Foxtel

This week Foxtel will show favourites such as LA Law, Privete Practice Season 2 and Law & Order Season 20, while premiering America’s Next Top Model All Stars and Come Dine With Me Canada. Here are this week’s premieres on Foxtel. Continue reading »

James Packer is ready to sell his 25 per cent stake in Foxtel for a $1 billion with the likely buyer News Corp, the Herald Sun says.

Business writer Terry McCrann says Packer wants the cash to pursue a full merger of his Crown Casino in Melbourne and Sydney’s Star Casino to create a $10 billion gaming giant. Continue reading »

Sunday April 15

PAWN STARS – A&E – Season 6
7.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Pawns Stars is returning to A&E with a brand new exclusive series. Take a step into the “Gold & Silver Pawn Shop”, on the outskirts of Las Vegas, three generations of the Harrison family (Grandfather Richard, son Rick and grandson Corey) jointly run their family business, with clashing and camaraderie every step of the way. Continue reading »

Pay TV operator FOXTEL is free to take over regional rival Austar after receiving the competition watchdog’s approval.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on Tuesday said it would not oppose the deal after accepting court-enforceable undertakings from FOXTEL. UPDATE – The deal was alo approved in the high Court today (Friday April 13). Continue reading »

Sunday April 1

BEYOND SCARED STRAIGHT – CRIME & INVESTIGATION NETWORK – Season 1
4.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
“BEYOND SCARED STRAIGHT” profiles the new approach to keeping today’s teens from becoming tomorrow’s prisoners. The power of the original “Scared Straight” program has inspired dozens of inmate-run intervention programs in men’s and women’s prisons across the country. And in many dramatic ways, these 21st Century programs are very different, because today’s youth need a different approach – it’s a combination of confrontation, information and compassion to try to reach these at-risk kids. These youthful offender programs put boys and girls of all ethnicities, ranging in age from 11-18, into intensive one-day in-prison sessions that show them the realities of life behind bars.

Monday April 2

THE ATOCHA ADVENTURE – A&E
9.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
During the 1960′s the SCUBA contributed to the discovery of ten wrecks from the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet near Vero Beach, Florida. This highly publicized salvage operation, conducted by Real Eight Corporation, ignited an unprecedented interest in Spanish colonial shipwreck salvage, which remains strong to this day. It was this event that drew people such as Mel Fisher into the industry and onto the path of the Atocha.

OLD BEFORE THEIR TIME – BIO
8.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
This is the examination of the rare genetic disease called Progeria that causes its sufferers to age much faster than normal. We profile Ashley Hegi, who has the disease, and her mother, Lori, for one year, recording the struggles Ashley faces each day and the rapid changes in her condition.

OPERATION REPO – CRIME & INVESTIGATION NETWORK – Season 5
7.00pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Uncover the fast-paced, high-pressure world of repossession with a team of highly trained professionals. If you can’t make your payment, the team will find you.

CRIME DOWN UNDER: LINE OF FIRE – CRIME & INVESTIGATION NETWORK – Season 1
8.20pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
A bold and blistering look at the many facets of crime and crime fighting in New Zealand, Crime Down Under has unique access to the nation’s renowned armed offenders squad, undercover cops and top detectives.

WWE WRESTLEMANIA 28 – MAIN EVENT – LIVE Pay-Per-View
LIVE at 9.00pm, Replays at 2.00pm, 7.00pm and 12.00am
In the most anticipated WrestleMania clash in history, John Cena will collide with The Rock at 2012 WrestleMania 28 in Miami – one year after they agreed to battle in a match for the ages.

Tuesday April 3

THE COMPANY – W – Three-Part Mini Series
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday  at 9:30pm
In this epic three-night television event, Chris O’Donnell stars as the idealistic Jack McAuliffe, a Yale grad recruited into the CIA at the height of the Cold War. Taken under the wing of the counterintelligence chief, Jack and his mentor are imprisoned in double lives, where nothing is as it seems.
Cast: Chris O’Donnell, Alfred Molina, Michael Keaton, Rory Cochrane, Tom Hollander.

IN SEARCH OF HOLY TREASURE – HISTORY – Season 1
7.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Join the hunt around the world for Biblical treasures. Each episode takes a historical look at tales from the Bible to uncover facts versus myths of some of the most famous and polarizing artifacts theorized to exist. Does the Holy Grail, the chalice Jesus drank from during the ‘last supper,’ exist? Is the Shroud of Turin really the burial shroud of Jesus or a fake? Go on a privileged visit to the sites where these events took place, study the relics, hear from historians and Biblical scholars about the theories, and decide for yourself if the stories are true and the holy treasure really exists!

