Fox8
Product brand
UnclaimedAustralian subscription television channel carried on Foxtel and Optus Television platforms.
Last updated August 22, 2026
Overview
Fox8, corporately styled FOX8 and also written as Fox 8 or FOX 8, is an Australian subscription television channel distributed through Foxtel and Optus Television subscription services. It is one of the longest-running channels associated with the Foxtel platform and has been described as Australia's leading subscription television channel by audience reach. The channel's identity was originally tied to the Fox name before the number 8 was added, reflecting its position on channel 8 on Foxtel's analogue service and Austar's standard service. On digital platforms it was generally associated with channel 108, while a time-shift service used channel 150. Fox8 launched as part of Foxtel's original channel offering in 1995 and developed as a broad entertainment service rather than a narrowly specialized network. Its schedule has historically combined imported American programs with content from the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand, alongside a smaller number of Australian productions. The channel has carried scripted drama, comedy, reality television, factual entertainment, animation, lifestyle programming, event programming and professional wrestling. Its programming relationships have included content connected with the American Fox network, although the channel's Australian schedule and corporate role are distinct from the United States Fox broadcast network. During the late 1990s, Fox8 also showed Saturday night National Rugby League matches. It later became particularly associated with high-profile imported entertainment and youth-oriented programming, including The Simpsons, Family Guy, Futurama, American Dad!, reality formats and WWE broadcasts. The discontinuation of Foxtel's Fox Kids channel in 2004 resulted in some children's programming moving to Fox8's early-morning schedule. As the Foxtel portfolio expanded, some programs were transferred to other specialist services, including the channel launched as 111 Hits in 2008 and later known as Fox Comedy. The brand underwent a substantial visual refresh in early 2005, adopting graphics aligned with the contemporary American Fox identity and launching an official website soon afterward. Fox8 later introduced a high-definition feed on Foxtel and Austar on 15 November 2008. Its time-shifted FOX8+2 service allowed viewers to watch the principal schedule two hours later and was particularly useful for viewers in Western Australia, where the delayed feed could better match advertised local viewing times. Fox8's programming and branding continued to be revised through the 2010s, including a major on-air refresh in 2011 and a 2013 campaign built around the slogan “TV for the Now Gen.” The channel's content mix changed materially in the 2020s. In December 2022, Fox8 confirmed that it would remove The Simpsons and other Fox adult-animation titles, ending with a final Simpsons marathon on 31 December. The change supported a broader entertainment repositioning and reflected the availability of those programs on Disney+, which is also accessible as an application on Foxtel. In September 2023, Fox8 updated its logo as part of a wider rationalization of Foxtel's Fox-branded channels. In September 2024, live WWE programming was removed from the schedule as the network moved toward an entertainment-led lineup and as WWE programming prepared to shift to Netflix. Selected WWE material, including one-hour NXT episodes and classic WWF Superstars episodes, continued for a limited period until December 2024. By January 2025, Fox8 remained an active Australian subscription channel. Its listed schedule combined international factual, comedy, reality and scripted programming with a limited amount of local content. The channel's continuing role is that of a broad, high-profile entertainment brand within the Foxtel ecosystem, rather than a general free-to-air broadcaster or a dedicated sports, news or children's network.
