Google’s play for the TV and Video market in Australia has been a very slow one, Google was extremely late bringing Google Play Movies, to our shores and even later bringing TV content. With the launch of Chromecast in Australia, they’re beginning to get serious about making a dent in the massive juggernaut that is Apple’s iTunes eco-system, but to do that you have to get people on-board with purchasing content from Google Play, and what better way to do that than by giving away some credit?
Australian customers who purchase a Chromecast from Google Play or retailers Dick Smith or JB Hifi, are eligible to claim $6 worth of Google Play Credit. The offer which runs until the 1st of July according to the Google Play Terms and conditions offers credit, which is ostensibly for purchasing or renting a movie or TV show from Google Play Movies & TV, but is added to your account just like normal Google Play Credit, so you can in fact use it for anything. The credit does have a time limit on it, with Google advising you have to use it by the 1st of July 2015 or it will expire.
To claim your $6, you’ll need to be connected to the same WiFi network as your Chromecast. Then, simply head to cast.google.com/chromecast/offers/ and follow the instructions. You’ll need to have the Google Cast Chrome Extension installed (So obviously you’ll need the Chrome browser), but it’s a fairly easy procedure. Once you’ve set it up, you are directed to Google Play where you redeem a code for your $6 credit.
This is obviously no comfort to those people who have faced the bug in Google Play Movies & TV, who currently are unable to cast from the app, but it’s something.
All worked on my end, just went to the site and went check special offers.
Hmm, the same deal in the UK was £5 of credit – or $9 at current exchange rates. So Aus is screwed over again.
Does this work only for newly purchased Chromecasts? (I bought one on launch day)
I too got mine on launch day and just claimed the credit (hence the screenshot above) 🙂
Would be great if I could cast from my AFL and NRL apps.
The amount of people asking for this means Telstra HAS to sit up and take notice surely.
It might be a nice taster to get Australians to give Chromecast a go, once Google fixes the bugs in Google Play Movies & TV, as described in the Ausdroid article, Australian Chromecast issues with Google Play Movies & TV.
I don’t know why anyone would think this would work with US Chromecasts, but for those wondering, it doesn’t. Credit is only for Australian units.
Was my post deleted or just failed to moderate?
Failed to moderate. Any comment with a link is automatically sent for moderation.
I recieved mine recently and now have 2…but i dont have a computer…so for anyone wondering you can do it through the chromecast app as well.. https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/4624348
But the proceedure is wrong in that there is no drop down menu (atleast with mine) rather, hit the menu key instead and its in there along with *reset* etc.
I recieved an imported chromecast just after it was released here and it works on both for the $6 …but i used 2 different accounts.