Fans of the HBO series Game of Thrones have blasted Foxtel after its online service crashed during Monday’s screening of the first episode of series seven.
Foxtel said in a statement it was “devastated that due to unprecedented demand” it had experienced problems on Monday evening when so many fans wanted to watch the hugely popular show.
Problems were not confined to Australia, Foxtel maintained, saying the global premiere had also caused “technical glitches” with online sites in the United States and Latin America.
“The show’s producer and US broadcaster, HBO, reported its technical systems could not cope and in Australia, the surge of demand for Foxtel’s recently launched online product, Foxtel Now, also experienced customer meltdown.”
Foxtel spokesman Bruce Meagher said: “We are devastated that some customers experienced technical issues tonight. As was the case in the US and Latin America, the unprecedented rush for a subscription just prior to the telecast crashed the system. Foxtel engineers are working through the night to resolve the issue. It’s most unfortunate and we apologise to those affected.”
Foxtel said anyone affected by the failure would be able to watch the episode using the on-demand service or in a repeat screening later in the week.
“We will continue to communicate with affected customers to ensure they are fully informed,” Meagher said.
But fans were far from happy, criticising the company for failing to prepare for one of the most widely anticipated TV events of the year, when demand was inevitably going to be high.
Here's to #foxtelnow. Failing spectacularly on the one night anyone would deign using it. pic.twitter.com/n0DkEs1pvr
— Mena (@alldaymena) July 17, 2017
Looks like @foxtel are totally screwing up on #GameOfThones7 - No wonder many go illegal route
— Steve Sammartino (@sammartino) July 17, 2017
Me rn #foxtelnow #GOT7 #foxtel pic.twitter.com/6brvI2Pkfb
— ally howell (@__allyhowell) July 17, 2017
Many referred to the fact that Australia has one of the highest rates of illegal streaming in the world. Australia was responsible for 12.5% of the illegal downloads in the world when the first episode of the previous Game of Thrones season aired in April 2016.
Dear @HBO - this is why Australia leads the world in illegal downloads of #GameOfThrones. You licensed to the wrong company @Foxtel
— Julie Bright (@JulieMBright) July 17, 2017
Might go back to piracy considering @Foxtel 's poor service with #GOT7. Nice work Foxtel. What a waste of my subscription. @FOXTEL_Help
— Oh, Em G. (@instapixie) July 17, 2017
