Foxtel Arts was a subscription television arts channel available in Australia on the Foxtel platform.[1]
 | |
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV 16:9) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Foxtel Networks |
| Sister channels | Foxtel Networks channels |
| History | |
| Launched | 28 March 2015 |
| Replaced | Studio (2015) Foxtel Smooth (2020) |
| Closed | 1 September 2021 |
| Replaced by | Fox Docos |
| Links | |
| Website | http://www.foxtelarts.com.au |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Foxtel Go | Channel 133 & 806 |
History
editFoxtel Arts replaced the SBS owned arts channel Studio, and became the third iteration of a dedicated arts channel on Foxtel in six years.[2] The Foxtel owned and operated channel launched at 10am AEST on 28 March 2015.[3] Part of the reason for launching the channel was to give Foxtel the ability to pitch programming to viewers aged over 55, a demographic the service began to pursue in 2014.[4] In addition, the launch came at a time when Foxtel sought to bring more channels 'in-house' in order to obtain more exclusive content deals to increase their competitiveness with new streaming services such as Netflix and Stan.[5]
From 11 October 2017, Foxtel Arts became a part-day channel, and was only broadcast between 6pm and midnight. This was due to a move by Foxtel to enable Foxtel Arts to share the same broadcast bandwidth as Foxtel Smooth, which was in turn only available between midnight and 6pm.[6] It was then reverted to a 24-hour channel on 1 July 2020, following Foxtel Smooth's closure.[7][8]
On 1 September 2021, the channel was closed down and replaced by FOX Docos on channel 129 on both Foxtel and the streaming service BINGE.[9]
Programming
editThe channel's first local commission was the film and television review program Screen, hosted by Margaret Pomeranz and Graeme Blundell, which premiered on 2 April 2015.[10][11][12] The series was renewed in 2018,[13] and as of 2021[update], the series is ongoing. Past episodes are uploaded to YouTube.[14]
Regular programming included programming featuring or related to opera, ballet, music, theatre, dance, classical and contemporary performance, as well as documentary specials and series from cinema, literature, visual art and artists.[15]
References
edit- ^ "Foxtel Arts: art, artists and their creative achievements". Foxtel. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ^ "Foxtel to replace Studio with Arts HD channel". The Australian. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
- ^ "Foxtel Set Launch Date For New Arts Channel". The Music. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
- ^ Barrett, Dan (26 November 2014). "Arts HD Further Strengthens Foxtel's Bid For 55+". Televised Revolution. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
- ^ Perry, Kevin (27 November 2014). "Foxtel confirms new HD Arts Channel as SVOD strategy becomes clearer @Foxtel". DeciderTV. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ "Foxtel downgrades Smooth, Foxtel Arts. Axes LifeStyle YOU". TV Tonight. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- ^ Challenor, Jake (3 June 2020). "Foxtel confirms its Smooth music channel won't continue". The Music Network. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ Perry, Kevin (3 June 2020). "FOXTEL CONFIRMS CLOSURE OF SMOOTH MUSIC CHANNEL". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ Jagger, Chris (31 August 2021). "Foxtel and Binge just got a brand new channel". Finder.com.au. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ Groves, Don (17 March 2015). "Plenty of local content on Foxtel's new arts channel". If.com.au. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
- ^ Koziol, Michael (29 January 2015). "Margaret Pomeranz to join Foxtel". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ "Foxtel signs Margaret Pomeranz". IF Magazine. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Screen returns to Foxtel Arts in March". Ryno's TV. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Screen on Foxtel Arts". YouTube.
- ^ Knox, David (28 March 2015). "Foxtel Arts channel launches". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 August 2015.