THE WATER BOATMAN – HISTORY – Season 1
8.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
In this series, canal enthusiast ALAN HERD travels a popular inland waterways route – The Stourport Ring in central England. Along the way, Alan catches lifts on a variety of boats and visiting boat yards and industrial heritage sites.

MURDER CASEBOOK – HISTORY – Season 1
9.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Fred Dinenage takes a fresh look at the murders that shocked the UK in the 20th century and the killers that committed them. Fred is the Krays’ official biographer and a journalist reporting serious crimes for over forty years. He knows that with certain crimes the myth can take over from the reality of what actually happened. In Murder Casebook Fred takes the viewer step by step through the real story.

Wednesday April 4

FOXTEL ON DEMAND
THE IDES OF MARCH (M) – DAY & DATE PREMIERE
THE DEBT (MA 15+) – DAY & DATE PREMIERE
JUDY MOODY AND THE NOT BUMMER SUMMER (G) – DAY & DATE PREMIERE
HIGHER GROUND (M)
TAKE SHELTER (M)

PARANORMAL COPS – A&E – Season 1
Weekdays at 6.30am
Follow a group of larger-than-life cops who walk one beat during the day as real-life Chicago police officers and another at night when they apply their forensic and investigative expertise to paranormal casework. Responding to the pleas of ordinary people who are victimised by distressing and inexplicable activities in their homes and workplaces, these cops bring their no-nonsense approach to hunting ghosts and real-life police skills to uncover the facts.

BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR – A&E – Season 3
Weekdays at 6.00pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Billy Bretherton and his family who make up “Vexcon”, one of Louisiana’s busiest pest removal companies, are returning to A&E for a third brand new exclusive series. Billy and his family attempt to balance family life with the drama of running a successful business together.

POLICE INTERCEPTORS – CRIME & INVESTIGATION NETWORK – Season 4
Weekdays at 5.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
The Police Interceptors are a 20 strong team of specially selected, police officers, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, outrageously fast cars and a helicopter. Each action-packed episode follows dramatic stories illustrated with some of the most exhilarating footage of real life pursuits and arrests shown on television.

HOOKERS FOR JESUS – CRIME & INVESTIGATION NETWORK
9.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Las Vegas has America’s worst sex-trafficking problem and Annie used to be one of the city’s most notorious hookers. Eventually the drugs, pimp-beatings, and rapes exhausted Annie’s spirit, prompting her to look for a different way to live. Lying in a hospital after a drugs overdose she discovered religion. And when she awoke she determined to help girls trapped in prostitution. A one-woman mission, “Hookers for Jesus”, was born.

Thursday April 5

SHAHS OF SUNSET – ARENA – Season 1
9.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
SHAHS OF SUNSET follows a group of friends who are trying to juggle their active social lives and up-and-coming careers while balancing the demands of their families and traditions. These passionate socialites are fervent on the dating and party scene, but they all face pressures from their family to settle down and marry within the community. From outings on Rodeo Drive to traditional Persian feasts at home, this series celebrates the unique lifestyle of a group of friends who have worked hard for what they have and are not afraid to flaunt it.

RUSSELL HOWARDS GOOD NEWS – THE COMEDY CHANNEL – Season 3
10:00pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Filmed in front of a live studio audience and hosted by the hilarious Russell Howard this topical comedy show offers his unique perspective on the big stories dominating the news outlets from online and print to broadcast.

AXE MEN – A&E – Season 2
Weekdays at 5.00pm
Deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, rugged men make their living doing one of the deadliest jobs in the world, logging. Their mission is to retrieve timber perched on mountainsides too steep to access with machines, it is no easy task. Plagued by mechanical failures, relentless weather, and unpredictable terrain, these brave men risk their lives retrieving the timber with which we built our country.

BIZARRE ER – CRIME & INVESTIGATION NETWORK – Season 2
8.00pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Filmed in hospital wards across the UK, you’ll go behind the scenes to reveal remarkable and often shocking, real life cases, from admission through to treatment and discharge. Not for the faint-hearted it features some of the most extraordinary accidents and injuries as well as weird and wonderful accident-related facts and statistics. Bizarre E.R. offers an eye-watering insight into human ingenuity and our relative indestructibility paying tribute to the doctors and nurses who cope with the most testing situations.

Friday April 6

THE MAGICIANS – FOX8 – Season 2
8.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
The Magicians returns for season 2 with incredible illusions, mind-bending magic and classic tricks with a contemporary twist, performed by some of the world’s best magicians.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS – BIO – Season One
8.30pm – Subscription TV Premiere
Host Scott Cam is joined by a host of Aussie celebrities as they grant wishes and deliver well-deserved rewards and recognition to hard-working Australians who slave away tirelessly for other people and causes.

