Rogers announced today it has added RTPi to its list of multicultural programming. From now until January 4, 2006, Rogers Digital Cable customers can enjoy a free preview on channel 648 in Ontario.

RTPi is broadcast live from Portugal and provides an extensive mix of television from channels such as RTP1, RTP2, RTP Madeira, RTP Azores and RTP Africa. Watch the best novellas, sports, news and documentaries in Portuguese 24-hours-a day.

With the addition of RTPi, Rogers now offers multicultural programming in 20 different languages on 40 multicultural
channels.

At the end of the free preview, RTPi will cost $14.95/month.

WOW...$14.95!!! THat is a killer considering anyone can get it free-to-air for FREE!!!

Interesting. Is it the identical channel?

So the question becomes, how much to buy and install a FTA antenna, receiver etc and will it remain unencrypted now that its being sold on Rogers?

For those who are interested, it might be worth spending $14.95 a month or so and then making the decision.

Out of curiosity...do other areas in North America get such diverse programming choices? It just seems that Rogers has an absolutely fantastic selection for people who might want this sort of thing.

Having zero culture myself (big shock! :)), these channels do not interest me per se, but I think it's great that no matter what your ethnic background, you can pretty much find a channel tailored to your liking.

I think Rogers is definitely a leader in this respect. The number of cultures in Toronto is so varied so it makes good business sense.

I was at my son and daughters school and we live in a "waspy" area of Toronto yet in one class of 22 kids, they or their parents came from 20 different countries!

the diversity is amazing and makes the GTA a tremendous place to live.

One of the complaints of Rogers and the other providers in Canada has been that people are buying DISH to get their programming.

Then when a Canadian distributer finally does get a channel (RTPi for example) they sometimes over price it.

RTPi is FTA (RTP states it will always be FTA as it is a public service channel-- think of CBC) IT also only costs $5 USD on DISH (works out to $10 if that is the only channel you get.)


Hopefully fairness will rule and Rogers will realize that they are charging too much, after all the 14.95 is ON TOP of the basic digital package.

I think $14.95 is fine. No one is forcing anyone to buy it and a FTA exists if you really object to the price.

It also may be an opportunity for BEV or SC to offer for $10 per month.

Hugh,
have you heard anything new about TV Globo from Brazil?
I had been told it would launch on the same date of RTP.

According to other users, these channels were being tested together.
So far, nothing about it, CSRs don't know anything.

Not sure what's happening there

My in-laws are Portuguese and were excited when they heard this, however, it's only offered in Toronto. I guess we're too WASPy here in NB to get it (or many of the other channels).

have you heard anything new about TV Globo from Brazil?

Typically, if I get sent a press release announcing new channels I put up a thread in the forum so I don't think I've seen anything.

I think $14.95 is fine. No one is forcing anyone to buy it and a FTA exists if you really object to the price.

It also may be an opportunity for BEV or SC to offer for $10 per month.

$10 a month makes more sense, especially if they also offer Globo. Much more likely to get new subscribers. Who knows maybe FPTV will finally get onto satellite as well.:D

According to the Rogers website RTPi is $14.95/month by itself but it costs only $10.00/month when you subscribe to Festival Portuguese Television.

http://www.shoprogers.com/store/cable/ptv/choice/multicultural.asp?shopperID=Q7FMWPUQ32EL9KFDCHL4EVQS2T971701

Hello everyone,
In my personal opinion, I think it is ridiculous for Rogers to be charging 14.95 for this channel. What is the cost of taking a signal that is free from the air and injecting it into your digital signal. I’m not a pro when it comes to broadcasting but I’m sure that the cost associated with putting this channel on will be close to nil. ….. Oh wait, there are the CRTC licensing costs… but that’s a different story about a different pile of BS.

Well there is one reason I can think of, Mr. Frank Alvarez (runs Festival Portuguese Television, and CIRV 88.9FM radio) must have been somewhat scared when RTPi announced they were talking to Rogers to put their channel on cable; I mean when he runs such a crap channel (FPtv) and charges $14.95/mth for it who would stay on board if RTPi was available at a cheaper price? Mr. Alvarez must have gone running to the CRTC and Rogers so that they would charge the same price for RTP so that he wouldn’t lose his viewers (the few that he has because the majority of people I’ve spoken to say his programming is worthless).
I for one was looking forward to the day that RTP came to cable, hoping it would mean people would stop bugging me for FTA receivers so they can get it FREE. I guess my hopes are gone. Well, I send out a great ‘pat in the back’ to Rogers and Mr. Alvarez … way to fight the FTA satellites and DishNetwork systems!! You just guaranteed a lot of business for a lot of dish dealers.
Last time I checked $4.95 USD (charged by DishNetwork) doesn’t translate to $14.95. Well, maybe it does, It all depends who’s pocket the money is going to.

Good Day everyone!!

Last time I checked $4.95 USD (charged by DishNetwork) doesn’t translate to $14.95. Well, maybe it does, It all depends who’s pocket the money is going to.
No, it doesn't, but then again, DishNetwork has a 10+ times greater population to sell to than Rogers does, which factors into negotiating costs with the originating network. Rogers has to decide where the balance point is between broadcasting the network, using their resources to distribute the channel, and making some sort of profit while doing so. They are a business after all.

I'm not saying it's not expensive, but I'm fairly sure there are no great conspiracies going on here, the price seems on-par with a lot of the other ethnic channels on their line-up.

the price seems on-par with a lot of the other ethnic channels on their line-up.

RTPi to Portugal is what RAI International is to Italy....

Check out RAI's price:

RAI International
$2.45/month

Now that is the price I think Rogers should be charging users to subscribe to RTPi. Mr. Alvarez definatley had some influence in the pricing since he was the only one who opposed it when the CRTC was evaluating the decision to approve the channel.

RTPi to Portugal is what RAI International is to Italy....Mr. Alvarez definatley had some influence in the pricing since he was the only one who opposed it when the CRTC was evaluating the decision to approve the channel.
One channel's price and features do not dictate another channel's price. As previously mentioned, there are a bucket load of ethnic channels in Rogers lineup that are the same price as RTPi. Or did Mr. Alvarez dictate those prices as well?

Not arguing it's expensive, but again, I don't see any conspiracy here.

I also suspect there is a bigger audience for RAI in Toronto than RTPi!

Again, if people really object they can go FTA or pass on it!

I also suspect there is a bigger audience for RAI in Toronto than RTPi!

Again, if people really object they can go FTA or pass on it!
I WILL PASS

Exactly, another fine example of the Canadian way of doing business. :(

Get a free channel, offer it to it's subs and charge $14.95.

This means $14.95 net revenue for Rogers. It's despicable. :(

Exactly, another fine example of the Canadian way of doing business. :( ... Get a free channel, offer it to it's subs and charge $14.95.
Rogers does *not* get to distribute this channel for free.

And even if they did make $14.95 profit, which they don't, how exactly is that 'the Canadian way of doing business.'?