Telstra has tonight revealed launch details for its highly anticipated new set-top box, the Telstra TV.
The Telstra TV is the telco’s latest attempt to find a home on Australia’s TV screens. Rather than creating their own video content, Telstra is hoping to provide an easy hub for all of Australia’s existing services. Australian Apps available at launch will include Netflix, Presto, SBS OnDemand, Bigpond Movies, 9Jumpin, and 7Plus. The device also includes global apps including Youtube, Vimeo, Crunchyroll, RedBull TV, and the Wall Street Journal.
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Local SVOD service Stan is expected to release an app for the device in November, while ABC iview, and Tenplay are promised as ‘coming soon’.
The new Telstra TV will go on sale Oct 27th for $109 outright, or is free for new or recontracted Telstra customers who subscribe to the Large or XL Bundles. (Pre-Orders for the device are available now). Telstra is also promising a special Christmas promotion that will include 3 months free access to Stan and Presto and a $15 Bigpond Movies voucher.
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The new Telstra TV replaces the existing T-Box service, and is built upon the Roku2 hardware that has been available in the US since 2011. While the US version supports over 2000 apps, the Telstra edition will be closed to allow only apps that Telstra approves.
Telstra’s main competition in this sector will likely come from the new Apple TV device which is expected to be released in Australia before Christmas, and will feature a significant greater range of apps.
Content viewed via the BigPond Movies and Presto apps will be unmetered for Telstra Home Broadband customers however all other apps will effect customer data limits.
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