Foxtel has “formalised plans” to offer the Foxtel Play IPTV subscription service as a native Xbox One app, but don’t hold your breath just yet — the company will only say that the service will go live in “the coming months”.
Play allows Foxtel to offer a broad range of on-demand and live channels via IP to people who are either not services or uninterested in the traditional cable TV option.
Foxtel Play had been available via the Xbox 360 since launch, replacing the older Foxtel app. However, the shift over to the next generation Xbox has taken some time — the PS4 version launched in May of this year. According to Foxtel, 20 million hours of Play content has been viewed over the Xbox 360.
The Xbox One app will require a registered Xbox Live account, the same as most other apps available on the platform.
When the Xbox One app goes live, Play will be available on both PS4 and Xbox One, as well as PS3 and Xbox 360. Other native app options include selected LG and Samsung smart TVs, as well as some Samsung Blu-ray players and, of course, PC and Mac.
A Play subscription includes access to Foxtel Go, the mobile version for smartphone or tablet.
In a media statement, Microsoft Australia Xbox head, Jeremy Hinton, said, “this latest milestone in our already game-changing relationship puts the latest and greatest movies and TV shows into the hands of our fans, and adds to the ever growing line-up of Australian and international content available to all Xbox One owners.”