Fetch TV Review: The Alternative Pay TV Service

Review was updated on 20 September 2023

Traditionally, the pay TV landscape in Australia has been dominated by Foxtel. While their service is good, there are now several alternatives for those who’d rather branch out. Fetch TV offers an excellent alternative to other pay TV platforms.

It combines free-to-air and subscription TV channels, streaming services, catch-up apps, a movie & TV store, and (if you go for the Mighty option) a class-leading DVR all in a single service. Fetch TV delivers its content to you via broadband internet, rather than satellite, so you won’t even need a dish installed.

If you’re considering purchasing Fetch TV, either as a standalone box or through a broadband bundle, check out our Fetch TV review first. You’ll find everything you need to know about the service, as well as some great plans and deals you can take advantage of.

What is Fetch TV?

With its wide range of functions, Fetch TV is primarily a streaming TV service, but it’s also a digital TV tuner (for watching and recording free-to-air channels) and a movie purchase and rental service. It’s an app platform via a TV box, giving you access to most of the major free and paid streaming services, from Netflix to ABC iView and everything in between.

Each Fetch box requires an internet connection to function, either through an ethernet cable or a WiFi connection. This is required even for broadcast TV, as Fetch obtains the TV guide from its servers rather than over the air from digital TV broadcasts (this is so it can manage both subscription and free-to-air channels through a single TV guide interface). Using an ethernet cable is best, as this gives you the strongest bandwidth connection.

The free-to-air (FTA) channels themselves are obtained through a conventional TV antenna, not the internet connection, so you’ll still need an antenna cable to watch and record the FTA TV channels. Check out our complete TV guide to find out what’s streaming on free-to-air.

There’s also a free Fetch app, enabling you to watch selected entertainment channels, movies, and recordings on your phone or tablet, as well as scheduling recordings remotely.

Fetch TV Plans and Pricing

Fetch TV’s three boxes can be rented from several internet service providers (ISPs), or can be purchased outright from a number of retailers such as JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, and Domayne. Bundled inclusions and subscription offerings vary depending on where your box comes from.

If you are tempted to buy a second-hand Fetch TV box, be very careful to check whether it’s an ISP-sourced set-top box or a retail box, as the ISP boxes are coded to their specific network and will only work with an internet connection provided by the original broadband provider.

As such, it’s better to bundle your Fetch box into your home internet package. Numerous broadband providers, like iPrimus and Dodo, offer Fetch TV as an add-on to your broadband. That way, you can get it cheaper and bring all your payments into one simple bill.

Bundling Fetch TV with Internet

Several ISPs are on board with Fetch, including iPrimus, iiNet, Internode, Westnet, Dodo, and Aussie Broadband – all of which are offering their own deals. If your existing ISP has a Fetch TV package, it’s worth heading down this route over purchasing a retail Fetch box. The Fetch Mighty can cost a sizable amount when bought outright, while the Fetch TV Mini and the Fetch TV Mini 4K are a little more affordable.

Many broadband providers offer Fetch TV packages that include everything you need to get connected online and start watching Fetch TV. They’ll provide you with a stable NBN broadband connection, a Fetch TV box, a channel pack subscription and 30 free movies each month.

With any Fetch TV offer from broadband providers, look for either the option to add Fetch to a plan or for bundles that include it. Optus NBN used to offer Fetch as part of their internet bundling, but this is no longer offered due to Telstra’s recent acquisition of Fetch TV.

What’s on Fetch TV?

What’s all this fuss over Fetch TV about anyway? Surely it’s going to contain a lot of good TV if it’s rated so highly, right? Correct – there are tons of top quality films and TV shows on Fetch, as well as a bunch of channel packs and streaming services that make you spoiled for choice over what to watch.

What TV Shows and Movies are on Fetch TV?

TV and movie streaming is where Fetch really shines as a service, providing comprehensive access to a vast amount of content on the one device. There’s also movie and TV show rental on tap for those who need it. With some providers, you also get 30 free movies every month (chosen by Fetch) in their “Movie Box” section – that’s one new movie every day!

