Universal Electronics (UEI) has entered into an agreement with Foxtel, which makes UEI Foxtel's preferred universal remote control supplier to Australia's subscription television operator.

UEI is currently Foxtel's sole supplier of remote control solutions. Under the new agreement, UEI will provide proprietary technology for Foxtel's universal remote controls that will control both the Foxtel digital cable and digital satellite set-top boxes.

A company release states that the remote controls, which represent the next-generation BSkyB control solution enables seamless control of the Foxtel digital cable and digital satellite set-top boxes as well as subscribers' televisions. Foxtel has stated that it is looking forward to Universal Electronics to help design a solution that would be intuitive, simple in design, and innovative in its universal control and learning capabilities to accommodate the local device requirements

UEI's advanced remote control has been adapted to suit the local requirements for common Australian television brands. It enabling Foxtel subscribers to control virtually any television with the UEI-based device, which is backed by the industry's largest database of infrared device control codes. In addition, the remote control's learning feature allows further customisation so that subscribers can control their favorite features to other audio and video devices in the home.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp has a 25 per cent stake in Foxtel.