Analysed it some more, thought about it some more, went in again and asked some more questions.
There are (important) cases where it is still not true pick & pay. Packaging behavior and pricing / picks usage problems.
I think my biggest disappointment is with the multi Sports Channels.
Within the pick and pay system:
[5 TSN 1-5] - must be taken together as a package - consuming 2 of your pnp choices and pay $3/mo extra money too.
and similarly:
[4 Sportsnets - E, Ont, W, Pac] - same thing. must take them all, and you consume 2 of your pnp choices, and pay $3/mo extra money too.
[ SN 360 consume pnp pick or $6 separately and SN one consume one pnp choice $6 + $1 = $7 separately ... hmmm ... not with the other SN's in the "forced" pkg. eeek. ]
Cogeco weasles out saying: Not our fault, creator of the sports channels dictates this to us. We must offer them that way. ! SAYS WHO ! Regulator/CRTC - pls step in and bust this.
SPORTS CONTENT ... NOT SO GREAT ANYWAY.
Bigger disappointment: Sports Content.
I do know ... the content is usually all the same, at the same time on these TSN / RSN grouped sports channels. Showing same thing simultaneously. - a lot.
And, a lot of sports commentary, "puck heads" shows, on loops, all night and day, rather than actual live sports coverage.
( I don't wanna hear people talking and arguing about sports and the politics of sports ... darn it ... I wanna watch live sport itself ... daaa 0
And - Blackouts seen. Content Blocked. BS.
So: Forced to consume more of your pnp picks, pay extra, and questionable content, same content over those channels usually, or just commentary, or blocked content / black outs.
And how is it that the SPORTS channel creators can "Dictate" you must take them all, like a package, disregarding the new Pick and Pay system ?
[ this should be the subject of multiple complaints to the CRTC, and to the creators of these channels. What's so special about you ? Sports heads? Offer your channels individually, like everyone
else ... but daa .. no ... they are "special".
POSSIBLE SPORTS STRATEGY:
Given the "Canadian" sports "Content" realities/problem, my strategy would be, to take One TSN, One RSN, then ..for diversity of sports content,
maybe consider taking the RDS and TVA Sports (French / Quebec Sports channels), there's a CBS Sports ch shown as well on the Cogeco flyer - that might give some different stuff.
I asked about any NBC sports channel - but they said NO, we don't offer that . So I said to Cogeco - It's probably good. Go get it. Why not. (? NBC Universal Sports channel ? not sure. )
Ditto: any ABC Sports channel ? any Fox Sports channel ? any Other Sports Channels? Int'l Sports channels?. [ Come On ... we need some sports diversity and variety. Go get it. ]
I think we need some diversity and competition in the sports channels here in Canada ... to get their lazy expensive sports pkg channel butts moving and competing.
And in my opinion, we could probably all benefit from a few CBC Sports channels too. Non existant now ... but Another thread I started elsewhere.
But CBC Sports is out getting good stuff from all over the world and with excellent professional commentary. "THE ROAD TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES"
You know ... covering all the Olympic type sports: Figu Skating, Skiing, snow board, sleds - whatever else like that - that CBC does so well.
As others have mentioned - The BASIC package you *MUST* take, for $25 bucks, is mandatory, and no pnp there, for any price reductions / or flexibility.
[ But Cogeco does offer a lot in there for $25 bucks. Apparently 2 PBS's for me WPBS watertown & Detroit. and the Stingray Music Channels are thrown in as well.
CHCH, the two OMNI's, some French Quebec Networks TV5 TVA TFO ... etc. ]
As others have mentioned - the Pricing on some of the individual channels in PnP is - prohibitive / kind of expensive relatively - compared to a mini package they are offered in.
[ so it's priced in a way to discourage you choosing the individual channel, discouraging the pnp system then, encouraging still - "packaging" for a little extra money. ]
Perhaps the CRTC/regulator should look into the really obvious over EXPENSIVE ones - and ask for a justification. Or is it just predatory / to discourage selection of that channel on it's own.
Funny:
The Time Shifting Channels are not offered in the PnP choices. And they're put in the "PREMIUM Package" section - must get em all for $10. no Pnp.
Funny:
Two Religious channels in a "Heart & Soul Pack" EWTN & StL for FREE. [ well ... just stick em in the Basic section then ... ]
Lots to analyse and comment.
Gotta go.