promo Producer/Director.  In 2004, he joined FOXTEL as FOX8’s Creative Director.

To view the Next Generation of International Television list – http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/

FOXTEL Download is FOXTEL’s exciting new online television service and it’s now available to all subscribers for free.

Check out the FOXTEL DOWNLOAD video demo online at www.foxtel.com.au/download.

FOXTEL Download includes 38 FOXTEL channels and FOXTEL Box Office offering TV shows and hundreds of movies available for download straight to your PC to watch anytime, anywhere, giving you what you want, when you want it.

Access to FOXTEL Download channels is based on each subscriber’s package, and all programming is free except for FOXTEL Box Office. FOXTEL Download is legal, safe, virus-free and provides exceptional picture and sound quality online.

The 38 channels available on FOXTEL Download include a collection of FOXTEL’s popular channels as well as five exclusive Download only channels, these are:

October FOXTEL Download programming highlights include: Tangle on showcase, Iron Man on SHOWTIME, The Golden Compass on MOVIE ONE, Gavin and Stacey S2 on UKTV, Outlaw Bikers S3 on National Geographic Channel, Margaret Fulton: Our Food Journey on The Lifestyle Channel, Camp Orange S5 on Nickelodeon, Hannah Montana S3 on Disney Channel, and Battles BC on The History Channel.

All you have to do is visit www.foxtel.com.au/download, register an online account, install the free Download Player, click on what you want to watch and download the show or movie to view.

FOXTEL CEO Kim Williams AM, today unveiled the exciting new details of the next generation of FOXTEL.

The announcement was another history making step in the Australian television industry, with news the country’s number one subscription television provider, FOXTEL, will launch 30 additional channels this year.

Along with the new channels, will come a state-of-the-art online television service, significant technological upgrades to FOXTEL’s television guide and new channel packages, designed to provide more flexibility and better value to our customers.

FOXTEL Next Generation will launch on Sunday November 15, 2009, with the FOXTEL Download service fast-tracked to kick off free to all subscribers Thursday October 1, 2009.

Williams said: “Since the launch of digital in 2004, this is the most significant milestone in FOXTEL’s history. With FOXTEL Next Generation, a new phase of television will be created for Australian consumers. We are moving forward, adapting technology to give our subscribers the power to tailor viewing to their needs.

“FOXTEL Next Generation and the iQ Value Pack options mean every subscriber will get an iQ for free, forever changing the way they experience television.

“There are twelve new iQ Value Packs which have been designed to offer the best value for money and range of choice to meet diverse tastes, needs and price points.”

“Having an iQ, powered by Next Generation, means there are three viewing options for every television program, special event or movie – watch it live, watch it On Demand, or watch it recorded to the iQ. FOXTEL Next Generation now makes it truly possible to watch what you want, when you want and with our new FOXTEL download service, where you want.

“We continue to improve our service and expand our channel offering, we now have almost 200 channels on the FOXTEL platform providing premium programming across all genres. FOXTEL Next Generation not only offers our subscribers more viewing options, it uses technology to take the FOXTEL television experience online, which gives our service great portability, adaptability and even better value.”

FOXTEL Next Generation will deliver exciting new benefits added to FOXTEL over the coming months:

There will be 30 new channel choices including themed movie channels, new sports and documentary channels, and tailored general entertainment channels.

The 12 new channels brands are LifeStyle YOU, 13TH STREET, The Style Network, Eurosport, KidsCo, FMC, STARPICS, showtime action, showtime comedy, showtime drama, Discovery Turbo MAX and Nat Geo Wild.

FOXTEL HD+ will be home to 15 High Definition channels – including four dedicated HD sports channels and six new HD movie channels.

The 10 new HD channels are FOX SPORTS 1HD, 2HD and 3HD, FOX8 HD, W HD, MOVIE ONE HD, showcase HD, showtime action HD, showtime premiere HD, STARPICS 1HD and 2HD, and UKTV HD.

A brand new movie service with 16 dedicated movie channels tailored by genre with no advertising interruptions to any movie, ever.

FOXTEL is also introducing eight new timeshift channels, these are 111 HITS +2, Discovery Channel +2, Discovery Turbo MAX +2, LifeStyle FOOD Channel +2, LifeStyle YOU +2, SCI FI +2, showcase two and STARPICS +2.