Sunday, February 5th

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON – HISTORY
6.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
John James Audubon, whose name became synonymous with American conservation, killed thousands of birds during his quest to create ‘Birds in America’. Audubon was at once entrepreneur, artist, scientist, husband, father, legend, and walking contradiction. The self-taught artist and self-made man was praised by royalty, shunned by his in-laws and blackballed by the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MARCO POLO – HISTORY
8.30pm Two ordinary guys – Belliveau, at the time a wedding photographer, and O’Donnell, an artist and former Marine – chronicle their journey as they set out to follow Polo’s historic route.

Monday February 6th

PUB DIG – HISTORY
7.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
English comedian and writer Rory McGrath (of Three Men in a Boat), joins archaeologist Paul Blinkhorn as they root around under the country’s greatest alehouses to reveal the big stories from British history. The duo dig through time to expose the carousing, the plotting and the violence that has shaped Britain’s turbulent past.

KILLER INSTINCT – CRIME & INVESTIGATION NETWORK
Mondays and Tuesdays at 8.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Prepare to enter the mind of the killer with Killer Instincts, the criminal profile series that takes you inside the heads of some of the world’s most brutal and surprising criminal cases. Meet Mark Safarik, former FBI profiler and one of the foremost authorities on criminal behaviour. Each episode follows Mark as he takes viewers through past cases in fascinating, forensic detail. From initial investigation to the final conviction, the stories offer chilling insight into what makes up the homicidal mind.

TRAFFIC COPS – CRIME & INVESTIGATION NETWORK – Season 7
5.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
For eight years Traffic Cops has been pulling in the audiences with its unique blend of drama, extraordinary action, humour and engaging story telling. Quite rightly, it’s regarded as the Daddy of the police observational TV genre.

Thursday, February 9th

CHEF ROBLE AND CO – ARENA – Season 1
9.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Arena serves up a new slice of culinary drama with Chef Roblé & Co. as Roblé Ali risks it all to cater the biggest events New York City has to offer. Chef Roblé Ali has cooked for everyone from red carpet rock stars to award-winning actors, but nothing has prepared him for the stresses and strains of setting up his own high-end catering company.

Saturday February 11th

BRITAIN & IRELAND’S NEXT TOP MODEL  – FOX8 – Season 7
7.30pm – Australian Television Premiere
Britain and Ireland’s most beautiful girls will compete in high fashion photo shoots and catwalk challenges while all living together in the Top Model house. Host Elle McPherson is joined by a judging panel consisting of Julien McDonald, fashion stylist Grace Woodward and male model Charley Speed.

FOX8 – 2011 VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION SHOW
Tuesday, December 13 at 7.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Just in time for summer, Victoria’s Secret is set to make the temperature rise with the 2011 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The annual lingerie runway show takes place in New York and this year’s Angel line-up includes Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio and Miranda Kerr

ARENA – THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS
SEASON 2
Tuesdays from December 13 at 8.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Critically acclaimed, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills returns for a second season of glitz, glamour, and high drama.

FOXTEL ON DEMAND – Wednesday December 14
CONAN THE BARBARIAN (MA 15+) – DAY & DATE PREMIERE
The tale of Conan the Cimmerian and his adventures across the continent of Hyboria on a quest to avenge the murder of his father and the slaughter of his village. 
MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS (G)
The life of a businessman begins to change after he inherits six penguins, and as he transforms his apartment into a winter wonderland, his professional side starts to unravel.

THE HISTORY CHANNEL – THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN TWO HOURS
Wednesday December 14 at 7.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Did you know that one percent of the white noise you see on your television is actually background radiation from The Big Bang? This CGI-driven special tells the epic 14 billion year history of our world in two hours.

FOX8 – FRINGE
SEASON 1
Thursday December 15 at 9.30pm – Channel Premiere
Set in Boston, the FBI’s Fringe Division is formed when Special Agent Olivia Dunham enlists institutionalized ‘fringe’ scientist Walter Bishop and his globe-trotting, jack-of-all-trades son, Peter, to help in the investigation of an airline disaster that defies human logic.

BIO – AUTISTIC SUPERSTARS
Thursday, December 15 and 22 at 8.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Reggie Yates seeks out a cast of talented young people with autism to perform at a major music event he is planning to host in London.

