Interactive TV ending August 18th (but not TWN) - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

rickhd · 2011-06-26, 02:47 PM

Note with my latest bill.

As of August 18th, Power 97.5 as well as Interactive TV services will no longer be available. Also, A&E HD will now only be available in the Variety 1 theme pack. If you wish to modify or cancel your service as a result of this change, please call 1 888 759-3474.

scrooloose · 2011-06-26, 05:32 PM

Interesting. The only useful interactive application Bell had was the weather network, using an overlay to display your local weather along with weather bulletins. Without that, the national weather network won't be very useful. The rest of it I won't miss.

-Mike

julie_rose_ · 2011-06-26, 07:49 PM

i also like their interactive game. is that also included by shutting down the interactive tv on bell?

David1953 · 2011-06-27, 07:44 AM

I never used the interactive stuff, so I won't miss it. Also, when using the Weather Network interactive, it would often cause my 6131 to lock up, hence I avoided that.

If, by doing this, Bell can free up transponder space, so be it, and a good decision on Bell's part in my opinion.

Blackloz · 2011-06-27, 07:56 AM

Agreed.

Interceptor · 2011-06-27, 08:45 AM

Except for the Weather channel, good riddance. Too many times when I was going through the channels, I'd accidentally go to one and had to wait and play a song and a dance to get out of, if the receiver didn't lock up first.

msgohan · 2011-06-27, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David1953

If, by doing this, Bell can free up transponder space, so be it, and a good decision on Bell's part in my opinion.

I don't think these services take much space; they're just text and some JPEGs from what I've seen. Except for that multicast-window channel (188).

I think they're just removing them because they realized most of us don't use them and actively block them. Though removing interactive WeatherNet is strange.

2415 · 2011-06-27, 02:21 PM

Interactive TV in the UK is the largest in the English language and is quite popular. Here in Canada, my opinion is that interactive TV didn't became so popular because of the rise of the Internet and computers. We will not "use" TV for interactive TV on Bell Satellite TV, so we will only watch TV from August 18.

cyclist44 · 2011-06-27, 02:31 PM

I will miss Interactive on the Weather Channel, CBC News Network and on TSN.

Weather Channel: for local weather
CBC News Network: for updates on postal strike
TSN: for their scoreboard except a lot of the times is wasn't up to date

dirtroad · 2011-06-27, 03:52 PM

I locked out all the interactive channels except TSN, CBC and The Weather Network and will miss them. On my 5100 I used to "Hide Enhancements" as any channel tuned to after TSN always showed the interactive logo for three or four channel changes and would say it was loading.
Bell is really struggling to find transponder space, they no longer have any "Barker Channels" except the "New" and "Free" static pages.

Pinza · 2011-06-27, 04:35 PM

I got so angry with 505 being Interactive, I locked that channel out and started using Channel 80 for my fix of The Weather network.

David1953 · 2011-06-27, 04:58 PM

Ah, yes, that s exactly what I do, Pinza! I dread going anywhere near channel 505, due to the lockup problems, and use the DV channel if I tune into that channel at all. I would really like to see TWN in HD, and I hope the fact that Bell cannot get the local overlay to work on HD feeds isn't the reason they aren't carrying it.

bbakernbay · 2012-12-17, 05:33 PM

I have 3 Bell receivers in my home and they all supported TWN interactive to give us the local weather. Two days ago, one of the HD receivers was 'upgraded' and now we can't choose our city on TWN interactive, even though we still get it on the other two Bell receivers.

Can anyone explain that?

bbakernbay · 2012-12-17, 07:25 PM

Found the answer upon checking the specs for the new 6400 receiver.

"iTV" or interactive TV is NOT supported with their new receiver.

Unfortunately a step backward with a new model release.

jdevlin · 2012-12-18, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Unfortunately a step backward with a new model release.

Standard practice for BELL.