New iQ Value packs that gives subscribers two choices – build your own package and add an iQ or take an iQ Value pack that includes an iQ for free.

Australia’s best download service, FOXTEL Download – a FREE catch-up television service for subscribers at www.foxtel.com.au/download.

A new FOXTEL Guide for iQ and updated guide for iQ2.

New search functionality with an interactive TV Guide feature called iSuggest for iQ and iQ2 subscribers.

Immediate recording details of favourite shows for iQ and iQ2 subscribers with Record Me, which sends shows straight to the iQ Planner simply by pressing the Green button on the remote during a show’s promo.

Movies On Demand – A new FOXTEL Box Office with up to 40 recent release movies to choose from at any one time.

New SKY News Local ACTIVE screens for each of Australia’s five capital cities and improved Weather ACTIVE.

www.foxtel.com.au/nextgeneration

FOXTEL today announced accomplished sports presenter Tiffany Cherry will join Olympian Matt Shirvington as part of the comprehensive coverage of the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in February 2010.

Melbourne born and bred Tiffany has recently returned from an 18 month stint in the US as host of ESPN’s SportsCentre where she reported on a range of sporting events including Wimbledon,  the US Superbowl, NBA finals, the US Golf and Tennis Opens and the  English Premier League. She also interviewed a range of A-List sports stars including David Beckham, Shaquille O’Neal and swimming sensation, Michael Phelps.

It is a welcome home to FOXTEL for Tiffany, who spent five years presenting and reporting on FOX FOOTY.

Shirvington, former Olympian and five time Australian sprint champion recently returned from Vancouver, where he recorded a series of short form programs that will feature across FOXTEL in the lead-up to the Games.

Both presenters have signed exclusive deals with FOXTEL up to and including The Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and the London 2012 Olympic Games.

FOXTEL’s Director of Sports and Olympic Games, Peter Campbell, said: “We are thrilled to have Tiffany and Matt on board.”

“Matt’s impressive athletic career enables him to tap in to the mindset of the competitors taking part in the events. He will bring a unique perspective to our coverage, the most comprehensive in Australian television history.”

“Tiffany’s extensive experience reporting and presenting both here in Australia and overseas sets her up very well for an event such as the Olympic Winter Games. It is great to have her home again.”

During the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in February 2010, viewers will be able to watch every Australian athlete competing live, as well as all gold medal events as they happen, in the most comprehensive broadcast coverage ever offered in this country.

FOXTEL will present its television coverage over four dedicated High Definition channels (as well as four Standard Definition digital channels) in superb 5.1 channel surround sound – complemented by a rich array of interactive statistics and up-to-the-minute information about the events and competing athletes.

FOXTEL’s coverage of the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games will feature more than 340 hours of live coverage, compared with only 10 hours live coverage of the 2006 Torino Olympic Winter games. FOXTEL will offer subscribers 1600 hours of total coverage, compared with only 100 hours total coverage of the Torino Olympic Winter Games.

FOXTEL will compliment its television broadcast with mobile, broadband, and interactive delivery platforms making the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games available anytime and anywhere.

FOXTEL’s coverage will be carried over four dedicated HD subscription television channels which mirror the four Vancouver competitive settings:

Cyprus will cover free style aerials, moguls, snowboarding and ski cross.

Creekside will cover alpine skiing, ice hockey finals, and curling finals.

Whistler will cover cross country skiing, ski jumping, biathlon, bobsleigh, skeleton and luge.

Vancouver will cover all figure skating, hot track and speed skating. 

The Vancouver Olympic Winter Games coverage will be available to all subscription television homes (2.5 million) and subscription television viewers (over 8 million Australians) across the country, as FOXTEL has also concluded an agreement with AUSTAR under which FOXTEL has appointed AUSTAR as FOXTEL’s sales agent for the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in regional Australia (except WA).  

More information, including how to register, is available online at:

www.foxtel.com.au/vancouver2010

Airs Wednesday July 15 7.30pm AEST

After eight gruelling weeks which has seen 15 young football players push themselves to their absolute limits, Australia’s FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR for 2009 will be revealed in the finale episode this Wednesday, July 15 at 7.30pm AEST.

The remaining three players to progress through to this Wednesday’s finale, who were chosen in a nail-biting elimination in last week’s episode, are now within close reach of their ultimate goal – to land a prestigious contract to play for Hyundai A-league champions Melbourne Victory.

