Aliant plans to implement HD and PVRs after a 3 month trial starting in July for employees. If all goes well, HD and PVR will be available to the general public in October.

Thanks for the info, interested in a PVR.

I just talked to an aliant CSR and was told that HD was coming 'before the end of the year' and that the PVR would be coming 'sometime in 2009'.
I did not ask if the PVR would be a dual tuner, we'll have to wait til 2009 to find out!

I sent an email to Aliant on July 23rd about this and was told that both HD and the PVR should be available before the end of the year.... so anytime between now and this time next year ;)

I was speaking to a CSR last week and was told that the HDTV portion would be available this fall (so anytime now) and the PVR functionality would be rolled out over the winter.

I also inquired of this service a few days ago but I will not be able to subscribe to it due to me having the Aliant High Speed Max. Looks like Max and AliantTV HD can not be combined due to bandwidth issues. I'd have to downgrade to Ultra High Speed.

MAX + HDTV/PVR = Not enough bandwidth yet.

Employees are trialing HDTV now. The trial goes till October 31st/2008.

I have added Speculation to the title of thread since it is a trial which does not guarantee the product will be offered or when it will be eventually offered.

I found out a bit more about Aliants IPTV/HDTV plans today.

Upgrading from SD to HD is $19.00/month more. With that $19.00 you get the following "free" channels: CBC-HD, Global-HD, CTV-HD, ABC-HD, CBS-HD, Fox-HD, NBC-HD, and PBS-HD. If you subscribe to the Movie Theme Package you also get TMN HD as a "free" channel.

There are (4) HD specific theme packages with additional HD programming:

Sports HD (1): TSN HD, Sportsnet HD.
Sports HD (2): Rush HD, Speed HD, and Raptors HD
Knowledge HD: Discovery Channel HD, National Geographic HD, and Equator HD
Entertainment HD: HD Net, A&E HD, Showcase HD

Just like regular theme packages, they are $6.00 a pop and can be added to existing packages if you have upgraded to HD service.

As Aliant is using ADSL2+, bandwidth is tight and you can have any mixture of HD, SD, and High-speed so long as it doesn't go over 14 Mbps. Aliant's services break down megabit wise as follows:

(1) SDTV: 2.8 Mbps
(1) HDTV: 8.8 Mbps
Regular High-Speed: 1.6 Mbps
Ultra High-Speed: 5 Mbps

For HD that means you can have Ultra and only (1) HD Stream, or (1) HD Stream + Regular High-speed + (1) SD Stream.

Hardware wise, upgrading to HD would involve the same setop box(s) and modem. Currently, assuming you have component wires already connecting the setop to your TV you would just need to call Sales and reset your setop box to have HD.

It also appears that Aliant has jumped on the VDSL2 bandwagon to allow more bandwidth options for 2009 and is testing the 2Wire 3800 to replace the SE567.

I don't know the date of arrival for HD, it was going to be the 28th of this month but it looks like it might be pushed further ahead again. *sigh*

wow 8.8 mbps. that might be the best in canada, besides rogers (assuming they're still 2 channels per qam). prices seem high, but im sure they're in line with the rest of the country. curious to know the specs and pricing on a pvr.

WOW.... $19/mth for 8 HD channels... and $25/mth for 10 channels (Sports HD 1). That is expensive. Add that to the Basic +1 Theme package and that is $58/mth.

Rogers VIP with HD box is only $56/mth I believe and that includes 18 HD channels... and is more like the Aliant Basic +12 theme packages, if I recall correctly.

It is expensive, but the way I see it, since there is no new hardware to buy to access HD it is not much different from cost of renting an HD box. Plus the PQ will likely be great on Aliant TV because they use the MPEG4 compression and devote 8.8 Mbps out of the 14 Mbps per account to HD. That's better than anyone else in Canada.

The only major shortcoming I see is that only 1 TV can be HD per account and 1 SD if you've also got Internet and it would have to be just regular high speed not ultra.

Kloraff, I agree on the shortcoming you mentioned. I have Aliant on two TV's, only one is HD capable so I would want 1HD, 1SD and Ultra which I have now for highspeed. Not being able to add the HD without reducing my internet service is not good.

As far as the cost, depends on what you mean by not much difference in pricing. I will take a basic comparison between what Aliant will be and what Rogers currently is...

