Foxtel and Austar integrate, Austar viewers gain Olympics channels

Foxtel has begun integrating regional pay-TV operator Austar, with viewers on both platforms gaining new channels and better packages from 1 July 2012.

For sports fans, the big news is that existing Austar customers will gain access to Foxtel's suite of eight London Olympics channels, in both SD and HD. Like their city cousins, subscribers to Austar's sports package will receive the Olympics channels gratis.

From 1 July, Austar subscribers will be able to receive Discovery, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild and MTV Live in HD if they've paid for the relevant packages. Meanwhile, Eurosport News moves into the Starter Package, and MTV Hits and MTV Live is popped into the Fun Option.

Foxtel subscribers will benefit as W and TCM become part of the Get Started pack, and news channels Al Jazeera and CCTV News come online for the first time.

Unfortunately for current Austar customers, Foxtel's excellent iQ PVR won't be available this year. The newly merged company will be called Foxtel.