New owners of Home entertainment device Fetch will pay a $3.99 monthly access fee for the core Fetch product which includes 30 Movies per month, Free to Air TV via the internet, as well as games, and over 25 entertainment and special interest channels.

This new approach means anyone who buys a Fetch box in retail stores will need to pay this monthly fee for the service, pivoting Fetch from being a “Box” to a “Service” and resetting the overall business plan for the company.

Importantly, the change does not apply to existing customers, nor does it apply to Fetch Customers who get Fetch through Telstra.

“We are democratising premium home entertainment so everyone can have the experience without the price tag.” said Dominic Arena, CEO of Fetch TV. ” Australian families are juggling more subscriptions than ever with ‘fragmentation fatigue’ being real and the rising cost of providing family entertainment is making it harder to keep up. Our research confirms that while households love content, they are looking for a better way to manage it and save some money along the way. By introducing an access subscription at less than the cost of one coffee per month, and enabling Fetch customers to add no-contract content packs from as little as $7.99 or the entire Ultimate experience with 40+ premium TV channels plus view-on-demand for only $24.99, Fetch has hands-down the best value home entertainment solution in market.” 

Fetch Mini is available in retail for $159 and Fetch Mighty for $599, after which you pay the existing $5 activation fee, and then a monthly subscription starting at $3.99.

The basic Fetch Access subscription unlocks the following Fetch features:

  • Free-to-Air TV via Internet: Watch over 30 Free-to-Air channels streamed over the internet, even without an antenna. 
  • Included TV Channels: Enjoy 25+ extra lifestyle, entertainment, and special-interest channels, streamed over the internet. 
  • Movie Box: Get 30 curated on-demand movies each month, refreshed daily. 
  • Movie & TV Store: Access to 11,000+ movies and TV shows to buy or rent (additional charges apply). 
  • Streaming apps: Direct access to popular international and local streaming apps, such as Netflix, Paramount+, Stan, and many more, all in one simple menu (separate subscriptions required). 
  • Universal Voice Search: Search across channels, movies, shows, and apps with one voice command. 
  • TV Guide & Catch-Up: Browse live and catch-up TV together, including simpler reverse browsing of past programs and direct access to major BVOD apps. 
  • Games: Play 30+ family-friendly games using just your Fetch remote. 
  • Mobile App (Fetch Mobi): Search, browse, and watch on the go, and manage recordings on the Mighty – available on both Android and iOS phones and tablets. 

A monthly fee on Fetch is not a new thing, for a long time access to the Fetch “Movie Box” attracted a nominal fee (was most recently $2.99), and the Fetch Optional Channel Packs have always been a great value way to add on subscription channels to the Fetch TV guide.

Many existing Channel pack customers will likely see strong value in the newly aligned Pack plans, with a Free Fetch Movie Rental Credit each month meaning you’re getting even greater value than ever before.

Fetch Premium Access will be $11.98 per month, which is the basic $3.99 Access plan plus a single Channel Pack at $7.99.

Fetch Ultimate Access puts all four Channel packs at $24.99 plus the Access plan for a total monthly cost of $28.98 per month.

Both those plans offer the free Movie Rental credit each month.

This re-think of the Fetch offering comes as Fetch ups its marketing to target the million or so Aussie homes paying extraordinary fees each month for the Foxtel service.

The Fetch website now features marketing demonstrating “saving $49 a month on TV” which is a direct comparison to Foxtel’s $78 per month plan and shows clearly who Fetch is targeting with this new approach

The changes are sure to upset rusted on long-time Fetch users, none of whom need to worry because it’s very clear this new approach is for new customers only.

But, for the simplicity of Free to Air TV via the internet alone – there’s an argument it’s well worth it. By the way, the integration of those basic TV channel streaming services is not a small engineering feat, the cost of creating and maintaining those services alone are an argument for a monthly fee – it’s perhaps only those without an antenna that can see the value in it.

Foxtel’s Hubbl box is the only alternative choice for Free to Air via the internet – a job that it does very well overall, but with Hubbl’s future uncertain – Fetch appear to be setting themselves up to capitalise on a new world where TV is all via the internet, and streaming services all packed into a single remote is what people really want and need.

For those clinging to their existing Foxtel box and subscription, this $3.99 a month deal won’t be of any consequence.

Fascinating times ahead!