2011-06-26, 02:47 PM	#1
rickhd Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kitchener, Ontario Posts: 176	Interactive TV ending August 18th (but not TWN) Note with my latest bill. As of August 18th, Power 97.5 as well as Interactive TV services will no longer be available. Also, A&E HD will now only be available in the Variety 1 theme pack. If you wish to modify or cancel your service as a result of this change, please call 1 888 759-3474.

2011-06-26, 05:32 PM	#2
scrooloose Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grimsby, Ont. Posts: 3,117	Interesting. The only useful interactive application Bell had was the weather network, using an overlay to display your local weather along with weather bulletins. Without that, the national weather network won't be very useful. The rest of it I won't miss. -Mike __________________ Pioneer PRO-110FD \| Pioneer VSX-92TXH \| BELL 9242 \| Panasonic DMP-BD35 \| XBOX 360 \|WD TV Live Hub

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2011-06-26, 07:49 PM	#3
julie_rose_ Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 288	i also like their interactive game. is that also included by shutting down the interactive tv on bell?

2011-06-27, 07:44 AM	#4
David1953 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia (Eastlink Motorola DCX3400, Motorola DCX700) Posts: 623	I never used the interactive stuff, so I won't miss it. Also, when using the Weather Network interactive, it would often cause my 6131 to lock up, hence I avoided that. If, by doing this, Bell can free up transponder space, so be it, and a good decision on Bell's part in my opinion.

2011-06-27, 07:56 AM	#5
Blackloz Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Regina,SK & Plentywood MT Posts: 855	Agreed.

2011-06-27, 08:45 AM	#6
Interceptor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sunshine Coast Posts: 593	Except for the Weather channel, good riddance. Too many times when I was going through the channels, I'd accidentally go to one and had to wait and play a song and a dance to get out of, if the receiver didn't lock up first.

2011-06-27, 02:21 PM	#8
2415 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Burlington, ON Posts: 100	Interactive TV in the UK is the largest in the English language and is quite popular. Here in Canada, my opinion is that interactive TV didn't became so popular because of the rise of the Internet and computers. We will not "use" TV for interactive TV on Bell Satellite TV, so we will only watch TV from August 18.

2011-06-27, 02:31 PM	#9
cyclist44 Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 535	I will miss Interactive on the Weather Channel, CBC News Network and on TSN. Weather Channel: for local weather CBC News Network: for updates on postal strike TSN: for their scoreboard except a lot of the times is wasn't up to date

2011-06-27, 03:52 PM	#10
dirtroad Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 891	I locked out all the interactive channels except TSN, CBC and The Weather Network and will miss them. On my 5100 I used to "Hide Enhancements" as any channel tuned to after TSN always showed the interactive logo for three or four channel changes and would say it was loading. Bell is really struggling to find transponder space, they no longer have any "Barker Channels" except the "New" and "Free" static pages.

2011-06-27, 04:35 PM	#11
Pinza Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: GTA Posts: 8,583	I got so angry with 505 being Interactive, I locked that channel out and started using Channel 80 for my fix of The Weather network.

2011-06-27, 04:58 PM	#12
David1953 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia (Eastlink Motorola DCX3400, Motorola DCX700) Posts: 623	Ah, yes, that s exactly what I do, Pinza! I dread going anywhere near channel 505, due to the lockup problems, and use the DV channel if I tune into that channel at all. I would really like to see TWN in HD, and I hope the fact that Bell cannot get the local overlay to work on HD feeds isn't the reason they aren't carrying it.

2012-12-17, 05:33 PM	#13
bbakernbay Rookie Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 8	I have 3 Bell receivers in my home and they all supported TWN interactive to give us the local weather. Two days ago, one of the HD receivers was 'upgraded' and now we can't choose our city on TWN interactive, even though we still get it on the other two Bell receivers. Can anyone explain that?

2012-12-17, 07:25 PM	#14
bbakernbay Rookie Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 8	Found the answer upon checking the specs for the new 6400 receiver. "iTV" or interactive TV is NOT supported with their new receiver. Unfortunately a step backward with a new model release.