Fetch is shaking up its free-to-watch channel offering once again, announcing the addition of four new channels from early June—Hell’s Kitchen, Bondi Vet, Life Down Under, and Now 90s 00s.
At the same time, a number of existing channels will be removed from May 31, including Action Hollywood Movies, People Are Awesome, InFast, InTrouble, and ITV Entertain.
This latest change follows a string of recent platform updates that have sparked backlash among users, including a recent major software overhaul that has prioritised streaming content over traditional features like recordings, which are now harder to access.
Many long-time users have criticised the direction Fetch is taking, feeling that core PVR functionality has been sidelined in favour of a more streaming and FAST-style experience.
Channel turnover has also been high. Kids channels BBC Kids and CBeebies left in October last year and just weeks ago, Comedy Central was quietly removed from the platform, with its future in Australia still unclear.
While Fetch has added features such as in-home gaming and expanded its entertainment offering, some users have questioned the value of the included channels—especially when many are already available for free elsewhere.
Hell’s Kitchen and Bondi Vet, for instance, are both part of the 7Plus lineup, and Life Down Under appears to be the same FAST channel launched last year in Europe by local producer WTFN through Fred Media.
Meanwhile, Now 90s & 00s is likely sourced from UK-based Penny Street TV Ltd, a Universal Music Group property known for its music nostalgia programming.
While Fetch maintains its commitment to “content that feels more relevant and enjoyable,” the growing emphasis on freely available channels and streaming content has left some subscribers wondering whether the platform’s paid model still offers the value it once did.