Aliant has the following 3 packages;
Basic +1 (Theme) - $34 + $25 ($19 for Reg-HD & $6 Sports-1 HD) = $59 for approx. 65 SD channels and 10 HD
Basic +5 (Theme) - $51 + $25 ($19 for Reg-HD & $6 Sports-1 HD) = $76 for approx. 85 SD channels and 10 HD
Basic +12 (Theme) - $67 + $25 ($19 for Reg-HD & $6 Sports-1 HD) = $92 for approx. 125 SD channels and 10 HD


Rogers the following 2 packages;
Digital - $33 + $13 (HD box) + $3(Digital fee) = $49 for approx. 40 SD channels and 18 HD
VIP - $43 + $13 (HD box) + $3(Digital fee) = $59 for approx. 99 SD channels and 18 HD


The above costs do not include movie packages whicg are extra for both services, also teh above prices are both for an interducury period and the monthly costs go up for both servcies ($5/mth for Alaint for each package, and $? for Rogers... assuming the ywash each other out).

So a quick look would be $76 for Aliant w/ 85-SD & 10-HD, whereas Rogers VIp is $59 w/ 99-SD and 18-HD... seems like a switch to Rogers might be in order.

Please let me know if i am way off on anything above... because that is how I see it initially... perhaps I am off base somewhere?

The only thing you're really missing is how much the Rogers packages go up after the promo is over.

For the Basic, it goes up about $3/mo. The normal price is about $35.95/mo. Rogers therefore beats them for the Basic subscription.
For the VIP package, it goes up a LOT to the regular price of $61.97/mo. The offer is to try and covert as many people as possible to digital so they can gradually shut down analog channels and move them to digital for more bandwidth. They offer the $42 pricing for either 6 or 12 months. (not sure which but I think it might be 6)

As you can see the Rogers VIP package + HD Terminal rental comes to about $75 which is very comparable to the Aliant TV 5 Pack + Reg HD + 1 HD Pack. (Rogers offers about a dozen extra SD channels which for some HD users is not as important as the better quality HD that will likely be available from Aliant)

It may also be important to factor in WHICH extra HD channels Rogers is counting in their selection of freebies. I believe at least 3 of them are Sun TV, OMNI.1 and OMNI.2, which don't offer much real HD (last time I checked). They have a duplicate PBS (same exact feed for east and west) that they might be counting twice and City TV HD (which is arguably the most useful extra freebie other than Sportsnet HD.) I think Rogers is also counting the premium movie (and access to PPV) HD in their free channel count as they are free with the appropriate subscription. Otherwise the Basic HD offerings are very similar.

The next step for Aliant that might put them ahead slightly would be offering the PVR functionality for everyone as an included feature. That would be $7 saved over the Rogers HD PVR box rental. Also when VOD is rolled out on the Aliant boxes, (rumor has it sometime in 2009) the only MAJOR advantage Rogers had over Aliant will be gone. Aliant TV will then have better PQ, No extra hardware to buy and will only be missing a few SD and timeshifted channels. That's my opinion for what it's worth.

from rogers.com/channels selecting Fredericton - HD channels:

490 - 497 HD NHL/MLB/NBA/NCAA/NASCAR Hot Pass
501 HD Preview Channel
502 HD Rogers Sportsnet
503 HD TSN
504 SPEED HD
505 Discovery HD
506 Raptors NBA TV HD
508 HD OMNI.1
509 HD OMNI.2
512 HD SUN TV
513 HD CBC Toronto (CBLT)
514 HD SRC Toronto (CBLFT)
515 HD Global Toronto (CIII)
517 CTV HD Toronto (CTVTO)
519 HD Citytv Toronto
522 HD ABC Seattle (KOMO)
523 HD CBS Seattle (KIRO)
524 HD NBC Seattle (KING)
526 HD FOX Seattle (KCPQ)
527 HD ABC Detroit (WXYZ)
528 HD CBS Detroit (WWJ)
529 HD NBC Detroit (WDIV)
530 HD PBS (East)
531 HD FOX Detroit (WJBK)
532 HD WGN Chicago (CW9)
534 Showcase HD
535 National Geographic HD
536 MMore HD (and soon HBO HD)
537 The Movie Network HD
538 HD Pay Per View 1
539 HD Pay Per View 2
541 HDNet

The channels in bold are "free" (based on my experience here in Toronto); the ones in red are $8.95/mth in the HD Pack; the others are tied to SD services; and of course the two PPV. That's a pretty good selection, on balance.

spoked to a couple csr's regarding the roll out on and HD content, and apparently they are having some issues.

