FOXTEL announced Telstra BigPond broadband customers will not be charged for any data when using FOXTEL on Xbox 360, and there will be six BigPond TV channels added to the service from Monday, May 30, 2011.

This means all video content will be unmetered for Telstra BigPond customers when viewing the FOXTEL on Xbox 360 service, including watching TV shows from up to 30 world-leading FOXTEL channels on the live streaming television service, the six BigPond TV channels, Catch Up TV, and hundreds of new release films, library movies and TV episodes from the FOXTEL on Xbox 360 On Demand service.

The six channels from BigPond TV cover sport, racing and news including: FOOTY TV the AFL channel, LEAGUE TV the NRL channel, V8 Supercars Australia, RACING TV with TVN, BigPond Sport TV, and BigPond News. These channels will be available on the FOXTEL on Xbox 360 service to all Get Started subscribers at no additional charge.

This is the first time FOXTEL on Xbox 360 subscribers will have the benefit of both selected live coverage of sports via FOX SPORTS PLAY and ESPN, as well as streamed AFL and NRL games available on delay.

In addition, from June games from the current season of AFL and NRL will be available on the service as Catch Up video on demand, and a highlights piece will also be available for each AFL and NRL game. Live AFL will come to FOXTEL on Xbox 360 from the start of the 2012 season.

FOXTEL Executive Director of Product & Sales, Patrick Delany said, “This arrangement with Telstra is a big win for FOXTEL on Xbox 360 users, allowing unmetered access to thousands of hours of great programming – all without a FOXTEL fixed term contract.* There are around 1.3 million Xbox consoles in Australia and getting unmetered access to FOXTEL on Xbox 360 is now as simple as plugging into BigPond internet to give subscription TV a go.

“The FOXTEL on Xbox 360 service offers FOXTEL’s huge amount of exclusive and first run TV programming, plus access to hours and hours of On Demand TV episodes, new release films and movie favourites. There’s always something to watch, either live or On Demand and it’s simple to sign up online and start watching straight away.”

Telstra’s Executive Director of Media, J-B Rousselot said, “Hundreds of thousands of Australian homes now have access to BigPond TV channels which makes a compelling reason to get online through Telstra. BigPond’s unmetered content is already a hit with T-Box, Samsung and LG customers, and we’re pleased to be bringing unmetering to customers connected to FOXTEL on Xbox 360.”

Try FOXTEL on Xbox 360 for free for a month by signing up any time in June. Watch over 35 live streaming channels (including BigPond’s AFL and NRL channels), there’s no installation required, no FOXTEL fixed term contract, and you can change your subscription anytime – with everything delivered over your broadband connection.* Plus it’s unmetered on Telstra BigPond which means there’s no maximum download limit.

Existing FOXTEL on Xbox360 subscribers who don’t already subscribe to the showtime movies or Movie Network packages will be able to watch all movies from these channels for free throughout June.*

The FOXTEL on Xbox 360 premiere programming highlights this June include: Big Fat Gypsy Weddings on Lifestyle YOU, True Blood (Season One) on FOX8, Torchwood: Miracle Day on UKTV, Upstairs Downstairs on UKTV, Lip Service on showcase, The Real King’s Speech on National Geographic Channel, Tennis: Wimbledon Championships on FOX SPORTS PLAY, and NBA Finals on ESPN.

Continuing highlights available on FOXTEL on Xbox 360 include Balls of Steel Australia from The Comedy Channel, Jersey Shore from MTV, Tim Winton’s cloudstreet from showcase, Boardwalk Empire from showcase, Man vs Wild from Discovery, and B430 on channel [V].

BigPond TV Channels include:

FOOTY TV: AFL TV is around-the-clock action featuring the best of the AFL regular-season and finals series. With match replays, highlights, player interviews, International Rules action and much more, this is 24/7 footy at its best. From June AFL games will be available as Catch Up video on demand after a twelve hour delay following the live game.

