Binge: Everything You Need To Know

What is Foxtel’s new streaming service?

Binge is the latest streaming app from Foxtel and the new home for premium drama in Australia. 

After years of rumours and speculation, Foxtel has finally lifted the curtain on its new streaming service, Binge. Previously known as Project Ares, Binge will not be replacing Foxtel Now entirely. Still, it is in an attractive alternative for all the premium drama and comedy at a more reasonable price.

From the team that brought you Kayo Sports, Foxtel has set the stage for a true Netflix/Stan competitor. From its competitive pricing, to its improved functionality and user experience, Binge is an answer to almost every criticism thrown at Foxtel Now after the few past years.

This week, Foxtel launched Binge just days after it was announced via live stream, confirming its price and launch date, and a swathe of TV shows and movies available on the service.

When did Binge release?

Foxtel launched Binge on Monday, 25 May 2020. 

Binge launched in Australia on Monday, 25 May 2020 on a wide range of devices, including web browsers, smartphones, tablets, Android TV and more.

In May, HBO Max is also launching in the U.S., as are some fancy new original TV shows, like Anna Kendrick’s Love Life and the new ballroom competition show Legendary. So the hype train for HBO’s new service is about to depart the station, and it looks like Foxtel has locked down a first-class ticket.

Foxtel spoke to Reviews.org, confirming that Binge will offer “Warner productions made for HBO Max” when released.

How much does Binge cost?

Between $10 and $18 per month.

Now that the service has launched, we know how much Binge costs.

Binge costs $10 per month for a single SD stream, $14 per month for two HD streams, and $18 per month for four HD streams.

That’s almost exactly what Stan and Netflix charge, though Binge’s top tier is a fraction cheaper. Stan currently costs $10, $14 and $17 per month for its Basic, Standard and Premium plans, and Netflix is not far off at $9.99, $13.99 and $19.99 for its tiered plans. The difference is, Stan and Netflix’s top plans include 4K streaming, whereas Binge doesn’t, which is probably why Foxtel decided to price Binge a little lower.

Foxtel says there are no “plans to offer 4K streaming for Binge.”

There’s also a 2-week free trial of Binge available. So if you give it a crack and  you don’t fancy it, you can cancel without paying a cent.

Here are those plans again.

What TV shows and movies are on Binge?

Drama, comedy, and reality TV from HBO, NBCUniversal, FX, AMC, and more.

After duking it out with Stan for the rights to HBO content ’till the eleventh hour, Foxtel secured the victory it desperately needed and locked down distribution rights for some of the most popular TV shows in history.

Binge offers some of HBO’s most popular series’ (like Game of Thrones, Succession, and Big Little Lies), as well as upcoming original productions, such as the content Americans will access via HBO Max.

Foxtel’s deal with NBCUniversal means Binge is also home to The Office (US), 30 Rock, and Parks and Recreation, and comedy classics Seinfeld and Friends. 

NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service also releases later this year, bringing with it some fresh originals, like the upcoming Battlestar Galactica reboot, true-crime podcast adaptation Dr. Death, and a new adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. 

On HBO Max, we’ll see a new Game of Thrones spin-off, Dune: The Sisterhood (to coincide with the upcoming movie), Close Enough (a new animated series from the creator of Regular Show). As well as new TV shows from the DC Universe, like Green Lantern and Justice League Dark, to name a few.

And all of that primo content will be found on Binge when it comes time to stream in Australia.

Binge offers movies in its catalogue too. Several high profile films have already hit the service, including Hugh Jackman’s latest, Bad Education, and blockbuster movie series’, like Jurassic Park, Fast and the Furious, and more.

What devices is Binge available on?

Web browsers, Telstra TV, smartphones, tablets, Apple TV, Chromecast, and plenty more to come. . 

There’s plenty of options for streaming Binge, with experiences tailored separately for mobile and couch-based viewing.

Here are the Binge-compatible devices available at launch:

• Web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge)
• Telstra TV
• Smartphone (iOS and Android)
• Tablet (iOS and Android)
• Apple TV (Gen 4)
• Google Chromecast
• Android Smart TV

Coming soon…

Binge has also got its eyes set on the following devices, with support coming in the near future:

• Samsung Smart TV (three to four months)
• PlayStation 4 (within a year)

Binge hasn’t announced plans for Xbox One support, but it could be readying support for the Series X.

Can you download Binge content for offline viewing?

Offline viewing is not available on Binge at launch.

Foxtel spoke to Reviews.org prior to launch and confirmed that “offline viewing won’t be available for launch, but it is in the pipeline.” We still don’t know what type of content will be available for offline viewing on Binge, but we’ll keep this section updated with the latest updates.

Does Binge offer 4K streaming?

There are no plans to offer 4K on Binge.

We also asked Foxtel about a potential 4K streaming option for Binge.  Foxtel stated that there are “no current plans to offer 4K streaming for Binge.”