Fetch TV’s movie library offers most first-release titles as soon as they become available on other sources (Apple TV+, Google Play, etc). There’s also a reasonable back-catalogue of films, but don’t expect too much in the way of old-timey classics or world movies.

Movie rental prices can vary depending on the film and whether you want to stream it in HD or SD. Back-catalogue titles are cheaper, while recent releases may cost a little more. Many titles are also available for purchase, with prices comparable to other online movie stores.

Users can also buy TV series, either as single episodes or entire series. Game of Thrones, for instance, is available to purchase on Fetch TV, as is the highly acclaimed Big Little Lies. Fetch users can also purchase series like Suits, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Ballers, Outlander, Veep, The Walking Dead, The 100 and many more.

What Sports are Available on Fetch?

While Fetch TV doesn’t have a dedicated sports channel pack, you’ll find both ESPN channels in the “Vibe” channel pack. This will give you a solid 24/7 dose of international sport.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for sports fans, as Fetch allows you to add special interest channel packs that open up access to a lot of premium sports. Optus Sport, now available regardless of which internet provider you’re with, opens up exclusive access to the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Nations League and everything football.

Expanding the sport menu even further is beIN Sports which, across three channels, offers global football, international rugby, and tennis, including LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga, EFL Championship, the Wallabies & All Blacks’ Spring Tours, 6 Nations, Davis Cup, and the WTA Tour. Meanwhile, MMA fans will find all the big UFC fights available live on a pay-per-view basis.

Fetch TV Features

There are plenty of great features and specifications that make Fetch TV a must-have. For one, the hard drive on the Fetch TV Mighty is a respectable 1TB, which allows you to record and store over 500 hours of standard definition TV to watch at your convenience.

By contrast, the Fetch Mini can only stream from the internet and receive live TV channels, though if it’s on the same home network as the Mighty it can access recordings on that device. The Fetch Electronic Program Guide is simple and straightforward, and the excellent remote control doesn’t suffer from being overly complicated either.

The new Fetch TV remote comes with voice controls and universal search, which gives you a single search bar for all your apps and streaming services. You can even search by typing in a famous quote to find the movie or TV show it’s from!

The user interface is modern and simple to navigate, with all the main functions grouped under clear and logical sub-menus. All your streaming services, on-demand apps, and live TV channels are in the same place, making it easy for you to watch your favourite content.

What Channel Packs are Available on Fetch TV?

At the core of the Fetch TV experience are their channel packs. There are four main ones, as well as a selection of specialised packs for those who want international TV channels or premium sports.

When obtained through your internet provider, the Fetch TV service usually comes with your choice of one of the four main channel packs, with the option to add others for a small fee. Titled “Vibe”, “Knowledge”, “Variety”, and “Kids”, these channel packs offer a good cross-section of premium TV channels. Choose the Vibe pack for sport, Knowledge for news and documentaries, and Variety for drama and reality TV.

Those who buy a Fetch box outright through a retail store don’t get any channel packs by default. However, each costs the same as if you purchase them through an ISP, or you can buy all four in the Ultimate pack for a discount. In addition to the paid channel packs, Fetch TV offers broadcasts (and catch-up streaming services) from all the major networks via your TV antenna.

The integration of catch-up apps means you don’t need to worry about recording a lot of content on the free-to-air TV networks, as much of their popular content is available on catch-up for weeks after broadcast. For longer-term viewing and especially for HD picture quality, though, you’ll want to set up recordings from the TV guide. Catch-up services are easily accessed from the main menu.

Fetch TV also has a native YouTube app, plus Netflix, Stan, Hayu, and Amazon Prime Video. Newly added services include Disney Plus, Paramount Plus, BritBox, DocPlay, and many more. Each streaming app requires a separate streaming TV subscription, but they do make the Fetch TV box a one-stop media hub for most of your family’s viewing.

