After years of resistance, the Seven Network today became the last Australian channel to allow its digital signal to be retransmitted on Foxtel.
Foxtel CEO and MD Kim Williams and Seven Media Group CEO David Leckie signed the retransmission agreement, which allows Foxtel subscribers to watch Seven and gain access to the channel’s electronic programming guide (EPG).
In a statement dated 14 February (PDF file), Mr Leckie said: “This is great news for our viewers and we are excited about this new positive phase in our relationship with FOXTEL.”
“Seven’s objective is to deliver our programming to all Australians, and we look forward to making our programming content and information available to more viewers than ever before.”
Residents of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and the Gold Coast will be able to watch Seven digital via their Foxtel boxes within weeks.
Prior to today’s announcement, Seven was the only Australian television network to have their analogue signal rebroadcast on Foxtel without program information. Previous hold-out in September 2007.
No word yet on what impact the agreement will have on Seven’s TiVo plans.