History
Fox8 is an Australian subscription television channel associated with the Foxtel platform. It has been continuously available since the foundation of Foxtel in 1995, making it one of the service's longest-running channel brands. The channel was originally called Fox and later adopted Fox8, reflecting its early placement on channel 8 on Foxtel analogue and Austar standard services. Digital Foxtel and Austar viewers generally received it on channel 108. The brand became a broad entertainment outlet and was described as Foxtel's principal or peak general-entertainment channel. In its early years, Fox8 carried a mixture of programming from the Fox television ecosystem and other international suppliers. Its schedule included American scripted series, comedy, animation, reality television and factual entertainment. During the late 1990s it also broadcast Saturday-night National Rugby League matches. An arrangement involving Network Ten supplied programs acquired from the United States Fox network, including The Simpsons, Futurama and The Simple Life. Fox8 also absorbed selected children's programming after Foxtel's Fox Kids service was discontinued in 2004, placing some of that material in early-morning slots. The channel's brand development accelerated in the mid-2000s. At the beginning of 2005 it adopted a new identity that visually corresponded with the American Fox channel while retaining the distinctive 8. Its first official website followed, and the site was expanded in October of that year with program information and extracts. Fox8 later extended its distribution with a two-hour time-shift service, FOX8+2, on digital services. The delayed channel was useful for viewers in Western Australia because it could bring the schedule closer to the local time implied by advertising and listings. Fox8 introduced a high-definition feed on Foxtel and Austar on 15 November 2008. That year it also staged Battle of the Animations during the Beijing Olympic Games, a 17-day event built around animated series such as Family Guy, American Dad!, The Simpsons, Futurama and King of the Hill. Viewers selected Family Guy as the winning program. As Foxtel developed additional specialist channels, some Fox8 shows moved elsewhere; the launch of 111 Hits in November 2008, later known as Fox Comedy, was one such example. The network maintained a succession of visual and scheduling updates. It launched a redesigned website in March 2010, introduced a major on-air identity in May 2011, and added a program-return graphic later that year. In 2013, a new presentation and slogan, “TV for the Now Gen,” replaced “So Fox8.” Foxtel's 2013 output arrangement with The Walt Disney Company also brought ABC Family-related titles to the channel, including Bunheads, Switched at Birth, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, The Fosters and Twisted. Fox8's content strategy changed more sharply in the 2020s. In December 2022, the channel announced that The Simpsons and other Fox adult-animation titles would be removed, ending with a final Simpsons marathon on 31 December. The move was presented as part of a channel revamp and also aligned with Disney+'s availability of the relevant animation catalog through the Foxtel platform. In September 2023, Fox8 changed its logo as part of a wider effort to simplify the identity of Foxtel's Fox-branded channels. In September 2024, the network removed live WWE broadcasts, including Raw, SmackDown and NXT. The change was linked to an entertainment-led schedule revision and the planned migration of WWE programming to Netflix. One-hour NXT episodes and classic WWF Superstars episodes remained for a limited period through December 2024. As of January 2025, Fox8 continued as an active Australian subscription channel with a schedule made up largely of imported American, British, Canadian and New Zealand programs, supplemented by a small amount of Australian content and original programming.
- 2024
Live WWE broadcasts leave Fox8
[1]Live Raw, SmackDown and NXT broadcasts are removed in September; limited WWE material remains until December.
- 2023
Logo updated
[1]Fox8 updates its logo as Foxtel revises the identities of its Fox-branded channels.
- 2022
Fox adult animation leaves the channel
[1]The Simpsons and other Fox adult-animation titles are removed, culminating in a final Simpsons marathon at the end of the year.
- 2013
TV for the Now Gen campaign
[1]Fox8 introduces a new on-air look and the “TV for the Now Gen” slogan.
- 2011
On-air identity refresh
[1]The channel adopts a major new visual presentation and updated program-branding style.
- 2010
Website relaunch
[1]Fox8 introduces a new version of its website.
- 2008
FOX8+2 and Battle of the Animations
[1]A two-hour time-shift service becomes available on digital platforms, while Fox8 stages a 17-day animated-program event during the Beijing Olympics.
- 2008
Fox8 HD launches
[1]The high-definition feed launches on Foxtel and Austar on 15 November.
- 2005
Major channel rebrand and first official website
[1]Fox8 adopts a new Fox-aligned visual identity and launches an official website, which is expanded later in the year.
- 2004
Selected Fox Kids programming moves to Fox8
[1]After Foxtel's Fox Kids service is discontinued during the digital-platform transition, some of its programs are scheduled on Fox8, particularly in the early morning.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Products and positioning
A broad Australian subscription-entertainment channel within the Foxtel ecosystem, combining internationally acquired programming with selected local productions and serving as one of the platform's principal general entertainment brands.
Subscription television channel · 1995
Fox8
The principal Fox8 entertainment channel distributed through Foxtel and Optus Television subscription platforms. Its schedule has combined imported scripted series, comedy, animation, reality, factual entertainment, lifestyle programs and selected Australian productions. The service has historically functioned as one of Foxtel's broadest and most prominent general-entertainment channels.
High-definition television channel · 2008
Fox8 HD
The high-definition version of Fox8, launched on Foxtel and Austar on 15 November 2008. It provides the Fox8 schedule in a higher-resolution television format for subscribers whose service packages and equipment support the HD feed.
