The short version
Key points
- The Hubbl streaming puck is priced at $99 in Australia.
- Hubbl combines multiple streaming services and supports a single search interface.
- Bundling three or more services may provide account credits, ranging from $5 to $15 according to the video.
- Hubbl Glass is available in 55-inch and 65-inch models, with the puck built into the TV.
- The TVs include a tuner for normal free-to-air television, but the platform does not provide traditional TV recording through a cable connection.
What is Foxtel Hubbl?
Hubbl is a streaming platform from Foxtel, delivered through a small puck priced at $99. It is designed to combine streaming services in one place, including Netflix, Prime Video and Foxtel-owned services such as Binge and Kayo. Users can search across supported services from a single interface rather than opening each app separately.
The video describes this as broadly similar to what is already possible with devices such as an Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV Stick. The difference is that Hubbl also integrates subscriptions and billing, with potential credits for customers who bundle several services through the platform.
Subscription credits and billing
According to the information discussed in the video, customers who add three or more services may qualify for a $5 account credit. Four services may provide a $10 credit, while five services may provide a $15 credit. The exact value of Hubbl may therefore depend on how many streaming subscriptions a household already uses.
Integrated billing could appeal to people who prefer receiving one bill rather than managing multiple services separately. However, the video questions whether these credits are enough to make Hubbl substantially different from other streaming platforms, particularly when similar content aggregation and search features are available elsewhere.
Hubbl Glass televisions
Foxtel is also releasing Hubbl Glass televisions in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes. The Hubbl puck is built into the television, which provides the same platform without requiring a separate streaming box. The TVs have a 4K resolution, Wi-Fi 6, HDR10 support and a 60 Hz refresh rate. They also include a soundbar-style speaker system at the bottom of the screen, with a central subwoofer, one upward-firing speaker and three outward-firing speakers.
The televisions use LED technology with local dimming rather than OLED, so they are not expected to produce the same type of black levels as an OLED screen. They are wall mountable and include a USB-C port with 15-watt output. The wired network connection is limited to 100 Mbps, while the video identifies Wi-Fi 6 as the preferred connection method.
The televisions include a tuner, so viewers can watch normal free-to-air television. However, the Hubbl platform is not described as a traditional cable television service and does not provide live TV recording through that system. The remote includes dedicated buttons for services including Kayo, Binge and Netflix, as well as a watch-list button.
Privacy and value questions
The video raises a concern about the amount of viewing and personal information collected when a customer creates a Hubbl account. Pat suggests that the platform’s terms may allow Foxtel to analyse details such as what a person watches, how often they watch and which demographic group they belong to. This is presented as a concern and assumption in the video, rather than as a confirmed finding about Hubbl’s specific data practices.
The broader value question is whether Hubbl offers enough to justify choosing it over an existing smart TV, Apple TV or Fire TV Stick. Hubbl brings services and billing together, while Hubbl Glass adds an integrated television and speaker system. The video’s comparison is that many households can already access similar streaming functions through devices they own or can buy separately.
TechManPat’s conclusion
I do not currently see a compelling reason to choose Hubbl over an Apple TV, Fire TV Stick or the streaming features already available on many smart TVs. The bundled billing and account credits could interest some households, particularly those using several supported services, but my view is that Hubbl risks being just another streaming interface rather than the major change Foxtel is looking for. I would need to test the puck and Hubbl Glass television to assess their real-world performance before reaching a final verdict.
This knowledge-centre summary is based on the linked TechManPat video and reflects the information available when it was published. Check current pricing, availability and policies before acting.
