Contributed by guest blogger Benn Watson, VP International Sales, GRB Entertainment
I often get a look of shock and horror from my US colleagues and friends when I reminisce about the 5 Free TV channels we had in Australia during my childhood, and in fact, most of my life. No, I’m not 100 years old (though I often feel like it) and weren’t from a remote outback cattle station desperate for entertainment. That was the merely the reality of the Australia television industry up until 1995 when Foxtel entered the market with the countries first Pay TV platform with an amazing 20 channels. At the time, take-up of the new platform was slow and they’re offering of 1970’s US sitcoms barely justified the high price so most household entertainment needs relied on the 3 commercial networks, 2 public stations and VHS videos from Blockbuster.
I often get a look of shock and horror from my US colleagues and friends when I reminisce about the 5 Free TV channels we had in Australia during my childhood, and in fact, most of my life. No, I’m not 100 years old (though I often feel like it) and weren’t from a remote outback cattle station desperate for entertainment. That was the merely the reality of the Australia television industry up until 1995 when Foxtel entered the market with the countries first Pay TV platform with an amazing 20 channels. At the time, take-up of the new platform was slow and they’re offering of 1970’s US sitcoms barely justified the high price so most household entertainment needs relied on the 3 commercial networks, 2 public stations and VHS videos from Blockbuster.