‘Better Call Saul’ TV show sparks an online TV war, pitting EzyFlix against Stan for Aussie viewers

AN Australian video-on-demand service is going to war with another competitor to offer cut-price access to a new Breaking Bad spin-off. But there’s a catch.

In this image released by AMC, Bob Odenkirk portrays Saul Goodman in a scene from "Better Call Saul." Odenkirk reprises his role from "Breaking Bad," in "Better Call Saul," a much-anticipated, well-worth-waiting-for prequel airing two episodes Sunday and Monday at 10 p.m. EST. (AP Photo/AMC, Ursula Coyote)

IT’S not just subscription TV services fighting for your attention this year.

A fresh battle has broken out between video-on-demand and streaming TV services, with a small outfit challenging multimillion-dollar newcomer Stan over its flagship TV show.

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EzyFlix.tv today announced a discounted season pass to the Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul, undercutting Stan’s subscription offering.

Actor Bob Odenkirk arrives at the LA premiere "Better Call Saul". Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/AFP

But potential fans face a catch: they’ll have to wait 24 hours to download the show.

Better Call Saul debuted on Stan’s subscription TV service on Monday at 6pm, just as the show finished screening on America’s West Coast, but EzyFlix.tv announced a $10 deal for the entire season today.

Access Digital Entertainment chief executive Craig White said the two-week special was designed to show users they had a choice of digital TV providers outside the newly launched subscription services.

“Stan has done a wonderful job of promoting this show and I think it’s a wonderful thing that EzyFlix has it for those who don’t want to use a subscription service,” he said.

Netflix is coming to Australia in March. Picture: AP Photo/Elise Amendola

Better Call Saul, which follows Breaking Bad’s criminal lawyer Saul Goodman, will screen weekly on Stan’s service, with all 10 episodes costing $30 in subscription fees.

Mr White said EzyFlix.tv’s Saul offering was priced at a third of its usual price but admitted the 24-hour delay might dissuade some viewers.

“Perhaps there is some (time) sensitivity but at the same time Australians wait weeks sometimes for films to be launched here relative to the US, and sometimes we’re entire seasons behind, so I think the wonderful thing here is consumer will have a choice,” he said.

The AMC TV show will also be available to download from Apple’s iTunes Store and Google Play within 24 hours of Stan’s screening.

Stan is one of several fresh TV streaming services arriving in Australia, with others including Presto and Netflix.

News Corporation is a part-owner of Foxtel.