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Austar

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Austar United Communications Ltd
Company typePublic
IndustrySubscription Television
Dial-Up Internet
Mobile Telephony
Founded1995
HeadquartersSydney, New South Wales
Gold Coast, Queensland
Key people
John Porter, CEO
Vacant, Chairman
ProductsAustar Television
Austarnet
Austar Mobile
Websitewww.austar.com.au www.austarunited.com.au
An Austar Remote

Austar is an Australian telecommunications company. Its main business activity is Pay TV, although it is also involved with internet access and mobile phones. The company commenced operations in 1995, and thus celebrated its 10th birthday in 2005.

It is owned by Austar United Communications Limited (ASX: AUN). Austar United was 81.5% owned by United Austar Partners, a partnership made up of a US-based company, Liberty Global, and Castle Harlan Australian Mezzanine Partners (CHAMP), the remaining 19.5% of shares are traded on the Australian Stock Exchange.

In December 2005, CHAMP sold their share in the United Austar Partners partnership with Liberty Global purchasing up to 51.5% and the rest of CHAMP's shares being sold to institutional shareholders.

Austar also owns 50% of XYZnetworks, a pay television program provider, a 50-50 joint venture between Foxtel and Austar.

Mobile Telephony (Austar Mobile)

Established in 2000, Austar Mobile offers mobile services via resale agreements with Optus and Telstra for access to their GSM and CDMA mobile networks respectively.

At the end of 2004, there were about 30,000 customers.

Dial-Up Internet (Austarnet)

Established in 2000, Austarnet currently outsources its network to COMindico and is available across Australia.

At the end of 2004, there were about 49,000 customers

Subscription Television (Austar Television / Austar Digital)

Austar's main business is subscription television, serving customers outside of the major metro areas. It takes programming from both Foxtel and Optus services, and operates in both analog and digital platforms.

Austar Television is available in 2.4 million homes in regional and rural areas of all mainland states (bar Western Australia), Tasmania & the capital cities of Darwin & Hobart. Subscriber numbers to Austar Television are second behind Foxtel. Delivery methods include utlising the Optus C-Class Satellite Optus C1 and a digital cable network in Darwin

Austar Digital

Launched in March 2004, Austar Digital subscribers account for about 75% of all of Austar's Television Subscribers. In October 2004 the cable network utilised in Darwin was converted to allow the Austar Digital product to be sold over that delivery method

The Mystar Personal Digital Recorder

Announced in November 2005, Thomson SA have been awarded the contract for the development of a 4 tuner PDR, two of which will be dedicated for Australia's Digital Terrestrial free-to-air (FTA) service. Its estimated release is set for February 2007.

Channel lineup

Note: this is the Austar Digital package. The Analog package is considerably different, and some channels are available only as add-ons to the standard Analog package. Some businesses (namely hotels and motels) take on a customized package, with some channels not included. Please check with www.austar.com.au for details.

Starter Pack

Sports

Living

  • The Comedy Channel +2
  • Hallmark Channel
  • Lifestyle Food
  • How To Channel
  • VH1
  • UK TV
  • Discovery Home & Health
  • E!

Quest

  • The History Channel
  • A1
  • Discover Travel & Living
  • Discovery Science
  • Ovation
  • The Biography Channel
  • Animal Planet
  • Crime and Investigation

Fun

  • Animal Planet
  • Boomerang
  • Club [V]
  • The Comedy Channel+2
  • ESPN
  • Fuel TV
  • MTV
  • Nick Jr.
  • Playhouse Dsney

Movie options

  • Movie Network
    • Movie Extra
    • Movie Greats
    • Movie One
    • Movie Two
    • World Movies Channel;
    • Turner Classic Movies
  • Showtime
    • Showtime
    • Showtime 2
    • Showtime Greats
    • Turner Classic Movies
    • World Movies Channel
  • World Movies
    • World Movies

Special Interest Options

  • Greek (Antenna Pacific)
  • Italian (RAI International)

History Option

  • History Channel

Racing Option

  • TVN

Game Options

  • Playin'TV
  • MindGames
  • The Arcade

Channel line-up

Channels on the Austar Digital service:

General
Regional ABC TV variants

These are not available on Darwin cable.

Movies
Sports
Games
  • Channel 550 - Games World
  • Channel 555 - The Arcade
  • Channel 565 - Mind Games
  • Channel 585 - Playin' TV
News
Factual
Kids
Music
Speciality

Austar/Unwired Alliance

In 2005, Austar United and wireless internet provider Unwired announced a deal to swap spectrum under either companies control to allow for interoperable wireless broadband services across the country.

Austar holds a considerable number of 2.5 & 3.5 GHz spectrum licences that they have purchased for delivery of their former MMDS Service and for an ill-fated attempt at wireless internet through a joint-venture with Chello

The deal will also allow WIMAX wireless services to commence in Australia.

June 2006 Austar launched it's first planned wireless broadband area in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales with another 24 areas in Australia to get Austar wireless broadband by the end of 2007

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