CRIME & INVESTIGATION NETWORK – BRITAIN’S BRAVEST COPS
SEASON 1
Thursdays from December 15 at 9.30pm – Australian Exclusive Premiere
Britain’s Bravest Cops tells their stories and highlights the day-to-day bravery of officers on the frontline.

THE HISTORY CHANNEL – POCAHONTAS: HER TRUE STORY
Saturday December 17 at 9.30pm – Channel Premiere
Disney’s Pocahontas, a feature-length animated film, tells the story of a beautiful Indian maiden and her love for a white settler. It’s a romantic story – but the true story is far more interesting than the fantasy version. The white settler was not a glamorous young hulk but a short, red-bearded adventurer of twenty-seven. And Pocahontas was not a nubile young maiden but a twelve-year-old child.

FOXTEL is making it easier for iQHD subscribers to discover its 21 dedicated High Definition (HD) channels in the TV Guide and enjoy the finest in television, getting even more out of their FOXTEL.

From Thursday, December 1, FOXTEL iQHD subscribers who also subscribe to the HD channels package will see the 21 HD channels ‘swap’ positions in the TV Guide with their Standard Definition (SD) channel counterparts.

For example, HD subscribers will find FOX SPORTS 1 HD at channel number 501, with FOX SPORTS 1 moving to channel 203. When using the Remote Control simply key in channel 501, and FOXTEL will go straight to the HD version of FOX SPORTS 1.

This means it’s simple to watch more of FOXTEL’s premium HD channels by making them simple to find when navigating the TV Guide, providing easy access to the breathtaking picture and sound quality. FOXTEL in stunning High Definition gives viewers unparalleled colour, crispness and clarity across the fantastic selection of world-class HD programming that FOXTEL broadcasts.

FOXTEL Executive Director of Product, Jim Rudder said, “FOXTEL subscribers have access to the widest range of premium High Definition channels across all genres offering in HD over 1500 hours of LIVE sport each month, popular general entertainment series, exclusive drama, lifestyle shows, factual programming and blockbuster movies. FOXTEL is the leading HD broadcaster in Australia and these TV Guide changes reflect the increasing demand from our subscribers wanting to watch their favourite TV in HD.”

FOXTEL General Manager of Platform Development, Jeffrey Smith said, “FOXTEL’s TV Guide is the gateway to finding programs subscribers love and to discovering new shows to watch. We are constantly making upgrades to the TV Guide so it’s simpler to use and with more features for viewer discovery. The TV Guide channel updates will help make great TV in HD even easier to find and enhance the discovery of new programs for the ultimate HD experience at home.”

The SD channels are still available at the bottom of each programming genre for recording flexibility, so there’s no need to worry about taking up too much memory space on the iQHD. For example to find FOX SPORTS 1 (SD version), press the TV Guide on the Remote Control, choose the Sport genre then scroll to the end of the Sport channel list, select FOX SPORTS 1.

The TV Guide will be automatically updated via a software upgrade from December 1 meaning FOXTEL iQHD subscribers won’t have to do a thing to see the new HD channel positions on the TV Guide.

ENJOY THE BEST IN HD TV WITH FOXTEL

FOXTEL is making it easier for iQHD subscribers to discover its 21 dedicated High Definition (HD) channels in the TV Guide and enjoy the finest in television, getting even more out of their FOXTEL.

From Thursday, December 1, FOXTEL iQHD subscribers who also subscribe to the HD channels package will see the 21 HD channels ‘swap’ positions in the TV Guide with their Standard Definition (SD) channel counterparts. For example, HD subscribers will find FOX SPORTS 1 HD at channel number 501, with FOX SPORTS 1 moving to channel 203. When using the Remote Control simply key in channel 501, and FOXTEL will go straight to the HD version of FOX SPORTS 1.

This means it’s simple to watch more of FOXTEL’s premium HD channels by making them simple to find when navigating the TV Guide, providing easy access to the breathtaking picture and sound quality. FOXTEL in stunning High Definition gives viewers unparalleled colour, crispness and clarity across the fantastic selection of world-class HD programming that FOXTEL broadcasts.

FOXTEL Executive Director of Product, Jim Rudder said, “FOXTEL subscribers have access to the widest range of premium High Definition channels across all genres offering in HD over 1500 hours of LIVE sport each month, popular general entertainment series, exclusive drama, lifestyle shows, factual programming and blockbuster movies. FOXTEL is the leading HD broadcaster in Australia and these TV Guide changes reflect the increasing demand from our subscribers wanting to watch their favourite TV in HD.”

