Why I won’t be watching House of the Dragon on Binge

When it comes to the Australian streaming landscape, one service stands out - but not in a good way. Binge is the only major player not offering 4K content, and has no plans to do so, according to a spokesperson. And quite frankly, I don’t understand why.

While the lack of 4K was somewhat understandable at launch, it's downright perplexing in 2022.

	Plan	Price	Details
Binge	Binge Basic with Ads Free 7 Day Trial Basic with Ads Free 7 Day Trial Full HD streaming · 1 device at once Ads included Annual: $79/yr (Save $41) From $10/mth or $79/yr View Plan	From $10/mth or $79/yr	View Plan
Binge	Binge Standard Free 7 Day Trial Standard Free 7 Day Trial 4K UHD · 2 devices at once Ad-free Annual: $149/yr (Save $79) From $19/mth or $149/yr View Plan	From $19/mth or $149/yr	View Plan
Binge	Binge Premium Free 7 Day Trial Premium Free 7 Day Trial 4K UHD · 4 devices at once Ad-free Annual: $179/yr (Save $85) From $22/mth or $179/yr View Plan	From $22/mth or $179/yr	View Plan

4K TVs have been available in Australia since 2012 - almost a decade. Netflix launched in Australia with 4K support in 2015, and Stan added 4K streaming in 2016 - just a year after it launched. Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, Paramount+ all offer 4K. If you look at Samsung's 2022 TV portfolio, just two of 59 models aren't 4K or better.

The lack of 4K is especially relevant right now, with HBO Max now streaming Game of Thrones in 4K with HDR internationally. In Australia, we're getting left behind. Foxtel - the exclusive local rights holder to HBO content - will only let you watch Game of Thrones in 4K via a Foxtel set-top box, and even then, you're not getting HDR. On Binge, they’ll be stuck in high definition.

The combo of 4K and HDR represents the best viewing experience you can get. HDR, in particular, solves the issue of episodes being too dark, specifically, "The Long Night".

HBO Max will also be getting Game of Thrones spin-off, House of the Dragon, in 4K with HDR. It will arguably be the best way to watch what will almost certainly be one of the biggest (and prettiest) shows of the year. As with Game of Thrones, you’ll be able to watch it on Binge in high definition, but will need Foxtel proper for 4K.

The cheapest Foxtel subscription will cost you $49 per month, while the most expensive Binge subscription is $18 per month. That's a massive premium that will be unjustifiable to most.

For many, 4K and HDR are inessential. Quality is less important than being able to watch content. After all, why else would streaming services have more affordable tiers restricted to standard definition? But for others like myself, quality is the be all and end all. I want to watch shows and movies in the highest resolution possible. What's the point of having a nice TV if you're just going to watch blocky stretched-out content?

It's easy to think of this as a cynical play. Restrict 4K content to Foxtel to get people who really care to upgrade. But at the same time, the upsell is so steep that it's hard to imagine many would take Foxtel up on the offer, especially given the different demographics Binge and Foxtel cater for.

Maybe quality is just an afterthought when you've access to the world's biggest shows. If the price is right, customers are going to subscribe, and they seem to be doing just that. Foxtel's portfolio of streaming services reaches 7.1 million Australians, putting it behind Netflix, but ahead of Stan, Amazon Prime, and Disney+.

Picture quality has seemingly never been Foxtel's priority. Foxtel didn't even offer HD streaming until 2017 with the launch of Foxtel Now (the ill-fated Presto was stuck in standard definition). On its mainline offering, HD is still a $10 per month upsell, and even the new iQ5 doesn’t support any HDR formats.

Foxtel isn’t doing justice to its best shows. 4K on Binge should be a no-brainer. Every other major streaming service supports it, after all. It’s a shame that those of us wanting to watch House of the Dragon in the best quality possible are just going to need to wait for the 4K Blu-Ray.

