Rogers Ontario 2012 Programming and Packages Discussion

[Quarterstaff]

My Cable discount expired June 1, and the internet (Express, my owned docsis 2.0 modem) discount on July 1. Previously I had a 20% discount on cable, with a free 8300HD for the year (I also own an 8300HD), and a 30% on internet.

I own my 8300SD as well as a couple of SD boxes, so the free rental was OK, but not necessary. I managed to negotiate 30% off cable, and returned the "free" PVR and ordered one of the free converter boxes for my spare TV. I also got 25% off internet. This was all done just prior to June 1. I still get the 10% bundle discount on my cell service.

[ElenaH]

Originally posted by ElenaH
I'm currently a Shaw Direct satellite customer and I want to make the switch to Rogers Cable…

So after one of the longest and most complicated calls with a service rep I think I've ever had, the deal they offered me to switch from Shaw Direct to Rogers was:
(I'm currently a Rogers internet and cell phone customer)

2 year term
Free PVR that I own, but not the new NextBox. I actually don't know what I'm getting, they couldn't tell me - the HD PVR before the NextBox probably - maybe the 8462?

Then they gave me 30% off cable and internet for 6 months
on the phone I was promised 1 year
but lo and behold when the email confirmation comes, it's only for six months
after another looooong call I'm stuck with only 6 months.
They're sorry the rep told me that, but there is no code to enter for a 1 year deal and a free PVR so I can't have both.

Not really sure if I got a good deal or not
Thoughts anyone?

Oh, and they don't want my satellite HDPVR, the rep was taken aback when I asked and said Rogers has no use for another company's box. Strange, I thought they took your sat box. I guess then I can sell my Shaw Direct box.

[yyzlhr]

so much misinformation.

The box you get is an 8300HD. Also the discount on the TV is $21.73 not 30% off. You do however get 30% off on your internet. Discount lasts for 6 months in the GTA and for one year outside the GTA

[ElenaH]

Thanks for clearing that up… In four sentences you offered more info than I got in 4 hours and two calls to Rogers!

I'm outside the GTA, any suggestions on how I get that 1 year discount then? Keep calling until I get a rep that can do it?

Boy, the 8300 looks OLD! I don't want to end up with a PVR that's worse than the blummin' Shaw Direct one I have! It's hard to tell from the forum whether it's a good PVR or not, since it's mostly the issues you hear. I hope to heck it's a 320GB, because 20 hours of HD is not nearly enough, neither is a 6 day guide.

[Bplayer]

Originally Posted by ElenaH

.....

Boy, the 8300 looks OLD! I don't want to end up with a PVR that's worse than the blummin' Shaw Direct one I have! It's hard to tell from the forum whether it's a good PVR or not, since it's mostly the issues you hear. I hope to heck it's a 320GB, because 20 hours of HD is not nearly enough, neither is a 6 day guide.

Good new and bad news. The HDD is only 160GB, but you can do a HDD upgrade (voiding warranty) IF you can find a suitable larger drive (hard to find these days). See this thread:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=15719

The good news is the 8300HD is quite stable, but the interface is OLD. The newer NEXTBOX is not a heck of a lot better and has its fair share of issues.

[yyzlhr]

Sorry I meant to say 6 months outside the GTA and one year in the GTA. There's no way to get the full one year outside the GTA as it is system enforced.

The 8300HD is old but still has a 2 year warranty and works relatively well. Guide looks dated but it is very responsive. Also the quick start menu adds modern features like search and weather apps. It also has remote scheduling capabilities which are not present on the newer models.

[ElenaH]

So the deal I was offered is probably the best I can do then?
I had to sacrifice a 50% off internet for 1 year to take this deal.

I think I can live with the options I'd be missing with the 8300 (compared to my current Shaw Direct 630) and if I understand correctly I can either try my hand at replacing the iHDD or buy a Rogers PVR extender to give me more HD recording storage to solve my issue with HD recording space.

[GaryE]

Hi Elana... Just wondering who you spoke to about getting the free PVR and the discount on programming? Through retentions or through a salesman on Kijiji?

I'm in a similar boat as you... have Shaw Direct for TV and Rogers for internet but would like to switch to Rogers for TV now.

[yyzlhr]

This is a regular acquisition offer that anyone can get through regular sales or customer service channels.

[ElenaH]

Except it isn't that easy to get.
They don't offer it right off the bat.

Keep pushing until you get what you want - which may mean that you have to go to customer relations.

Check for an offer for a free Nextbox if you turn in your sat. receiver and add Home Phone service (winback I believe it's called). I don't need home phone, so didn't work for me, plus there was no programming discount.

Incidentally, after about 5 calls to Rogers I decided that the deal for the free 8300 was just not what I wanted, so I went instead with a 50% off tv for two years and no free PVR. In the end I just wanted the Nextbox over the 8300. We'll see if I regret that - hope not!

GaryE - Just to warn you if you are a 630HD PVR user, you'll probably be disappointed by Rogers PVR, I certainly was. Turns out Shaw Direct does have a more advanced PVR, who knew?

[dishguy1977]

I currently subscribe to the Digital VIP package, along with the HD Specialty Theme Pack and Timeshifting Theme Pack. I saw on the website that there is now an HD VIP package and called in to Rogers on 2 different occasions to inquire about the difference with what I have and the HD VIP pacakge and neither rep was able to tell me the answer. I also tried the chat support online and that rep was also unable to provide me with the answer.

So does anybody here know the difference - if there even is one? I'm just wondering if I should be switching.

[alebowgm]

Timeshifting theme package gives you the SD versions of the stations. I don't believe you get that in the HD VIP.

DHC'er yyzlhr can likely give additional details.

[DigitalDisappointment]

I don't think there's a difference. If you pay for the HD specialty pack with Digital VIP it's the same as HD VIP. I looked it up on the terminal and they charge $10.10 for HD pack which is the difference in value between the two.

[JamesK]

Timeshifting theme package gives you the SD versions of the stations. I don't believe you get that in the HD VIP.

I have time shifting in HD, but all the U.S. SD time shift channels cost extra. I'm paying for the Digital VIP and HDTV Specialty Channel package. I get 5 channels from Seattle, 4 from Vancouver and 1 each from Boston, NYC, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles, all in HD.

[alebowgm]

Sorry. I should had rephrased, you get it in HD but you don't get it in SD. There is also the Superstations Theme Pak which is WPIX, WGN9, KTLA etc but that is included in HD Specialty so unless you want the SD you don't need it either.