FOXTEL General Manager of Platform Development, Jeffrey Smith said, “FOXTEL’s TV Guide is the gateway to finding programs subscribers love and to discovering new shows to watch. We are constantly making upgrades to the TV Guide so it’s simpler to use and with more features for viewer discovery. The TV Guide channel updates will help make great TV in HD even easier to find and enhance the discovery of new programs for the ultimate HD experience at home.”

The SD channels are still available at the bottom of each programming genre for recording flexibility, so there’s no need to worry about taking up too much memory space on the iQHD. For example to find FOX SPORTS 1 (SD version), press the TV Guide on the Remote Control, choose the Sport genre then scroll to the end of the Sport channel list, select FOX SPORTS 1.

The TV Guide will be automatically updated via a software upgrade from December 1 meaning FOXTEL iQHD subscribers won’t have to do a thing to see the new HD channel positions on the TV Guide.

This chart outlines the new HD and SD channel numbers:

FOX8 HD – 108
   

FOX8 – 208

Lifestyle HD – 106
   

Lifestyle – 216

UKTV HD – 103
   
UKTV – 214

W HD – 115
   
W – 215

MTVN Live HD – 812
   
MTVN Live – 252

BBC Knowledge HD – 612
   
BBC Knowledge – 242

Discovery HD – 608
   
Discovery – 232

Nat Geo HD – 610
   
Nat Geo – 236

Nat Geo WILD HD – 616
   
Nat Geo WILD – 238

ESPNHD – 508
   
ESPN – 211

ESPN2HD – 509
   
ESPN2 – 212

FOX SPORTS 1HD – 501
   

FOX SPORTS 1 – 203

FOX SPORTS 2HD – 502

FOX SPORTS 2 – 204

FOX SPORTS 3HD – 503

FOX SPORTS 3 – 205

SPEED HD – 505

SPEED – 206

showcase HD – 403

showcase – 220

showtime HD – 401

showtime – 219

show action HD – 406

show action – 221

Movie One HD – 411

Movie One – 224

Starpics 1 HD – 415

Starpics 1 – 225

Starpics 2 HD – 416

Starpics 2 – 226

The following features will remain as they are and will not be affected by the HD changes:

Series Link – all links set up should continue to record.

Favourites – if HD subscribers have FOX8 (SD) set up as a favourite, it will remain in the list but now will be listed at 208.

iSuggest – HD subscribers recording events from iSuggest will get the standard version of the program, unless they specifically select content from the HD category.

Active

Record Me – this feature will remain the same and will schedule records from the channel currently being watched.

Online TV Guide – this will display the standard definition TV Guide when users are logged in. This means FOX8 will be listed at 108 and FOX8HD will be listed at 208. The HD channels will be found from 200 to 252 in the Online TV Guide.

There will be no impact to standard FOXTEL, iQ subscribers and iQHD subscribers who do not subscribe to FOXTEL’s HD channels. These subscribers will continue to see the HD channels in the TV Guide at the 200 numbers, exactly as they do now.

Chairman and CEO of News Ltd John Hartigan has stepped down, with former Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams taking on the role.

Meanwhile former CEO of the Australian and News Digital Media, Richard Freudenstein steps into the Foxtel CEO job.

Hartigan had served at the company as group editorial director, then as chief executive for 11 years and CEO and chairman for the past six.

“John’s decision will end a distinguished 41 year career with News in which he has given us exemplary service and incredible leadership,” News Corporation chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch said.

There was industry speculation that management changes were on the agenda when Murdoch announced he was visiting the Australian offices and it is now clear that he will take over as chairman of News Limited.  

Former Foxtel CEO Kim Williams steps up to replace the retiring Hartigan as CEO of News Ltd, taking up the role on December 5. He has served as chief executive of the pay TV business since 2001.  

Murdoch said: “Kim is an exceptionally talented media executive who, over the past decade has transformed Foxtel from a small pay TV business into one of the most innovative and substantial television operations in Australia over the past decade”.

“In his new role, Kim will be responsible for building a strong leadership position for News Limited in digital media in Australia, significantly expanding the audience for our journalism and ensuring that our newspapers remain clear leaders in each of their markets. I believe Kim is perfectly placed to drive the next phase of this exciting transformation.”

As part of the changes, former CEO of the Australian and News Digital Media Richard Freudenstein (pictured) will replace Kim Williams at Foxtel as chief executive and managing director.

Freudenstein paid tribute to Williams saying: “I have worked around the world and Foxtel is by any measure an outstanding company. Kim, his management team and Foxtel’s people have transformed Australia’s media landscape.”

Current chief operations officer at the Australian John Allan will report into Kim Williams, until the latter makes a decision as to the final leadership structure.

Over at News Digital Media, chief operating officer Stuart Spiteri will take over the reins in the interim.