Mystar HD

[earlsdon]

Just received an email from Austar.... (Have deleted the pictures)
To bad about the $100 - this $100 as I have posted elsewhere at Austech - means I will not be taking up Austar on their offer...

Dear ........

They're here! Our MyStar HD set top boxes have arrived and we've reserved one just for you – but due to the high demand, we can only hold it until November 15. So don't delay, order MyStar HD today.

MyStar HD is going to change the way you watch TV forever and we're sure you're as excited as we are. It's pretty cool, actually. MyStar HD can....
Record two shows at the same time, including your local HD & digital channels~ˆ†
Store up to 90 hours** of your recorded shows, at the touch of a button
Pause and rewind live TV (doesn't everyone need a pause button sometimes)
Use HDMI technology for the clearest picture and sound ever~
Give you access to our 13 brand new HD channels°

So what's the deal? $100 to upgrade to MyStar HD, plus $14.95/month for the box and only $5°/month to get the HD channels in your package.

Be the first to experience TV the way it should be – place your order today!

Cheers
The AUSTAR Team

PS Remember: order MyStar HD before 13 December 2009 and we'll give you a second entry into the draw to win a spectacular HD package worth over $3,800¤!

[Smacca]

Wait, $14.95pm for MyStarHD (Foxtel iQ2 = $10pm) and only $5pm for the HD channels (Foxtel = $16pm)??

I wonder what channels they haven't included in the HD package? Or have they made up for it by upping the monthly MyStarHD rental? Weird old Austar...

[porkchops]

I believe its unit pricing:

$14.95/month for the box Mystar HD
$5.00 to get some/perhaps all (wishful thinking) satellite HD channels
$37.95 minimum subscription for the basic package

Therefore calculate $58 per month minimum. Sounds more reasonable now!

EDIT: reread above post - understand comparing with Foxtel. I feel that to qualify for just $5/mnt for the HD channels would require normal subscription to have just about every package, recall just looking at this the last few days and think you would only get about 2 HD channels on the basic package!

[satdancer]

Wait, $14.95pm for MyStarHD (Foxtel iQ2 = $10pm) and only $5pm for the HD channels (Foxtel = $16pm)??

Austar charge $20 for extra boxes + $14.95 for MyStar(HD)
Foxtel charge $15 for extra boxes + $10 for IQ1/2

So whilst Foxtel charge $16 for HD access, the $5 access fee advantage is negated if you get extra boxes.

I wonder what channels they haven't included in the HD package? Or have they made up for it by upping the monthly MyStarHD rental? Weird old Austar...

You don't get NatGeo HD & Disc HD and the Foxtel Box Office HD On Demand feature (although you get access to that anyway on Foxtel if you have an IQ2 but haven't paid for the HD pack).

[satdancer]

I believe its unit pricing:

$14.95/month for the box Mystar HD
$5.00 to get some/perhaps all (wishful thinking) satellite HD channels
$37.95 minimum subscription for the basic package

The $37.95 base package price will increase to $42 soon.
Also, you only get access to HD channels that are in the other packages you've paid for. With a basic + HD subscription you'll only see W HD, Fox8 HD

[earlsdon]

Austar do not include Nat Geo HD or Discovery HD or Box Office HD.

The $5 a month only gives access to HD channels simulcast of SD versions of the channels (except UKTV) you have in any particular package plus ESPN HD (ESPN HD is the only HD channel with unique content on Austar). UKTV HD is only available in the Living Package - also according to Austar UKTV HD is not going to be unique content - it will contain the same content as SD UKTV)

Only HD channels in the basic package are Fox8 HD and W HD. To get access to other HD channels you must pay for the package containing the SD versions

So it is not reasonable.

[satdancer]

UKTV HD is only available in the Living Package - also according to Austar UKTV HD is not going to be unique content - it will contain the same content as SD UKTV)

Only HD channels in the basic package are Fox8 HD and W HD.

You're getting confused with Foxtel. Austar has UKTV in the base package so you get 3 HD channels if you combine base + HD.

EDIT: What's the deal with UKTV? One part of their website says it is in starter, the other says it is in Living package only???
Is UKTV being removed from Starter:

[gordon_s1942]

UKTV has not been in the 'Basic or Starter' pack since the big revamp of a couple years ago when we went 'Digital' ( load of nonsense)'
Did we (Austar) have UKTV before then or did it only become available as an extra package after ?
It is in the 'Living' pack now according to my October printed guide.

I wont be paying for HD if everything I want is available on the current SD format.
I dont take the sports channels and I dont buy movies so theres not much else worth paying an additional $20 a month for on top of whats charged now.