Rogers Ontario 2012 New Channels Discussion

[Wayne]

Wasn't there supposed to be an HD version of TreehouseTV coming out sometime this year as well?

[MCIBUS]

It appears that indeed more channels are coming to Rogers. Shortly, perhaps in July?

I've noticed some interesting things in the IPG(some have been mentioned all ready.

Here are the changes

381 PPVE1-Pay Per View Events Channel(new)
382 PPVE2-Pay Per View Events Channel(new)
383 PPH1-Pay Per View Events Channel HD(new)
384 PPH2-Pay Per View Events Channel HD(new)
574 Fire HD gone as of June 21 still SD version available or HD on same channel
575 AQA HD gone as of June 21 stil SD version available or HD on same channel
576 SunS HD gone as of June 21 still SD available or HD on same channel
584 SN1HD will no longer be available on 584, still on 501.
599 TLN HD(GTA Only. 599 still CBFLT in Ottawa)

So it appears at least 4 channels are being cleared to make room along with 556 & 557 giving 6 channels.

I'm not sure how many of the Bell Media channels Rogers \"might" carry or even the Hollywood Suites but there just isn't enough room to 'group' all the HD in the 500's. As to what Rogers plans are on this I don't know or which "New" HD they will carry I don't know either but it appears something is a rye as to what I don't know exactly.

[thenewdc]

599 in GTA is now TLN-HD not NGWHD, there is no indication of that changing. I do suspect something is coming in HD before the end of this month.

[ryandude_12345]

For all we know it could take months before the new channels are added.. Just because they are making space does not mean anything will happen the next week.

[lajohn27]

Umm. Who is carrying the new 'CARTOON NETWORK' which supposedly launches in Canada on July 4th?

It's unclear to me at this point in time if that is actually a separate channel or a rebranding of Teletoon -- does anyone know?

[thenewdc]

It's a new channel, not a rebrand. I doubt we'll see it on Rogers at launch.

[alebowgm]

Just to add, it is a new channel, but it is owned by Teletoon,which is owned 50-50 by Astral and Corus. Of course, Astral is being bought by Bell. So bringing this back around, I agree, it probably won't be on Rogers very fast considering how the Bell-Rogers programming relationship is.

[wysiwyg]

As long as Cartoon network is not owned/sponsorted by BELL, then it should be available to Rogers subscribers shortly after launch.

The issue is is that Rogers subscribers are more in need of the "Bell" channels, than Bell subscribers want "Rogers" channels.

Come on, Bell can't offer FX Canada, CITY News channel (Big Deal), yet, Rogers cannot get us SPACE HD, BRAVO HD, Discovery HD! As long as a channel is carried in SD, the HD feed (when available) should automatically be offered without extra negotiations.

[bigoranget]

Bell may be in the process of purchasing Astral but they are by no means managing any part of Astral right now. The sale is still pending CRTC approval, which likely wont happen until later this year or early next year. Rogers has always had a fairly good relationship with Astral so I suspect Cartoon Network will likely be available at launch or shortly after.

[ryandude_12345]

There a many channels in HD that Rogers owns that bell doesn't have.. With fx Canada, and city news channel, there is also OLN HD which is very popular and OMNI1/OMNI2 HD which have not become available in hd yet.. There is also sportsnet world HD and the sportnet news channel... There is quite a few

[thenewdc]

The problem with Bell HD channels is not just with Rogers. Eastlink also doesn't offer the same ones Rogers is missing, same with SHAW. Bell likely wants some ridiculous price.

[snorlax]

As others have noted, TLN is stretching their HD channel. There is no setting on my TV or my HD box that can undo this. I can stretch it more but can't compensate for the problem. I have emailed TLN earlier this month but so far only automated autoreplies. Anyone else want to try?

[Paolo]

just an update to the TLN HD topic. they do stretch their feed, maybe because their programming library material is all standard definition 4:3

I did notice when the euro cup games are on, the feed is very crisp hd signal and its in true 16x9 not stretch-o-vision. nice.

[JamesK]

^^^^
In contrast, The Weather Network squeezes their wide screen HD channel on their SD channel. So, you get pillared commercials from HD squeezed even narrower on SD. I guess they figure TLN and TWN average out for the viewer. ;-)

[snorlax]

At least one Euro Cup game that I watched was stretched. As you said they may be reluctant to air their SD material with side bars so like TLC and A&E, they stretch SD material instead. TLC and A&E have a lot of HD material so I only see them stretching stuff occasionally. TLN on the other hand doesn't seem to have much HD content yet, at least as far as I can tell. They do air Sopranos letterboxed on their SD channel. Why they can't stretch it in both directions for the HD channel is beyond me. They stretch it only horizontally leaving a black bar at the top and bottom and making everyone fatter than they should be.