To compare Binge to other streaming services, see our comparison table below:

	Plan	Price	Details
AMC+ Bundle	AMC+ Bundle TV 7-day free trial TV 7-day free trial HD 1080p · 5 devices at once AMC+, Shudder & Acorn TV Annual: $83.88/yr (save $24) From $8.99/mth or $83.88/yr View Plan	From $8.99/mth or $83.88/yr	View Plan
Disney+	Disney+ TV + movies + sport TV + movies + sport 4K UHD · 4 devices at once Annual: From $179.99/y (save up to $49.89) From $9.99/mth or $179.99/yr View Plan	From $9.99/mth or $179.99/yr	View Plan
Amazon Prime Video	Amazon Prime Video TV + movies + more 30-day free trial TV + movies + more 30-day free trial 4K UHD · 3 devices at once Remove ads for $2.99/mth Annual: $79/yr (save $40) From $9.99/mth or $79/yr View Plan	From $9.99/mth or $79/yr	View Plan
Netflix	Netflix TV + movies TV + movies 4K UHD · 2 devices at once Deal: Get free Netflix Standard with Optus From $9.99/mth View Plan	From $9.99/mth	View Plan
Binge	Binge TV + movies + sport 7-day free trial TV + movies + sport 7-day free trial 4K UHD · 4 devices at once Annual: From $79/yr (save up to $85) From $10.00/mth or $79/yr View Plan	From $10.00/mth or $79/yr	View Plan
Crunchyroll	Crunchyroll TV + movies 7-day free trial TV + movies 7-day free trial HD 1080p · 4 devices at once Annual: From $119.99/yr (save up to 16%) From $11.99/mth or $119.99/yr View Plan	From $11.99/mth or $119.99/yr	View Plan
Apple TV	Apple TV TV + movies 7-day free trial TV + movies 7-day free trial 4K UHD · 6 (with Family Sharing) Annual: $129/yr (save $62.88) From $15.99/mth or $129/yr View Plan	From $15.99/mth or $129/yr	View Plan
Kayo Sports	Kayo Sports Sport 7-day free trial Sport 7-day free trial 4K UHD · 2 devices at once Deal: 1 month for $1 From $29.99/mth View Plan	From $29.99/mth	View Plan
DAZN	DAZN Sport Sport HD 1080p · 2 devices at once Annual: From $149.99/yr (save $223.89) From $31.99/mth or $149.99/yr View Plan	From $31.99/mth or $149.99/yr	View Plan
Foxtel Now	Foxtel Now TV + movies + sport 10-day free trial TV + movies + sport 10-day free trial HD 1080p · 2 devices at once Annual: Save 30% on Sports + Movies package when you sign up for 12mths From $35/mth View Plan	From $35/mth	View Plan
Paramount+	Paramount+ TV + movies + sport 7-day free trial TV + movies + sport 7-day free trial 4K UHD · 4 devices at once Annual: From $70.99/yr (save up to $55.89) From $7.99/mth or $70.99/yr Link not supplied	From $7.99/mth or $70.99/yr	Link not supplied
Stan.	Stan. TV + movies + sport TV + movies + sport 4K UHD · 4 devices at once From $9.99/mth Link not supplied	From $9.99/mth	Link not supplied
HBO Max	HBO Max TV + movies TV + movies 4K UHD · 4 devices at once Annual: From $119.99yr (save up to $43.89) From $11.99/mth or $119.99yr Link not supplied	From $11.99/mth or $119.99yr	Link not supplied
BritBox	BritBox TV 7-day free trial TV 7-day free trial 4K UHD · 4 devices at once Annual: $139.99/yr (save $27.89) From $13.99/mth or $139.99/yr Link not supplied	From $13.99/mth or $139.99/yr	Link not supplied
MUBI	MUBI Movies 7-day free trial Movies 7-day free trial 4K UHD · 2 devices at once Annual: $119.88/yr (save $60) From $14.99/mth or $119.88/yr Link not supplied	From $14.99/mth or $119.88/yr	Link not supplied

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This story is part of WhistleIns&Outs, Managing Editor Alex Choros' regular thoughts and feels on the state of telco, streaming, and mobile devices. 

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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