It is sad that you have put so many linkages to get one service over another, when they are not necessary. Even when you do make the decision, BEV and StarChoice will always have more HD choice than MTS and Shaw, Iam sure of that.:D Watching Bones on HD right now simply amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know HD looks wonderful, but for the amount of TV I watch right now, it isn't worth giving up what I have. I watched some SD hockey tonight, and I can handle what MTS is giving me in terms of PQ, so I'm staying put. If they don't improve their package soon, maybe I'll think about it again in a few weeks or months.

I know HD looks wonderful, but for the amount of TV I watch right now, it isn't worth giving up what I have. I watched some SD hockey tonight, and I can handle what MTS is giving me in terms of PQ, so I'm staying put. If they don't improve their package soon, maybe I'll think about it again in a few weeks or months.
Okay Derfel, I do not understand, but you have to make the choice. Answer me this why did you buy a HD Plasma at 37 or 42 or 50 inches then? I do not understand the logic of a large HD TV without HD?

Okay Derfel, I do not understand, but you have to make the choice. Answer me this why did you buy a HD Plasma at 37 or 42 or 50 inches then? I do not understand the logic of a large HD TV without HD?

I have a 42" Plasma (Samsung), and primarily I bought it to wallmount it, and also to watch DVDs (which look great on it). Like I said, I don't entirely mind the PQ of MTSTV at SD right now, so until that or something else changes, I'm good. Shaw just isn't enticing enough to get me to switch over.

I heard today that Shaw might be raising prices on their internet soon anyways.

I heard today that Shaw might be raising prices on their internet soon anyways. shaw already increased the rates i just phoned and asked about internet and they said they are not allowed to raise it twice a year and they said no they would not do that. The person you talked to probably ment in september it got raised 3 dollars.

Anyone guessing as to what HD channels and feeds MTS is going to use in the near future, is just that a guess. Yes I agree that the Seattle feed for HD may not be the best choice due to the time zone, but as stated this is their launch channels. MTS has superior SD PQ and 95% of all programming is this format. As more HD programming and feeds come on line, you will certainly see MTS remaining very competitive.

As has been mentioned on numerous posts, MTS also has superior high speed internet that is not affected by their neighbour's usage. Great to see the majority of revenue and community support generated in Manitoba remain here. This cannot be found with the competition.Certain providers can pick and choose ther customers, while MTS continues to provide service to all Manitobans. If their buisness is erroded, what do you ultimatly think is going to happen to the rates of the less fortunate and remote communities?

Anyone guessing as to what HD channels and feeds MTS is going to use in the near future, is just that a guess. Yes I agree that the Seattle feed for HD may not be the best choice due to the time zone, but as stated this is their launch channels. MTS has superior SD PQ and 95% of all programming is this format. As more HD programming and feeds come on line, you will certainly see MTS remaining very competitive.


Problem is - this HD package is not AT ALL competitive. Zero competition. None. Not with price, not with choices, not with equipment. It was a bad package to start with, because many people who want HD (including perhaps me soon) will jump ship from MTS and not look back.

Exactly, MTS is charging you for there HD US Networks / CBC HD at $4.99 / month and you still need the specific specialty channel to get Sportsnet HD with MTS. $540 for a HD receiver is ridiculous (even with Shaw). They have West HD channels and no IPTV HD PVR so you have to stay up late to watch Prime time HD!! And they will not be switching over there US Nets to East anytime soon. For HD users MTS is a joke, and will continue to be until they get a decent product out there. It doesn't matter if your the first IPTV provider to bring HD if you don't have a good plan your setting yourself up for failure.

BTW, Shaw and SC charge nothing for Basic HD Networks

MTS TV: Our HD is insuperior to the competitors.

MTS TV: Our HD is insuperior to the competitors.

... and it's such a shame that it is. With the right HD package and rollout (did you see any ads for HD service from MTS?) this could have rocked Shaw's world. As it is, Shaw has done little to respond to this. The sales people I talked to at Shaw didn't feel they needed to do anything different, because people were apparently switching over to Shaw BECAUSE of the MTS HD offering... :o

... and it's such a shame that it is. With the right HD package and rollout (did you see any ads for HD service from MTS?) this could have rocked Shaw's world. As it is, Shaw has done little to respond to this. The sales people I talked to at Shaw didn't feel they needed to do anything different, because people were apparently switching over to Shaw BECAUSE of the MTS HD offering... :o

Most people stuck it out with MTS and waited for there HD - when people found out this was there product they got turned off and went over to Shaw / Satellite. How hard is it to get Boston or Detroit HD??

