Videotron to Fibe Questions (moved from Videotron New Channels)

[Dr.Dave]

That should be "Whole Home PVR". You can set, manage and play back your recordings from any TV in your home. You can also pause and rewind live TV from any TV. You only need 1 PVR and a Set Top Box for each additional TV.

[SteveT]

I'm seriously considering a switch to FibeTV in the coming weeks now that it's available in my neighborhood (I was actually chatting with the Bell techs in my parking lot a couple of weekends ago as they prepared to run some cable into my condo building). Before doing so I'm comparing, evaluating, etc. Here are a few questions (my apologies if they're already answered elsewhere on the forum).

1. Is there any place online where one can check specific titles they're offering for on demand movies? You can see what new and current movies Videotron offers by just checking their web site. I'd like to compare the offering as I regularly rent movies.

2. Does Fibe rent non-HD on demand movies as with Videotron or are all their offerings HD? One big pet peeve I have with Videotron is that their non-HD movies are always 4:3 resolution without warning. Plus not all major new titles are available in HD.

3. If the downloadable programming guide and web site is correct, their The Movie Network package is a much better deal than Videotron's, which has only the four TMN channels with 1 TMN HD channels, the HBO SD and HD plus the two moviepix channels. Fibe also seems to include all the available TMN HD channels, plus AMC/AMC HD, peachtree and some US super stations, and all for $13 (Videotron is $11 for just TMN, HBO and MoviePix). Are all those channels really part of the Fibe Movie Network package or do they split it up?

4. I still have a couple of non-HD TVs at my place. am I correct in assuming the VIP 1200 receiver downconverts HD channels for non-HD TVs? One of my TVs has components inputs but the other is just a small Tv with a composite input. Yes, Fibe has lots of non-HD channels, but for example, the basic package has the HD version only of the main US networks. Will these be viewable on non-HD Tvs (downconverted by the receiver) or should I add non-HD channels to my A La Carte choices?

5. Does the PVR allow for adding an external hard drive? I managed to convince Videotron to exchange my 5 year-old 160GB PVR for a new 500GB one with two years free rental (I called and complained that a loyal customer for five years deserves as much special treatment as new customers, and they agreed). I see that the Fibe PVR is only 320GB. Sill lots of room plus the on-demand for major networks means having to record weekly shows less, but I'd still like the ability to expand if I need it.

6. Although I'm an anglophone, I'm fluently bilingual and enjoy some of the French language programming available on demand for free on Videotron. One reason I'm considering the switch to Fibe is the availability of on-demand English programming, but does Fibe still offer current Quebec TV shows on demand?

7. Another problem I have with Videotron is the poorly quality/choice of their TMN/HBO on demand offerings. They offer a small subset of what's listed on the TMN site as being available any given week, and never in HD. Does Fibe's TMN/HBO on demand offerings come closer to what's listed on the TMN site and are they available in HD?

8. Videotron's billing can be quite annoying when you sit down and take note of all the extra fees for network access, use of receivers (not rental of receivers, but just extra $5 or so for having multiple receivers). I notice on the Fibe site it says "all fees included" in quoted prices. Does Bell sneak on any of these little extra fees?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Dr.Dave]

I can answer some of your technical questions:

4. I still have a couple of non-HD TVs at my place. am I correct in assuming the VIP 1200 receiver downconverts HD channels for non-HD TVs?

Yes, that's correct.

5. Does the PVR allow for adding an external hard drive?

No external drives. However, the Fibe TV uses MPEG-4 compression which uses about half the storage that Videotron needs for MPEG-2.

Bell's newest PVR is the VIP 2262 which has a 500 GB hard drive and holds 150 hours of HD.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=151961

[nitra]

1. Is there any place online where one can check specific titles they're offering for on demand movies? You can see what new and current movies Videotron offers by just checking their web site. I'd like to compare the offering as I regularly rent movies.

Currently no, unlike illico web, there's not currently a spot that shows everything. They are in the process of updating the online portion and evolving it from their sat service, it's been slated "soon" for a while.

2. Does Fibe rent non-HD on demand movies as with Videotron or are all their offerings HD? One big pet peeve I have with Videotron is that their non-HD movies are always 4:3 resolution without warning. Plus not all major new titles are available in HD.