Brisbane has come out in front claiming two of the three finalists – Christopher Kozionas, 20 and Jack Petrie, 20, while the third player, hailing from Canberra is 19 year-old Luke Pilkington.

Christopher Kozionas’ strong competitive spirit and excellent body strength and finishing skills have impressed head judge and Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick enough to make him a serious contender for the 2009 title.

Jack Petrie is a dedicated player who has shown a cleverness on the pitch that has outsmarted his fellow contestants throughout the competition – but whether this will be enough to take out the title remains to be seen.

And Luke Pilkington has demonstrated a strong technical ability, commitment to the game and a confidence with both his left foot and his dominant right foot as he has progressed throughout the competition.

But now it’s crunch time as the remaining three spend a nervous final week proving to the judges one last time why they should take out the title of FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR.

In the finale episode, the boys participate in their last-ever series challenge – a penalty shoot-out with none other than Melbourne Victory captain, Kevin Muscat.

They also get a ‘David Beckham makeover’, are thrown a surprise dinner with their dads and undertake a public speaking challenge where they have to explain to the judges why they should be the next FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR.

The boys are also retested on their physical strengths by the Melbourne Victory sports science team and have one last training session, alongside the Melbourne Victory 1St team, under the watchful eye of Ernie Merrick – before the final and ultimate elimination.

FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR, hosted by singer/songwriter Brian McFadden and Fox Sports News presenter Lee Furlong, has followed the journeys of 15 of the country’s finest young footballers as they took part in the opportunity of a lifetime.

Chosen from a pool of hundreds of players from around the country, the final 15 were hand-picked by Head Judge and Melbourne Victory Head Coach Merrick, along with his fellow judges, Aaron Healy (Melbourne Victory assistant coach) and Vitale Ferrante (Director of Fun Sports Group and FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR mentor).

From that point onwards, it’s been game on as the players were put through their paces with a series of gruelling challenges and football matches, while living in a state-of-the-art Melbourne mansion – all while being judged on their on-field performance and off-field behaviour.

As the finalists were pushed to their limits and weaknesses were exposed, players were eliminated, until only three remained.

This Wednesday, one of these players will be anointed Australia’s next FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR, walking off the pitch with a prestigious contract with Melbourne Victory, alongside a one-year scholarship with Monash University.

On July 20, 1969 the world stopped to witness the first humans walk on the moon. Now, 40 years on, FOXTEL will take you back to the monumental event that changed space history forever with FOXTEL’s “Moon Month” in July.

Throughout Moon Month FOXTEL will show a range of documentaries and special programming commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the first moon landing.

Viewers can tune in across a range of channels including BBC Knowledge, BBC WORLD NEWS, BBC HD, Discovery Channel, Discovery Kids, The History Channel, MOVIE EXTRA, and National Geographic Channel.

The History Channel pays tribute in “One Giant Leap – The 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing” – a month long line-up celebrating the Moon landing, space exploration and discovery, as well as the International Year of Astronomy. Programming starts on Wednesday, July 1, and includes:
Next Big Bang
From the Earth to the Moon – presented by Tom Hanks
Hubble – 15 Years of Discovery
Apollo 11 – The Untold Story
Origins – Where Are the Aliens?
To The Moon
A Sidewalk Astronomer
Apollo 13 – The Inside Story
Race To The Moon – Failure Is Not An Option. Also available in ON DEMAND. 
The Universe Series 3

BBC Knowledge programming runs over a week starting from Monday, July 20, also showing on BBC HD. Highlights include:
· One More Step – The Australian Story: An exclusive Australian production for BBC Knowledge exploring Australia’s role in the Apollo 11 mission and lunar landing. The program chronicles the 24 hours surrounding this historic event, including how Australians witnessed the mission unfolding 6.35 secs before the rest of the world. A local production, one-hour special presented by Peter FitzSimons. Also available in ON DEMAND.
· Moonshot – The Flight of Apollo 11
· Space Age – NASA’s Story
· Top Gear – James May on the Moon: An intergalactic episode that shoots for the stars.

BBC WORLD NEWS highlight programming includes:
· The Moon: A documentary blending archive footage and photography from the Apollo missions, NASA and the European space agency with interviews from a variety of people on lunar activity. The film is a revealing look at mankind’s fascination with our moon.