Below, you’ll find more information on what’s included in each of the Fetch TV channel packs:

Fetch TV Boxes

In a world already filled with small black boxes, the latest Fetch TV boxes could be dismissed as just more kit to clutter up your living room. There are three to choose from: the Fetch Mini, the Mini 4K, and the Mighty. So, do their features make Fetch TV a worthwhile addition to your home entertainment system?

The boxes themselves (both the “Mini” and “Mighty” versions) are compact and quite attractive, with “floating” panels which almost make it appear that the box is flying apart in front of your eyes. The box has no buttons on the front, so you’ll be relying totally on the remote control to navigate the interface.

The remote can also be set up to control many TV brands, or the Fetch box can be controlled by a programmable universal remote, such as a Logitech Harmony or similar. Fetch also released a new version of the Mini with 4K capabilities, aptly named the Mini 4K, which is available outright from selected retailers. It offers what the original Fetch Mini version delivers, only better with 4K capabilities and an included Bluetooth voice remote.

How to Contact Fetch Support

If you bought your Fetch box through an internet provider as part of a bundle and you’re having issues with your Fetch TV service, it’s best to get in touch with your broadband provider directly. This is because Fetch doesn’t have access to your account information and can’t troubleshoot your account, but your provider can.

If you purchased a Fetch TV box from a retailer and have an account directly with Fetch, you can contact Fetch themselves. Head over to Fetch TV’s website, log in using your username and password, and follow the online troubleshooting process. If you prefer, you can fill out a short form detailing the problem and Fetch will get back to you via email as soon as possible.

Fetch TV vs Foxtel Now + Kayo Sports

Of course, Fetch TV isn’t the only option if you’re looking for premium TV entertainment and sports delivered via the internet. There are some very real alternatives in the form of Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports that might be worth considering when deciding where to spend your money.

For general TV entertainment, Foxtel Now from Foxtel is certainly loaded with options. It works in a very similar way to Fetch TV in terms of its separation of channels into themed packs that you can add to your service, so it operates as a direct competitor to Fetch TV.

While the cost of entry with Fetch TV is just the box – either outright from an independent retailer or as a monthly-fee option from your internet provider – Foxtel Now is designed to work on streaming devices you may already have and instead asks you to pay for a base channel pack that you can’t opt out of.

Foxtel Now offers substantially more channels than Fetch, including some with content exclusive to Foxtel such as the premium dramas from HBO and FX. It’s a reliable, popular service that offers more than Fetch, but costs more as well.

For sports, Kayo Sports has become the go-to destination for fans of over 50 different sporting codes. For a very reasonable price per month, it represents astonishing value with its wall-to-wall live and on-demand sporting coverage, all of it in high definition.

Kayo has access to the resources of Fox Sports, as well as beIN Sports, so there’s no shortage of first-rate action. There’s also an option to get Kayo from Telstra to take advantage of monthly discounts. However, fans of English football will not find it on Kayo – that’s exclusive to Optus Sport via Fetch.

Fetch TV Review Summary: Pay TV for the Internet Age

At Compare TV, we believe Fetch TV is one of the top TV subscription services on the market. It easily combines free-to-air channels, catch-up services, movies and TV series, and online content (including Netflix and Stan) all in the same place. Another bonus is the mobile app coverage, which means you’ll never have another boring train ride to work since you can watch Fetch content on mobile devices via WiFi and mobile data.

However, one downside to Fetch TV is that the service may lack certain channels and apps that you desire. Since Fetch is a direct competitor of Foxtel, there are no Foxtel-associated apps on Fetch. Services like Kayo Sports, BINGE, and HBO are all missing from Fetch TV.

All in all, though, Fetch TV is a great value, feature-packed alternative for pay TV. Built around a seriously impressive piece of hardware, there’s no doubt that Fetch will end up being the centre of all your TV entertainment.

Fetch TV FAQs

Do you need a technician for Fetch? What streaming services are included? For the answers to these questions and more, check out the following Fetch TV FAQs.