Rentals, I've not seen anything for rent that's SD, everything has been HD. That said, some of the on demand stuff is SD, but you are gernerally warned, there's an HD icon if it's HD.

3. If the downloadable programming guide and web site is correct, their The Movie Network package is a much better deal than Videotron's, which has only the four TMN channels with 1 TMN HD channels, the HBO SD and HD plus the two moviepix channels. Fibe also seems to include all the available TMN HD channels, plus AMC/AMC HD, peachtree and some US super stations, and all for $13 (Videotron is $11 for just TMN, HBO and MoviePix). Are all those channels really part of the Fibe Movie Network package or do they split it up?

The program guide is correct, for $13 you get one heck of an offering. That's not even including all the on demand content that comes with it, the library that comes with it is much better then when I was with Videotron, and the best part I'd say 99% of the library included with the movie package is HD, save for the couple of 4:3 titles on MPIX.

4. I still have a couple of non-HD TVs at my place. am I correct in assuming the VIP 1200 receiver downconverts HD channels for non-HD TVs? One of my TVs has components inputs but the other is just a small Tv with a composite input. Yes, Fibe has lots of non-HD channels, but for example, the basic package has the HD version only of the main US networks. Will these be viewable on non-HD Tvs (downconverted by the receiver) or should I add non-HD channels to my A La Carte choices?

Yes, it will down convert, and generally when you subscribe to the HD channel, you'll get the SD channel with it, save for the TSN/TSN2/NBA HD Theme pack, you need to subscribe to the SD and the HD theme pack if you want both.

5. Does the PVR allow for adding an external hard drive? I managed to convince Videotron to exchange my 5 year-old 160GB PVR for a new 500GB one with two years free rental (I called and complained that a loyal customer for five years deserves as much special treatment as new customers, and they agreed). I see that the Fibe PVR is only 320GB. Sill lots of room plus the on-demand for major networks means having to record weekly shows less, but I'd still like the ability to expand if I need it.

500GB on Fibe should be considered at least 1.5~2TB of storage on Videotron, the compression MPEG4 vs. MPEG2 is quite stark. Also, consider that nearly anything on the major networks is available in ~24 hours in the on demand service.

6. Although I'm an anglophone, I'm fluently bilingual and enjoy some of the French language programming available on demand for free on Videotron. One reason I'm considering the switch to Fibe is the availability of on-demand English programming, but does Fibe still offer current Quebec TV shows on demand?

The French On Demand isn't nearly as deep as Videotron, a quick look at the TV stuff available this morning, 19-2, Les boys, Les Parent, Vie de quartier, La Galere, as well as a 3 page selection of stuff from SRC.

7. Another problem I have with Videotron is the poorly quality/choice of their TMN/HBO on demand offerings. They offer a small subset of what's listed on the TMN site as being available any given week, and never in HD. Does Fibe's TMN/HBO on demand offerings come closer to what's listed on the TMN site and are they available in HD?

I hear you, I made the switch to Fibe, nearly everything that's on HBO/TMN is now on demand, unlike Videotron, There's pages and pages of HD content on demand.

8. Videotron's billing can be quite annoying when you sit down and take note of all the extra fees for network access, use of receivers (not rental of receivers, but just extra $5 or so for having multiple receivers). I notice on the Fibe site it says "all fees included" in quoted prices. Does Bell sneak on any of these little extra fees?

There is a digital network access fee, however as mentioned in the bell quote, it's included.

[dunlop]

Do you still need to get internet with Bell for FibeTV?

[nitra]

Originally Posted by dunlop

Do you still need to get internet with Bell for FibeTV?

Yes. It should be noted the internet is no longer throttled.

[dunlop]

thank you, that is a total dealbreaker for me.

I'll have to "live" with videotron's crappy offerings

[nitra]

Bell's internet actually isn't that terrible, I was worried when moving from Videotron for the same reasons, I actually feel although I can't get the 60 meg net with Bell, it's much better peered, and it's speed is steady all the time.

You can get it with "Basic" net, and keep the cable, although that raises the costs a little, you could then get a cable connection with electronic box and save more overall, and get a larger bandwidth cap.
Also, as a note, with Bell's caps, you can add 120gb for $15, vs. 12.50$ for 30gb with Videotron.

