I totally agree - HD aside, MTS has Shaw beat hands-down. No question at all about superior picture quality, etc. Bundle in phone and net access (and/or home alarm), and you are paying much less for a superior product.

It's just a shame that they dropped the ball on the HD offering, which forced me to give up their TV service. At least I still get the great phone package because I'm keeping their internet service!

8 channels are okay to start with. But since I dont have an Hdtv it doesnt matter for me. It was only a year ago that Shaw had 8 channels. Im sure within a year MTS will get more hd programming give it time. MTS seems to offer a good tv package but I will never go back for tv because they dont have a Pvr and I have 6 tvs and you can only have 3 tvs on mts. sorry if I am trolling Im just giving my opinions. thanks

Gordon, thanks, that doesn't sound like trolling: it's about facts.

Six TVs! Wow! PVR will come to this platform (tv delivered over telephone lines) and there are some examples in the US. An SD PVR is likely to turn up in Canada in 2008 but an HD PVR is probably 2 to 3 years away yet.

For someone with a user name such as mine you may not think I have nice things to say about MTS....but for the fact that MTS TV has only been around for less than 5 years now, they have done very well in my books. I may not use them personally, but I have seen the product in use at other people's homes..

MTS has a wider range of digital pick and pay channels when compared to Shaw. ones I wish I could have, such as TV Land, Punch Much, and Much More Retro to name a few. MTS' guide has the logos and the ability to remove channels or change the order when compared to Shaw, but Shaw's is much more appeasing to the eyes overall....but thats a personal preference.

MTS has been all digital and 1 box does 3 TV's - Whereas Shaw has only become all digital as of April 18 and the starter boxes are $48 each. But now that Shaw is all digital, MTS has lost one of its key selling points - ALL DIGITAL.

MTS bundles are great if you want all their services, as with Shaw, so most people I know are all MTS or all Shaw. I myself am Shaw for TV, Phone, and Internet, but Cell is still with MTS for now.

MTS having only 8 HD channels.... give them time... they will catch up, Shaw has only gotten serious in the past year, and we only just got 6 new HD channels....MTS will have their day in the spotlight when they add more. All I know is I like it...because as a consumer its only me who saving money when companies compete!

but in closing, you won't see me going to MTS anytime soon.....Too many hidden fees - especially on home phone....but at the same point....look I came up with some positive feedback about the company. lol

Shawguy

The regular predator for Shaw Cable customers is satellite -- Bell ExpressVu or even its own Star Choice. It's interesting you didn't mention either since BOTH offer more HD service in Winnipeg than Shaw Cable.

MTS TV crossed 70k customers on Apr 24, according to a press release today, and 28% market share. That's up from 69,100ish on Mar 31 -- almost 1,000 new TV customers in one week. Obviously, MTS TV is dong something right.

From the consumer point of view, cable and phone IPTV are pretty much the same: using existing wall jacks, you get a bunch of TV. Getting satellite is a bigger deal and set of issues: line of sight the deal-breaker. MTS TV has grabbed more local market share than ANY IPTV-like player in Canada -- and I might go out on a limb and say in the US as well. Bravo.

The odd thing is Shaw Cable ought to have the more robust infrastructure and be able to deliver much greater value for the same dollar.

Well, the MTS installer came yesterday and took away my box. Aside from my internet speeds dropping (I was getting 5000/750 with the TV "modem", now I only get 3500/400), it was a smooth uninstall.

I went BEV because I don't see MTS coming to the table with enough HD channels in the next year or two. If they do, I would have no problem switching back after my BEV contract is up.

As for hidden charges for phone - no such thing anymore with MTS. If you have MTS internet or TV, you subscribe to the $40 Total Phone package. All LD included in North America, low overseas rates (3c a minute to Europe, eg), 3 calling features. It's $40, nothing more except taxes. I've been on it for 4 months and it's been awesome.

Just a quick update on my net speeds after losing MTS TV - they actually are faster now, atleast in downstream (6000/400 compared to getting 5000/750). Interesting.

I got an email from MTS sales saying that they are proud to announce that TSN HD has been added to the MTS TV lineup. I would think they'd be embarassed to be making that announcement so late...!

I just want MTS HD to offer programming from our time zone already!!! Give me shows that aren't three hours late and I'll sign up!!

:mad:

Hi I just got an hdtv 32 inch. right now im using the standard mts service but I want to upgrade to mts hd but theres only 8 channels avalible. does anybody know if or when they are going to get more. I am also looking into starchoice. I think its crazy how they dont have a decent line up yet. I am willing to wait until summer 2008 or winter 2008. thankyou

Then I'd say wait until Winter 2008, and if MTS doesn't have a better HD service by then, switch to Starchoice or Bell.

I'm in the same position as Gordon1111 (but a little less patient), just got a 42" plasma, considering moving to starchoice or Bell for the HD. I really only care about HD sports, especially basketball. So with that said, before I do anything drastic (quite happy with MTS SD and have no clue when it comes to sat.), has anyone heard anything about possible HD additions in terms of sports channels? (like TheScore HD or Raptors TV HD) I know MTS seemed to be pretty on the ball with Raptors TV SD.

Also any replacements on the RG3000 in store anytime soon? I don't care about PVR or anything, just wouldn't want to shell out $350 for something that will be replaced in a few months..

So MTS announced this major change to their internet and TV services ("next-gen" stuff)... but yet they still have only 8 HD channels, most of which come on 2 hours later than local. That, and the box and installation is way too costly.

Why does MTS work at the speed of snail?

Better to work a t snails pace and get it right then to rush it out with problems. You will get you HD channels soon enough, but along with that will come a user interface that far exceeds anything we have ever seen before. (i hope) Form my point of view it looks like MTS has been spending time figuring out how to make the TV experience unlike anything we have ever seen before. i'm sure if they wanted to they could provide another 8 HDstations right now.......but the reality is the demand is not there, what they have is adequate for now.

It's hardly "adequate" - if I wanted to watch my HDTV two hours later, I'd move to Vancouver. They could have easily picked up the eastern time shifts, but chose not to. And now they can't.