LEAGUE TV: Catch every game of the Telstra Premiership, Finals Series, State of Origin, City v Country, Four Nations and Test Matches on LEAGUE TV. LEAGUE TV offers match highlights, full game replays, NRL news, player interviews and more. From June NRL games will be available as Catch Up video on demand after a twenty-four hour delay following the live game.

V8 TV: Suit up for 24/7 streaming of the big events including, live action, interviews and driver features, expert analysis, race recaps, crash compiles and more. V8 races are streamed live and a highlights piece from each race is available as Catch Up video on demand.

RACING TV: TVN is a dedicated thoroughbred racing channel including local and international racing, commentary, tipping services and the latest thoroughbred industry news and information from Australia and around the world.

BigPond News: BigPond News provides the latest entertainment, finance and technology stories, regular weather updates, live crosses to breaking news, broadcast around the clock.

BigPond Sport: BigPond Sport TV covers everything to do with sport – tune in and sit back for big news, plus live events, big-match replays, highlights, opinion and profiles from all the sport you love.

FOXTEL on Xbox 360 subscribers can choose the amount of data used when watching live streamed TV by selecting the “Change Quality” option when watching a channel, and choose from any of the High, Medium or Low settings. The download file size of Catch Up TV and On Demand movies or TV episodes varies depending on the duration of the title selected, and this information is clearly communicated onscreen prior to viewing on FOXTEL on Xbox 360.

* Only available to Xbox 360 owners who live in FOXTEL metropolitan areas of Australia and who subscribe to both the Xbox LIVE service and the FOXTEL on Xbox 360 service. Xbox LIVE Gold subscription required for all live TV packages.

www.foxtel.com.au/xbox

2K Games and Gearbox Software Bring Duke Nukem Forever® Soundboard To iOS Systems Today and It’s Free!

Sydney, Australia – May 30, 2011 – 2K Games and Gearbox Software are excited to announce that the  Duke Nukem Forever Soundboard App, the perfect complement to those awaiting the return of the King this June, is now available for iOS devices worldwide for a cost of zero AUD and zero AU cents.

“Hail to the King Baby!”

The Duke Nukem Forever soundboard app allows fans to unleash a dizzying array of Duke-isms anywhere, anytime they want. Like Duke with his arsenal, fans can fire up and let loose an unfettered display of  Duke’s most inappropriately appropriate one-line finishers, brazen insults and audaciously truthful claims sure to liven up boring midday board meetings and upset quiet movie theater goers.

The Duke Nukem Forever Soundboard app features over 25 classic Duke-isms including silky smooth seduction lines sure to impress the ladies like “I’ve got balls of steel” and “Anybody mind if I take off my pants?”. If that doesn’t have you dripping with desire, the app will also include such lecture monotony busters as “I had eggs for breakfast,your mom had sausage” and stand-up to bullies anthems like “my job is to kick ass, not make small talk”.

On June 10, 2011, a date which will live in pop-culture history, Duke Nukem Forever will explode at retailers nationwide like dynamite. Vaporware becomes reality, hell freezes over and pigs sprout wings and take to flight. For die-hard Duke Nukem fans who want to die-harder there are still a number of Duke Nukem Forever Balls of Steel Edition available. The Duke Nukem Forever Balls of Steel Edition is power packed with legendary content, collectibles and highly sought after premium items, such as a Duke Nukem Bust and an art book that chronicles the development of Duke Nukem Forever. Check out to see www.dukenukemforever.com/preorder/oz exactly how much stuff could be crammed into one box.

First Access Club members will get to grab their joysticks and unleash furious anger upon lady looting aliens and pig cops in the Duke Nukem Forever playable demo. To become a member of the exclusive First Access Club fans can either pre-order the game from EB Games Australia & New Zealand or purchase the Borderlands Game of the Year Edition on Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

Duke Nukem Forever will make history when it launches on June 10, 2011 in Australia and New Zealand. For more information on Duke Nukem Forever, including where to pre-order a copy, please visit www.dukenukemforever.com/preorder/oz. Duke Nukem Forever is rated MA 15+ and R18 in New Zealand. 

