iWorld
Foxtel to launch streaming service on 25 May
MUMBAI: Australian pay TV company Foxtel will launch a new entertainment streaming service on 25 May, entering the crowded streaming market.
The official announcement has ended all speculations regarding the launch that have been doing the rounds.
The next-generation streaming service, which will offer more than 10,000 hours of content including movies and dramas, will be competing with giants like Netflix, Amazon and Disney+.
Though there has not been any official announcement of the name, Foxtel had recently registered ‘Binge’ brand name and logo trademarks.
It is still not known the kind of subscription model the new streaming service will adopt. Media reports say it could be similar to that of Kayo, Foxtel’s sports streaming platform, which works on a monthly subscription free model.
The platform will be hosting content from Sony, BBC Warner Bros, and HBO Max. Over the last one-and-half years, Foxtel has been renegotiating content deals with studios to get SVOD rights for the new streaming service.
“There has been a lot of speculation about our new streaming service and its name, and we are pleased to finally be ready for the big reveal to Australia next week,” says Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany.
He termed the streaming service as Foxtel’s ‘growth engine’. The purpose of the new OTT, he said, will be to target consumers who seek to consume the premium content offered by the company.
“We have been beta-testing the service for a few weeks and we are sure Australians will love everything about it. It brings an exciting new brand to younger streaming audiences with a very different and compelling product experience, and a distinctly curated mix of the best drama and movies from the world’s best entertainment brands,” he added.
He said that the launch will be another milestone in the Foxtel Group’s strategy to transform itself and bring its unparalleled catalogue of entertainment and sports to even more viewers in Australia. “Our goal is to consolidate our position as Australia’s preeminent subscription television and streaming provider,” he said.
Foxtel’s subscription television service has 2.5 million customers, providing premium experience – the best of television and on-demand services.
Gaming
Sony raises PS5 prices for second time in under a year
US disc edition jumps $100 to $649.99 as memory costs surge.
MUMBAI: Sony just hit the pause button on affordable gaming because when memory prices skyrocket, even the Playstation has to pay the premium. Sony has announced its second price increase for the Playstation 5 range in less than a year, citing pressures in the global economic landscape and a sharp rise in memory component costs driven by AI demand.
In the US, the PS5 disc edition will rise from $549.99 to $649.99, a $100 hike while the digital edition increases to $599.99. The more powerful PS5 Pro will jump $150 to $899.99. The Playstation Portal remote player will also rise by $50 to $249.99. The new prices take effect on 2 April 2026.
Similar increases have been applied in the UK (£90 per model), Europe and Japan. Sony last raised PS5 prices in the US in August 2025.
“We know that price changes impact our community, and after careful evaluation, we found this was a necessary step to ensure we can continue delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences to players worldwide,” Sony said in a blog post.
The hikes come amid an unprecedented surge in memory prices, as manufacturers prioritise supply for AI data centres. Analysts say Sony had likely secured price protections for components that have now expired, forcing the company to protect its hardware margins.
Ampere Analysis research director of games Piers Harding-Rolls told CNBC that further increases from Microsoft and Nintendo would not be surprising, though Nintendo may hesitate to raise the price of its recently launched Switch 2 while establishing the new platform.
The increases arrive eight months before the highly anticipated release of GTA 6, which is expected to drive strong console sales. However, early reactions online have been a mix of disappointment and resignation, with growing concern that premium gaming is increasingly becoming a hobby for higher-income players.
In a sector already grappling with tariffs, inflation and component shortages, Sony’s move underscores a tough reality: even the most popular consoles are not immune to the rising cost of keeping up with the latest technology.