[dunlop]

Compared to Videotron it is OK but with the new CRTC decision for tarifs there was a major change in Quebec for the Independants

I'm with Electronic Box and for $45 get:
15/1.5 mbps
250 GB download per month
option of 75GB blocks for $5 (4 max)
overage of $0.50 a GB

With Bell for $45
7/1 mbps
60GB Download per month
option of 40GB blocks for $5 (3 max)
I cannot find the overage charge from their site but I remember it being $5 a GB when I was with them.

I don't mean to derail this thread into a discussion about internet plans, but for my family which is heavily into Netflix and streaming the internet offerings from Bell cannot compete.

FibeTV looks awesome and I hope they eventually remove the internet restriction.

[nitra]

The cheapest you'd be able to currently get is
http://www.bell.ca/Bell_Internet/Pro...Essential_Plus
$25 for the first 6 months, $30 after that.

Billing rate for additional usage:
$2.50 /GB
(up to a max. of $80.00)

[SteveT]

Originally Posted by nitra

Currently no, unlike illico web, there's not currently a spot that shows everything. They are in the process of updating the online portion and evolving it from their sat service, it's been slated "soon" for a while.

I was actually checking their TV online pages today and if their Fibe TV on demand offerings are even as good as the TV online stuff, it's definitely a improvement over Videotron in terms of movies and the HBO, showtime series. Does the Fibe on demand TV shows basically consist only of CTV content or are there shows from Global, CBC, etc.?

Originally Posted by nitra

The French On Demand isn't nearly as deep as Videotron, a quick look at the TV stuff available this morning, 19-2, Les boys, Les Parent, Vie de quartier, La Galere, as well as a 3 page selection of stuff from SRC.

Ok, I imagined there'd be nothing from the Quebecor-owned TVA. Too bad. They have some good programming. Still, their English language on demand offerings are just too meagre.

Originally Posted by nitra

There is a digital network access fee, however as mentioned in the bell quote, it's included.

Yes, all those extra little fees Videotron charges really irk me. I wasn't keen on switching when the only choice was satellite but now that Fibe TV is available to me, it's looking more and more like a switch would make sense. I have a great phone package with Videotron with a grandfathered $4.95 1000-min block for Canada/US with phone and calling features all for less than $40, but even switching to Bell phone and paying nearly $20 more/month for the $16 Canada/US block (was $23 until a few days ago) plus phone, I'll still be able to get far better TV, decent internet (I have the Videotron TGV30 service) and phone, all for about $20-30 less per month and be paying only for channels I'll actually watch.

I guess I'll have to give away or sell my three purchased Videotron receivers.

[Tanta]

If you find a buyer for the SA8300 series PVR's on Kijiji/Lespacs, I wonder if Videotron would activate them under Illico 1 (i.e. that series is not Illico 2 compatible)? That would be a good question to ask V's technical support, as I am sure there would be takers for the older PVR's if they can still be activated.

[SteveT]

Originally Posted by Tanta

If you find a buyer for the SA8300 series PVR's on Kijiji/Lespacs, I wonder if Videotron would activate them under Illico 1 (i.e. that series is not Illico 2 compatible)? That would be a good question to ask V's technical support, as I am sure there would be takers for the older PVR's if they can still be activated.

Actually I'm renting my PVR. I had an old SA8300 but last year after reading on here about people calling V and complaining about the free rental to new customers, I did the same and got a new Cisco machine for a free two-year rental and $15/month after that (compared to the $26.95/month I was paying). I bought two SD boxes and one HD box so these will be of no use to me after switching to Fibe. I will probably give them to relatives still with V.

[SteveT]

Another question. I noticed when checking the TV online listings for Bell that they only offer the last couple of episodes of current popular broadcast network programs in their on demand. Yet the demo video for Fibe seems to show all episodes for a current season. Do the Fibe on demand listings show more episodes of on demand programs or are they the same as the online ones?

Perhaps I should pop into a Bell store and ask to play around with the Fibe interface if they have it available.

[nitra]

Bell store demos are computer generated, they are not really Fibe.
On the topic of on demand, all Canadian networks are on it, including but not limited to, Global, CBC, CTV, Much Music, TMN, HBO, TSN etc.
Generally there's a lot of content, not just 1-2 episodes, like the entire seasons are up on it.
In my experience, 12-24 hours after it aired on a Canadian station, it's on demand.