Bell TV Pricing and Programming Packages Discussion - Page 10 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

reidw · 2012-02-20, 08:13 PM

@jnhto: Or cut back to the Good package. It would be a bit of a hardship but frankly I'm tempted to do it.

bobbosan · 2012-02-20, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baal

Well I managed to get in and check out the Select package.
No RDS, no TSN2, and no Food Network.
That's a strikeout.

Any chance you could post which channels are included in this package Is impossiblle to get in online to change programming.

I was able to get an online chat and representative advised that it only included 74 SD & 28 HD Channels.

reidw · 2012-02-20, 08:21 PM

Doesn't Select include everything in Good? Wouldn't that include TSN2? (just asking).

VuMax · 2012-02-20, 09:06 PM

TSN2 isn't included in Good. You have to move up to Better to get it.

MaxHeadroom · 2012-02-20, 09:41 PM

Here are the channels included in the "Select" package along with everything in the "Good" package. I've quickly edited it to show HD in the channel names that got cut off.

Note that if you don't see anything in this post, you need to register and login to the forums to do so.

MaxHeadroom · 2012-02-20, 10:02 PM

Right now I pay $72. I still have the "Old Sports Package" which has all the important sports channels in one theme.

After reviewing the "Select" package, here is my evaulation.

If I were to switch to Select with no time shifting, I would pay $56.21 plus $3 digital service fee (why they couldn't have gotten rid of that wretched thing, I don't know) plus LPIF for a total of $60. I would lose all the network channels across the country, I would lose TSN2 HD, RadX, HiFi, Oasis, and EqHD. That's a lot of HD content. If I want those channels, I have to pay $10 for new themes called "Add-Ons" and there is no discount as there was in the past for buying multiple theme packs.

Oh yeah, TSN2 is only available in the "Better" package.

patpond · 2012-02-21, 08:06 AM

This has to be the most disappointing move by Bell I've seen in a while. I'm in an area where I'm pretty much forced to have Bell, and this is seriously making me think twice about TV at all.

They have tied up specific channels, which almost force you to go for the top tier programming.

Yay Bell! I guess this is where the mpeg 4 swap $$$ is coming from!

rogue17 · 2012-02-21, 10:22 AM

These new packages suck big time but it won't affect current subscribers.

It will be the new subscribers that will have little choice. Sports channels spread over 3 packages so they will be forced to take the Best Package which is the most expensive. Bell has done this before.

There was a time when all the Music channels- MTV, BET and Much were grouped up together in one theme pack and then they spread them out in different theme packs.

They also did it with sports. They had SportsNet and TSN in the same theme pack but then separated them.

Bell is always trying to get their customers to choose more of what they don't want for more money.

msgohan · 2012-02-21, 01:05 PM

^ To be fair, MTV Canada isn't a music channel.

moosefan · 2012-02-21, 01:30 PM

Well I did something REALLY stupid. I changed to the new package (Better + Time Shifting) without reading which channels it really contains. What drew me to it was that for a few bucks more than I was paying, I could get Peachtree, WPIX, KTLA, AMC, and TCM without taking Premium Movies. What I didn’t notice was that even with Time Shifting, you don’t get all the locals that you used to. By default, here in Nova Scotia, I get the Halifax channels but with Time Shifting I only get locals from a few other cities, and lost quite a few that I used to get with just Digital Standard. I don’t even get Radio Canada from Montreal anymore. Beware that you will lose many of the local channels that you presently have if you switch. Unfortunately for me, I found out too late.

Davage · 2012-02-21, 01:57 PM

@moosefan - Yikes! I really appreciate the heads-up on that one. I very likely would have missed the fact that many of the locals would disappear.. That is horrible! I live in London Ontario, but was born and raised in Sault Ste Marie. I like the fact that I can watch the CTV news from the Sault area.

I wonder if the new packaging is Bell's response to the Fees For Carriage situation. By reducing the number of subscribers watching each of the stations, they can then pay out less to those broadcasters?

goldeneyed · 2012-02-21, 04:00 PM

These new rates are horrendous, and the way their pricing scheme/channel package allocation works.

First of all, they got rid of their HD 5$ fee for HD packs. Why bother keeping that dirty 3.00$ digital fee and not including it within the regular rate?

Secondly, 5$ for Time-Shifting is totally BS. All those local channels should be available with the Good package. Now people will get less locals than before. Time-Shifting should be free.

Thirdly, I cannot believe in order to get RDS you need to subscribe the French channels pack for 15$. That's a huge spit to the face to Franco-Ontarians, or any sports fans who want RDS. It's really taking advantage. The french channels should be at least included in the Best package.

Ronn88 · 2012-02-21, 04:36 PM

@moosefan

Thanks for the heads up.
I did a quick search through the channels,there are quite a few that are no longer available,like 218(CHCH)217(CHEX).

Some Toronto and Montreal channels are still there while others are gone.Hmmm
Im on the East Coast also.
Im wondering what subscribers in other parts of Canada are receiving?

Panache70 · 2012-02-21, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldeneyed

These new rates are horrendous...I cannot believe in order to get RDS you need to subscribe the French channels pack for 15$.

Totally agree about RDS.
Remember the good old days when RDS was a 1$ add-on to TSN?

reidw · 2012-02-21, 06:10 PM

@ron88: CHCH and CHEX are available in the Good (Basic) package at least in PEI.