*Xbox LIVE, PSN or Steam, Duke First Access Club token and Internet connection required to access demo.

2K Games is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

Sydney, Australia – May 30, 2011 – Australia’s longest running and largest free education and entertainment tour, Logitech Rock the Schools, has just announced internet security software company Norton by Symantec as one of its major sponsors. Now called Logitech Rock the Schools powered by Norton, the massive tour will visit 90 schools around the country, reaching over 70,000 high-school students all around Australia.

Logitech Rock the Schools powered by Norton will provide our country’s future music and entertainment professionals with a unique insight into the industry’s many careers. The action packed day will include hands-on workshops for senior music students with industry professionals from the Australian Institute of Music. The whole school will then be treated to a lunchtime concert from the up and coming Logitech Rock the Schools powered by Norton bands.

The internet is an fundamental tool for music and artist promotion. It’s therefore vital that all students wishing to forge a successful career in music take a proactive approach to their ‘digital tattoo’ to enhance their own virtual reputation for the future. Norton aims to help raise awareness with students about their digital tattoo and its imprint, discussing how online actions can have offline consequences, potentially impacting a student’s future career development.

“It’s a well-known fact that potential employers, universities and even potential dates look online to get more information about us. Even if you’re not a rock star being hounded by the paparazzi, we’re now living in a world where social interactions increasingly occur online; one comment, image or moment can live forever through a blog post, photograph, viral video or Internet meme,” said Michele Thompson, Norton’s Online Safety Advocate for Australia and New Zealand.

With National Cybersecurity Awareness Week commencing today (30 May-3 June), it’s also a timely reminder to students to be cautious about how much personal information they expose online.

“The popularity of social networking sites and mobile devices allow people to post their thoughts and whereabouts in real-time to an ever-growing network of people,” said Michele Thompson. “Although most students may not have an entourage of fans, their personal status updates, comments and photos can be just as fascinating to a different crowd. Many teenagers post without giving a second thought to how they might be putting themselves at risk for losing out on a future job or potentially exposing personal details to criminals or cyber thieves.”

Logitech Rock the Schools powered by Norton which kicked off in Sydney on May 2nd has visited schools in NSW and VIC. Four up and coming bands scheduled to perform for a leg of the tour each: Adelaide’s five piece Delamare has just completed the first leg of the tour, Melbourne band Red Ink takes over on 30th May, followed by Sydney’s Feeding Edgar. The fourth and final leg will see the tour head cross-country to WA with Brisbane band Finabah, who are the 2011 winners of the of the Nova I am with the Band competition. Finabah were also on the Rock the Schools tour in 2010. Logitech Rock the Schools powered by Norton provided the WA leg of the tour as part of the Nova competition.

Norton joins a plethora of sponsors who all come together to make such a successful and unique tour possible. Logitech joined the tour for the first time in 2011 as naming rights sponsor, while international smash hit Wii game, Just Dance 2, has also come on board as a sponsor for its first year.

Returning for a second year as the tour’s official education partner, the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) is providing students with rare hands-on experience in the industry workshops that give students an insight on how to run Front of House Sound for a live show. Students also learn about industry recording software Protools and their Music Business Workshops explore the many different career paths available in the commercial music industry.

Also returning as a major sponsor of the Logitech Rock the Schools powered by Norton tour for a second year is the Australian Government’s National Drugs Campaign. In 2011 the campaign has aligned with the theme of ‘music’ to engage young people in ways that are meaningful to them and encourage them to face facts on the risks of ecstasy use.

This year also sees long-term media partners Habbo.com, Channel [V] and Girlfriend magazine returning as media partners.

According to Deadline, Tom Cruise will star comicbook movie adaption of Oblivion that takes place in an apocalyptic future. As the population lives in the clouds as the Earth is almost uninhabitable, Cruise plays a soldier who is stuck on the planet, repairing drones and battling alien life forms. The film will be directed by Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy) and based on his own graphic novel. The script was initially written by William Monahan (Body of Lies, The Departed) and re-written by Karl Gajdusek.