Discovery Channel highlight programming includes:
When We Left Earth – The NASA Missions: This is the story of NASA’s incredible first 50 years. Also available in ON DEMAND. 
Tank On The Moon
Base Camp Moon

Discovery Kids highlight programming includes:
Assignment Discovery – The Future of the Milky Way: Watch the dramatic animation of the birth and life of the Milky Way Galaxy and learn what the future holds for the cosmos.

National Geographic Channel serves up a collection of definitive documentaries about the moon landing, behind-the-scenes events back on Earth, and the technology that propelled humankind into the outer reaches of space, with a week of tribute programming starting from Monday, July 20.

MOVIE EXTRA will be screening a special documentary on Monday, July 20. In The Shadow Of The Moon explores the nine American spacecraft that have travelled to the Moon, and the 12 men who walked upon its surface between 1968 and 1972, and who remain the only human beings to have stood on another world.

CNN INTERNATIONAL highlight programming includes
The Next Giant Leap? A special program looking at why the state of space exploration lags far behind previous expectations and how it’s no longer exclusive to the two former superpowers. The program also spotlights some of the likely future leaders in the outer space.

FOXTEL iQ and iQ2 subscribers can see selected Moon programming from a range of the above channels during July to watch when they like in ON DEMAND.

Sky News, Australia’s News Channel, today announced it has secured an exclusive arrangement with veteran newsreader and journalist Jim Waley to return to Australian television to present a nightly national news program.

Sky National News with Jim Waley will premiere on Monday, June 29 at 6.00pm (AEST) and be seen across the country live on FOXTEL and AUSTAR.

The live two and a half hour bulletin, airing Monday to Friday, will be hosted from the Sky News headquarters in Sydney.

In making the landmark appointment, Chief Executive of Sky News Angelos Frangopoulos said: “Jim is one of Australia’s most credible and respected newsmen. His experience, both reporting and presenting, television news in this country is unrivalled and I am very proud to welcome him to the Sky News’ team.

“For almost 40 years viewers tuned to Jim for news regarding politics, world affairs, the economy and arts and entertainment. He has covered the globe bringing Australians the stories that matter and we are thrilled to have him back on the air.

“Jim’s appointment underscores our commitment at Sky News to quality journalism. He will play a lead role in our outstanding on-air team including David Speers, Helen Dalley and Kieran Gilbert.”

FOXTEL Chief Executive and Managing Director Kim Williams AM said: “We are delighted to welcome a person of Jim’s immense journalistic credibility and experience to subscription television and into the homes of our sector’s seven million viewers.”

“Sky News and its sister channels Sky Business News and A-PAC have all built fine reputations as leading Australian providers of dedicated news and information services, richly adding to news choice and media diversity in Australia.  Jim’s appointment will enhance and strengthen Sky News’ already formidable reputation for news and current affairs reporting.”

AUSTAR Chief Executive Officer John Porter said he was delighted Jim Waley was joining the award winning Sky News team.  “Our subscribers demand relevant and authoritative news services, and the addition of Jim Waley to Sky News will only enhance the reputation of subscription television in Australia.   There are very few journalists who have Jim’s depth of experience and understanding of the Australian environment, he is an excellent addition to the vast range of voices and perspectives our service already offers.”

FOXTEL Executive Director of Television and Marketing Brian Walsh said: “The launch of Jim Waley and Sky National News at 6.00pm will signal a significant marketing and promotions campaign by FOXTEL and AUSTAR throughout Australia. A comprehensive prime time program helmed by a newsman of Jim’s calibre will provide our subscribers with a true alternative to early evening news viewing in this country.”

On his return to television, Waley said: “It’s an exceptional honour to join the team of news professionals at Sky News and be part of FOXTEL and AUSTAR. I relish the opportunity to work on agenda-setting news of national interest in prime time, and give viewers a real choice.  My brief is to present engaging and informative bulletins of quality and relevance.  What more can an old journo ask for?”

Waley began his media career in regional radio and television in 1966. He joined Channel Nine in Sydney in 1968, where he spent 36 years presenting and reporting for numerous programs including National Nine News, Sunday, Business Sunday and Nightline.

In 2002, Waley moved to the nightly news desk at Nine where he read Sydney’s 6.00pm bulletin for two years. He left Nine in 2005.