2012-02-21, 01:30 PM	#145
moosefan Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Halifax Posts: 243	Lost many locals :( Well I did something REALLY stupid. I changed to the new package (Better + Time Shifting) without reading which channels it really contains. What drew me to it was that for a few bucks more than I was paying, I could get Peachtree, WPIX, KTLA, AMC, and TCM without taking Premium Movies. What I didn’t notice was that even with Time Shifting, you don’t get all the locals that you used to. By default, here in Nova Scotia, I get the Halifax channels but with Time Shifting I only get locals from a few other cities, and lost quite a few that I used to get with just Digital Standard. I don’t even get Radio Canada from Montreal anymore. Beware that you will lose many of the local channels that you presently have if you switch. Unfortunately for me, I found out too late.

2012-02-21, 01:57 PM	#146
Davage Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 75	@moosefan - Yikes! I really appreciate the heads-up on that one. I very likely would have missed the fact that many of the locals would disappear.. That is horrible! I live in London Ontario, but was born and raised in Sault Ste Marie. I like the fact that I can watch the CTV news from the Sault area. I wonder if the new packaging is Bell's response to the Fees For Carriage situation. By reducing the number of subscribers watching each of the stations, they can then pay out less to those broadcasters? Last edited by Davage; 2012-02-21 at 01:57 PM. Reason: spelling error

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2012-02-20, 08:13 PM	#136
reidw Veteran Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Stratford, PE. Posts: 2,467	@jnhto: Or cut back to the Good package. It would be a bit of a hardship but frankly I'm tempted to do it.

2012-02-20, 08:21 PM	#138
reidw Veteran Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Stratford, PE. Posts: 2,467	Doesn't Select include everything in Good? Wouldn't that include TSN2? (just asking).

2012-02-20, 09:06 PM	#139
VuMax Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Calgary Posts: 956	TSN2 isn't included in Good. You have to move up to Better to get it.

2012-02-20, 09:41 PM	#140
MaxHeadroom Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Russell, Ontario Posts: 301	Here are the channels included in the "Select" package along with everything in the "Good" package. I've quickly edited it to show HD in the channel names that got cut off. Note that if you don't see anything in this post, you need to register and login to the forums to do so.

2012-02-20, 10:02 PM	#141
MaxHeadroom Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Russell, Ontario Posts: 301	Right now I pay $72. I still have the "Old Sports Package" which has all the important sports channels in one theme. After reviewing the "Select" package, here is my evaulation. If I were to switch to Select with no time shifting, I would pay $56.21 plus $3 digital service fee (why they couldn't have gotten rid of that wretched thing, I don't know) plus LPIF for a total of $60. I would lose all the network channels across the country, I would lose TSN2 HD, RadX, HiFi, Oasis, and EqHD. That's a lot of HD content. If I want those channels, I have to pay $10 for new themes called "Add-Ons" and there is no discount as there was in the past for buying multiple theme packs. Oh yeah, TSN2 is only available in the "Better" package.

2012-02-21, 08:06 AM	#142
patpond Rookie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 6	This has to be the most disappointing move by Bell I've seen in a while. I'm in an area where I'm pretty much forced to have Bell, and this is seriously making me think twice about TV at all. They have tied up specific channels, which almost force you to go for the top tier programming. Yay Bell! I guess this is where the mpeg 4 swap $$$ is coming from!

2012-02-21, 10:22 AM	#143
rogue17 Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 553	These new packages suck big time but it won't affect current subscribers. It will be the new subscribers that will have little choice. Sports channels spread over 3 packages so they will be forced to take the Best Package which is the most expensive. Bell has done this before. There was a time when all the Music channels- MTV, BET and Much were grouped up together in one theme pack and then they spread them out in different theme packs. They also did it with sports. They had SportsNet and TSN in the same theme pack but then separated them. Bell is always trying to get their customers to choose more of what they don't want for more money.

2012-02-21, 01:05 PM	#144
msgohan Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Vancouver Posts: 232	^ To be fair, MTV Canada isn't a music channel.

2012-02-21, 04:00 PM	#147
goldeneyed Rookie Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 15	These new rates are horrendous, and the way their pricing scheme/channel package allocation works. First of all, they got rid of their HD 5$ fee for HD packs. Why bother keeping that dirty 3.00$ digital fee and not including it within the regular rate? Secondly, 5$ for Time-Shifting is totally BS. All those local channels should be available with the Good package. Now people will get less locals than before. Time-Shifting should be free. Thirdly, I cannot believe in order to get RDS you need to subscribe the French channels pack for 15$. That's a huge spit to the face to Franco-Ontarians, or any sports fans who want RDS. It's really taking advantage. The french channels should be at least included in the Best package.

2012-02-21, 04:36 PM	#148
Ronn88 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 95	@moosefan Thanks for the heads up. I did a quick search through the channels,there are quite a few that are no longer available,like 218(CHCH)217(CHEX). Some Toronto and Montreal channels are still there while others are gone.Hmmm Im on the East Coast also. Im wondering what subscribers in other parts of Canada are receiving?

2012-02-21, 06:10 PM	#150
reidw Veteran Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Stratford, PE. Posts: 2,467	@ron88: CHCH and CHEX are available in the Good (Basic) package at least in PEI.