I called today to get details on the pricing structure.

The CSR said all areas which currently have Aliant TV will ba able to get HD service on Monday Nov 3rd

Free HD Channels
CBC-HD, Global-HD, CTV-HD, ABC-HD, CBS-HD, Fox-HD, NBC-HD, and PBS-HD

4 HD theme packs will be available
SportsHD (1): TSN HD, Sportsnet HD.
SportsHD (2): Rush HD, Speed HD, and Raptors HD
KnowledgeHD: Discovery Channel HD, National Geographic HD, and Equator HD
Entertainment HD: HD Net, A&E HD, Showcase HD

Pricing structure will be as follows.
HD Basic + 1 theme $53.00
HD Basic + 5 theme $70.00
HD Basic + 12 theme $86.00
HD Basic + 18 theme $106.00

Additional theme packs $6

If you subscribe to the movies pack you will automatically get the movies HD channels.

I never inquired about HD PPV service.

I spoke with Aliant today and they had no word on installation date nore pricing so I am not sure where you got your information from ...

Kloraff:

The Aliant prices I posted go up $5 on all packages after the promo as well... so I used the promo prices. Didn’t realize the VIP went up that much after promo. But still looks like it’s as such after promo's;

Aliant Basic +5 (Theme) - $56 + $25 ($19 for Reg-HD & $6 Sports-1 HD) = $81 for approx. 85 SD channels and 10 HD

Rogers VIP - $62 + $13 (HD box) + $3(Digital fee) = $78 for approx. 99 SD channels and 18 HD

And I saw what SensualPoet posted for HD channels, but I thought that TSN HD is included in the free HD channels as well.... no?

So it looks like the Rogers extra HD channels over Aliant are;
Speed
Omni 1
Omni 2
SunTV
SRC
CityTV

… not a lot of special channels perhaps… but HD channels all the same.


Also, as nice as it will be when Aliant brings out the PVR functionality (initially thought to be before the end of this year… now I’m hearing sometime over the winter) it will cost more money to upgrade guaranteed. The boxes we have are free, but a PVR will not be... no way. So that $7 savings you mentioned will not be. Just can't see that happening.

And like we first discussed… the fact that having HD will hurt the ability to have Ultra HS is the other big kicker. I thought Aliant was getting into the Digital TV business to offer a cheaper solution to Rogers…. But I fear it may end up being the opposite. Perhaps that is due to them already having Bell ExpressVu… and don’t want to under-cut their prices and hurt that industry?



Ares:

Not sure about having HD on Nov 3rd…. I called a week or so ago and was put on a waiting list for HD and was told by the CSR that they need to mail out a new cable to use for HD.

Your prices are the same as what I posted in my examples (using TheeAlien posted prices)… except I included the SportsHD 1 package for the $6 more because Sportsnet and TSN are pretty much a given for required HD. And they should be included in the $19 “free” channels.... not costing another $6.

Final Comment: Don't get me wrong... I like Aliant TV... just was not expecting having issues with limited bandwidth affecting my internet service combined with HDTV and was hoping that Aliant prices would remain more competitive then Rogers even after adding the HD service... just doesn't seem so considering everything.

Remember this is just speculation. Alot can change between now and the rollout date.

When I called all I said was. I would like to get some details on HD pricing structure you are rolling out next week. I was put on hold while she retrived the information. I also asked if there was looking to be any delays and she said no.

Money is not a real issue here. We are talking a few dollars for the convience of one simple bill a month. Sure rogers may offer a few more channels but honestly how many people watch those channels?

As for the sports (not a big fan of TSN) wont let us get ESPN here in Canada the speed channel programming is not the greatest.

If I want to watch hockey I believe CBC brodcasts games in HD anyway same for baseball?

I more want the service for the Knowledge HD package. I can see myself getting the basic + 5 for 70.00 which is very resonable considering everything is already there dont have to miss time from work to have it setup...

Remember this service is geared towards people in apartment buildings/condos...

As well Rogers is capping their internet download amounts monthly and Aliant is not. This is another plus for the service sure you may have to go to regular high speed. For the most part unless you are illegally downloading movies and applications regular high speed is all anyone needs.

Thats just my 2 cents.