I noticed yesterday that channels 99 and 100 have been activated as PPV1 and PPV2. They are currently showing VOD previews on both channels, but I have also intermittently seen a PPV order screen displayed.

This isn't really an HDTV issue, but if anyone wants the PPV schedule...http://www.mts.ca/mtsppvevents

Well, many months later and no improvements to MTS' HD lineup or services. I think it's totally bunk that they can only get the Seattle Time Shifts instead of the Eastern ones. Also, the lack of TSN HD is just appalling.

Talked to two customer reps about this over the holidays, and both admitted they are starting to lose customers from MTS TV who have purchased HDTV sets and are now realizing that MTS TV is way behind the times in terms of HD service. I hope the company realizes this soon so I can switch back to MTS TV again and enjoy a decent HD service.

Yeah, I have to agree. The price of the box, the Seattle US nets, and no TSN-HD.

They are digging themselves a grave for people in the HD department.

No PVR also.

It looks pretty glum...

The PVR thing doesn't entirely bother me, as I can get something else (better) to fill that gap. Even the no HDMI/DVI isn't a huge deal. But the lack of channels, the additonal STB, and the price together are a huge blow against the company's competitiveness in the TV market.

The PVR thing doesn't entirely bother me, as I can get something else (better) to fill that gap. Even the no HDMI/DVI isn't a huge deal. But the lack of channels, the additonal STB, and the price together are a huge blow against the company's competitiveness in the TV market.

I thought I was reading in this set of threads that MTS was planning on more "advanced" HD boxes starting in January. But I could be confused.

In any case, HD over copper wire is tricky at best and MTS only launched this in, what, September? My understanding is Shaw treats Winnipeg like a second cousin offering at best 10 or 11 HD channels when Vancouver and Calgary get twice that.

I do find the additional STB problematic and the cost of entry a tad high ($350?), but, as with Sasktel, I'd be more vocal next September than now. MTS is a pretty small TV player and rowing upstream ain't easy.

Yeah, I have to agree. ... They are digging themselves a grave for people in the HD department. ... It looks pretty glum...

I suppose everyone knows, Westmanguy, that you recently went with Bell ExpressVu, are very satisfied with them, and live an hour or so out of Brandon where MTS doesn't (and possibly might never) offer MTS TV. Plus if Shaw is the local cable company I'm willing to bet you are "rural enough" to have little alternative -- especially for HD -- except for satellite Star Choice or Bell.

Cable, Telco and even Satellite TV is in a period of change -- the landscape is much diffeent today than three years ago and I'd venture a year or 2 from now will change drastically again. Outlying areas might not feel the change very quickly except via satellite; but urban dwellers across Canada are going to have significantly enhanced entertainment options in the next 18 months.

For some of us that just means TV, or HD TV; for others a combination of TV, hispeed Internet, long distance, local phone and bundled pricing driving value and savings into dollars we are already accustomed to spending. On that note, I already enjoy my TV far more (ie. get better value for the price I pay) than two years ago simply because much of what I watch is in HD. I suspect you'd agree with that.

It's a terrific time to be a TV consumer. :)

I myself was very disappointed with the MTS HD layout. The pacific time zone thing makes no sense for a Manitoba company!

I am hoping that very soon they add more channels and a different time.

Hello, just got my HD panel, thinking of MTS, any more talk of more channels with MTS, PVR etc and a date. I gather from reading the posts that mts was smoother than sasktel, but the #`s on sask of HD are much higher. I guess my other options are Shaw, StarChoice and BEV.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm thinking that the problem is that MTS doesn't have the deals and contracts - SaskTel has a deal with BEV.

For MTS to be a real HD competitor they need a East HD set, TSN HD, Discovery HD, HDnet, and a few others.

For MTS to be a real HD competitor they need a East HD set, TSN HD, Discovery HD, HDnet, and a few others.

I agree about the contracts being the problem. I would think that for MTS to compete, they have to match Shaw's HD offering, that's about it.

I'd be willing to pay $10 a month or more on top of what I pay now if it meant getting the same channels as Shaw on MTS TV.

TSN HD and East feeds. That's all they really need right now. Discovery and HDNet would be a bonus.