Sky National News with Jim Waley will premiere on Monday, June 29 at 6.00pm (AEST). Sky News is available on FOXTEL, AUSTAR and OPTUS.

FOXTEL today announced another Australian television first.

During the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in February 2010, viewers will be able to watch every Australian athlete competing live, as well as all gold medal events as they happen, in the most comprehensive broadcast coverage ever offered in this country.

FOXTEL will present its television coverage over four dedicated High Definition channels (as well as four Standard Definition digital channels) in superb 5.1 channel surround sound – complemented by a rich array of interactive statistics and up-to-the-minute information about the events and competing athletes.

FOXTEL Chief Executive, Kim Williams AO, said: “FOXTEL’s coverage of the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games will feature more than 340 hours of live coverage, compared with only 10 hours live coverage of the 2006 Torino Olympic Winter games. FOXTEL will offer subscribers 1600 hours of total coverage, compared with only 100 hours total coverage of the Torino Olympic Winter Games.”

“We will take all of the extraordinary possibilities of our digital platform – our iQ set-top-boxes, SD and HD channels, surround sound, interactive services, electronic programming guide, and mobile and broadband services – to showcase the 17 days of competition with greater depth, breadth, excitement and relevance than ever before.”

FOXTEL’s coverage will be carried over four dedicated subscription television channels which mirror the four Vancouver competitive settings:

Cyprus will cover free style aerials, moguls, snowboarding and ski cross.

Creekside will cover alpine skiing, ice hockey finals, and curling finals.

Whistler will cover cross country skiing, ski jumping, biathlon, bobsleigh, skeleton and luge.

Vancouver will cover all figure skating, hot track and speed skating. 

FOXTEL subscribers will also be able to record the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games to the FOXTEL iQ ensuring they can watch what they want, when they want to, as well as on their mobile phones and personal computers.

The pricing of FOXTEL’s Vancouver Olympic Winter Games offers great value for money.  The Early Bird rate is set at $50 (or less than $3 a day) inclusive of all television events, interactive services and broadband, and the Season Pass – which will go on sale in 2010 – is set at just $65 (or under $4 a day) for all events.

The Vancouver Olympic Winter Games coverage will be available to all subscription television homes (2.5 million) and subscription television viewers (over 8 million Australians) across the country, as FOXTEL today also concluded an agreement with AUSTAR under which FOXTEL has appointed AUSTAR as FOXTEL’s sales agent for the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in regional Australia (except WA).  

More information, including how to register, is available online at:

www.foxtel.com.au/vancouver2010

From Wednesday, June 3 subscription television subscribers will be able to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button directly in their lounge rooms, with the Oscar winning film premiering on FOXTEL Box Office at the same time as its release on DVD, Blu-ray and rental.

Starring Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt and Australia’s own Cate Blanchett, subscribers won’t have to leave home to order the film on the FOXTEL Box Office pay-per-view service.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, from Warner Bros, is the first title to be fast-tracked from cinema and be available “day and date” with its DVD release on the FOXTEL Box Office service.

FOXTEL Executive Director of Television and Marketing, Brian Walsh said, “This pioneering deal is a win-win for our subscribers who love movies and as winter creeps in won’t need to leave the comfort of their home to see this critically-acclaimed, blockbuster film.

“FOXTEL will support the day and date release of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button on FOXTEL Box Office with a witty, fully-integrated marketing campaign that aims to educate our viewers about this landmark change.”

The marketing will include an interactive outdoor multimedia application, metropolitan print, radio and billboard advertising, plus promotion on air.

Part of the campaign offers interactive billboards located in Martin Place and Pitt Street Mall in Sydney, and Flinders Street Station and Southern Cross Stations in Melbourne which entices consumers to “Press the Benjamin Button button” and shows them a series of promos for the Oscar-winning film.

Subscribers who order the film on FOXTEL Box Office will also automatically go into the draw to win a 50” High Definition flat-screen TV.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button premieres Wednesday, June 3 on FOXTEL Box Office screening every 20 minutes for the first week, and on FOXTEL Box Office HD On Demand at anytime for FOXTEL iQ2 subscribers.

From June 3 the FOXTEL Box Office weekly schedule refreshes from its current Thursday start date to a Wednesday start date. This means new release films will now premiere on Wednesdays every week, starting with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.