Media Release: Wednesday, September 14, 2016
The countdown is on for Foxtel’s new Binge channel
Full seasons arriving in October offer a feast of comedy, superheroes and the supernatural
Foxtel today flagged key programming slated to air on its upcoming brand new channel, Binge, and reminded customers that the channel’s highly anticipated debut is less than a month away. Binge, designed to meet the ever increasing consumer demand for box sets, will kick off its first broadcast on channel 116 on October 5, 2016 with a line-up of series that mirrors today’s political climate, offers something for viewers in search of a hero, and gets us in the mood for Halloween.
Binge will open with season one of Supergirl, which introduces us to Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoist), aka Kara Zor-El, cousin of Superman who, at 12 years old, also escaped doom on planet Krypton to find protection on Earth. Raised by her adoptive family, the Danvers, Kara hides her powers until adulthood, when she comes into her own as National City’s newest superhero, all while juggling a complex personal life.
The superhero theme continues through 11 October and features DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, season 1, that follows an unlikely group of superheroes (and villains) brought together to save the earth; the super speed adventures of legendary crime fighter The Flash, seasons 1-2; and the dark vigilante drama Arrow, seasons 2-4.
Politics takes centre stage, starting 12 October, with the corruption and betrayal filled drama The Good Wife, seasons 1-5; the politically charged Washington DC based drama, Scandal, seasons 1-3; a hilarious look at the lighter side of government with VEEP, seasons 1-5; the geopolitical comedy, The Brink, season 1; along with a touch of royal scandal with Reign, seasons 2-3.
The lead up to Halloween will be all about creatures of the night, starting 29 October with The Vampire Diaries, season 7 and its ongoing supernatural love triangles. Viewers will also be introduced to the underworld of America’s Deep South from the beginning with True Blood, seasons 1-7.
Foxtel’s Binge channel builds on the success of the incredibly popular 2014 launch of Foxtel’s first linear BoxSets channel and allows customers to watch collections and selected series of some of the world’s greatest drama, including the extensive libraries of HBO, Warner Bros. and other Hollywood studios.
Binge and the BoxSets channels provide subscribers without an internet connection the ability to watch whole seasons of their favourite shows.
For subscribers without an internet enabled and connected iQ box, Foxtel’s Binge and BoxSets feature continuous broadcasts of popular series that can be recorded on the Foxtel iQ and played back at a time that suits customers’ schedules. Foxtel cable and satellite customers can watch BoxSets and Binge (available October 5) as part of the Foxtel Drama pack.
With the arrival of Binge, the majority of SoHo’s content has now made the move to showcase with other series moving to Binge, FOX8, Arena, TVH!TS and 111 (see Appendix 1).
Appendix – 1: Changes to Foxtel’s Drama pack – where SoHo programs have moved
Program
Moving to
Dallas
Binge
Alpha House
showcase
800 Words
showcase
Allegiance
showcase
The Americans
showcase
Bates Motel
showcase
The Big C
showcase
Elementary
showcase
Entourage
showcase
The Firm
showcase
The Good Wife
showcase
Graceland
showcase
The Killing
showcase
Longmire
showcase
Major Crimes
showcase
Nashville
showcase
Outlander
showcase
A Place To Call Home
showcase
Rizzoli & Isles
showcase
Rogue
showcase
Scandal
showcase
Shameless
showcase
Spirited
showcase
Tangle
showcase
Wentworth
showcase
The West Wing
showcase
White Collar
showcase
Grey’s Anatomy
Arena
All Saints
Arena
Winners & Losers
Arena
Sex And The City
Arena
Saving Hope
Arena
Drop Dead Diva
Arena
Bones
TVH!TS
Chicago Fire
FOX8
Cougar Town
111
Appendix – 2 Channel movements
Channel name
Moving from
Moving to
showcase
Channel 115
Channel 114
BoxSets
Channel 116
Channel 115
Binge
–
Channel 116
-Brad