Time-shifted television channel
FOX8+2
A delayed version of Fox8 that showed the main channel's programming two hours later. It was carried on digital services and offered a practical scheduling benefit for Western Australian viewers by bringing broadcast times closer to local time.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013TV for the Now Gen
Australia
A channel-wide branding and on-air presentation campaign introduced in October 2013 to replace the earlier “So Fox8” slogan.
Outcome. The campaign became the channel's stated positioning during the subsequent phase of its 2010s branding.
- 2008Battle of the Animations
Australia
A 17-day animation marathon held during the Beijing Olympic Games, featuring programs such as Family Guy, American Dad!, The Simpsons, Futurama and King of the Hill. Viewers voted for the winning show.
Outcome. Family Guy was selected as the winning program and received a concluding marathon.
Brand decisions
2024
Removal of live WWE programmingStrategyBackground
Fox8 sought an entertainment-led schedule while WWE prepared to move its programming to Netflix.
Action taken
Live broadcasts of Raw, SmackDown and NXT were removed in September 2024. One-hour NXT episodes and classic WWF Superstars episodes continued for a limited period.
Aftermath
Live WWE content no longer occupied the channel's regular schedule, and the remaining WWE material ended by December 2024.
2022
Removal of Fox adult-animation titlesStrategyBackground
Fox8 planned to refresh its channel proposition while the relevant Fox adult-animation catalog was available through Disney+, including as an application on Foxtel.
Action taken
The Simpsons and other Fox adult-animation programs were removed from the channel, with a final Simpsons marathon ending on 31 December.
Aftermath
Fox8 moved away from a long-standing animation association and revised its entertainment schedule.
2008
Launch of Fox8 HDProduct launchBackground
Foxtel and Austar were expanding their digital and high-definition subscription offerings.
Action taken
Fox8 introduced a high-definition feed on 15 November 2008.
Aftermath
Subscribers with compatible services could receive Fox8 programming in HD.
2004
Move selected Fox Kids programming to Fox8StrategyBackground
Foxtel discontinued its Fox Kids channel during the transition toward digital services.
Action taken
Some former Fox Kids programming was placed on Fox8, particularly in early-morning schedule periods.
Aftermath
Fox8 temporarily incorporated part of the discontinued children's channel's programming mix.
Recent events
- 2024
Fox8 removes live WWE broadcasts[1]
Product generation
Live Raw, SmackDown and NXT broadcasts were removed in September as Fox8 shifted toward an entertainment-focused schedule and WWE prepared to move its programming to Netflix.
- 2023
Fox8 updates its logo during Foxtel channel rebranding[1]
Other
The channel revised its logo in line with a broader rebrand of Foxtel's FOX-branded channels.
- 2022
Fox8 removes Fox adult animation from its schedule[1]
Product generation
Fox8 confirmed that The Simpsons and other Fox adult-animation programs would leave the network, with the change linked to a channel revamp and the availability of those titles on Disney+.
- 2013
Fox8 launches the TV for the Now Gen identity[1]
Campaign
A new on-air presentation and slogan, “TV for the Now Gen,” replaced the earlier “So Fox8” positioning.
- 2011
Fox8 introduces a major on-air redesign[1]
Other
Fox8 adopted a refreshed visual system and a new approach to program branding.
- 2008
Fox8 HD launches on Foxtel and Austar[1]
Product launch
A high-definition version of the channel was introduced on 15 November for Foxtel and Austar subscribers.
- 2008
Fox8 airs Battle of the Animations during the Beijing Olympics[1]
Campaign
The channel ran a 17-day animated-program marathon featuring titles including Family Guy, American Dad!, The Simpsons, Futurama and King of the Hill. Viewer voting selected Family Guy as the concluding winner.
- 2005
Fox8 rebrands with a Fox-aligned visual identity[1]
Other
The channel introduced a major branding update based on the contemporary American Fox visual style and subsequently launched its first official website.
- 1995
Fox8 launches as part of Foxtel's original channel offering[1]
Other
Fox8 became one of the channels available from the beginning of the Foxtel service and was initially known as Fox before adopting the Fox8 name.
Sources1 sources
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