Rogers Ontario 2012 Programming and Packages Discussion

[viking5000]

Unless you want/need more than one 8642 I would not purchase. Getting a free PVR is fairly easy (rental unit for free). I have never paid rent. Then you can always upgrade/exchange at will should any new or improved hardware be available.

[Eug]

I don't pay rent either. I own my four STBs (2 x 8300HD, 1 x 4250HD, 1 x 3250HD), plus I get a 30% discount off my monthly service.

[craig_1]

Originally Posted by Eug

I don't pay rent either. I own my four STBs (2 x 8300HD, 1 x 4250HD, 1 x 3250HD), plus I get a 30% discount off my monthly service.

Discount? Why? How? Are you 'bundled"? (I cancelled all but Rogers tv services long ago.)

[nfitz]

Originally Posted by craig_1

Discount? Why? How? Are you 'bundled"? (I cancelled all but Rogers tv services long ago.)

Rogers will give a hefty discount these days, simply by phoning up and threatening to switch to Bell. I've got a 30% discount ... and all I've ever had is cable.

[MyMedia08]

Back to the topic of packages, I have a question.

Is there a way to get a simple list of all the channel I currently recveive? ie "my channel line up"? .I would like la isting so I know what I am entited to ( and for comparison with other providers). Is there a web option for "my channel line" or do I have to try to figure it out based on the clues in the bill?

When I go to the web site to add new service it tells me my existing service is Ultimate TV Pak plus Basic Digital Cable . My actual bill says I am on VIP Ultimate & Movies Package* ($103,97) and asterisk point to a box saying "*Your Plan includes: Extended Basic, Movies Pack, Ultimate Specialty Channels, VIP Extra Pack and Timeshifting.

Many thanks.

[alebowgm]

If memory serves, a fellow DHCer had made a chart a few months back attempting to figure out what station was in what tier for Rogers Ontario... check the site and see if you can dig it up... otherwise, you need to go one by one and sort it out...

[57]

Although there have been attempts at some charts showing such information, each area of Rogers has different channels available, so it's specific to an area. Also, some people have grandfathered channels. I believe you can e-mail or phone Rogers and they will send you a pdf of the channels to which you subscribe.

Rogers does have a list of all available channels for your area on their website, but then you'd have to use your bill as a clue, as you say.

[paulslund]

I tried doing this the other day, but the problem I have is that the various lists on the Rogers website only include the station name...I think they purposely exclude the channel because that would make it too easy for someone to review their line-up and figure out they are paying for a whole bunch of channels they don't watch...

At least that's my theory...

[57]

The channel numbers for the various packages are not included because they also are not the same in all areas served by Rogers. This is not a conspiracy.

If you go to the correct page on the Rogers website - TV - Channels (not packages) at the bottom right of that page is an option to enter your location and you'll get all the channels with channel numbers.

[PokerFace]

I have always hated using the Rogers website, but it's as easy as ABC Spark to find the channels that are part of each package (I've tested it and it seems to be accurate ... at least for Toronto, Ontario).

There are probably several ways to do this, but here's what I do ...

Step by Step (starring Suzanne Somers and Patrick Duffy):

1) Go to Rogers.com (or click the link at the end of this post to skip to Step 4)

2) Hover your mouse pointer over the TV heading (top middle of page)

3) A drop-down menu will appear. Just click the Packages & Pricing link.

4) Look at the top left of the page and you should notice that the heading Residential is highlighted in grey. If not, click Residential, and wait until the new page finishes loading.

5) Look at the top right side of the page. You'll see blue links for Language and Province location. I see Francais (because my page is already in English) and Ontario. If you want to change them, simply click the Language link, or hover your mouse pointer over the Province and click the one you want from the drop-down menu that appears.

NOTE: Some Provinces and Territories are not covered by Rogers, so no channel packages will appear.

6) You'll notice the various package names (Digital Basic, etc.) listed on the left side of the page (in red). Simply click on the name of the package you have, or are curious about.

7) As part of that package you clicked, you'll then notice a blue link for See more channels, underneath. Click on it and you will then be shown a full listing (overlay) of all the SD, HD and music channels that are included for that specific package that you clicked.

8) To remove that package list of channels (overlay), simply click the X (top right of overlay), or you can also click the Printer icon to get a printout (haven't tested it, but I assume it works).

Relax. Take a deep breath. Problem solved ... at least I hope so.

Rogers disclaimer: No, we don't have ABC Spark! However, if you want to see some sparks, simply watch the Fireplace Channel ... it's all you really need (Whoa!).

https://www.rogers.com/web/Rogers.po...tPortlets=hide
[Clicking this link should jump you ahead to Step 4]

[MyMedia08]

What I am entiled to recieive

Poker face .. thanks so much for those instructions. I ran through ihem but unfortunately the packages (and prices ) shown dont match my bill. Perhas I am grandfathered.

57, I did write customer service. As expected, they talked in generalities, provided me a list by tier, but only some tiers, with no channel numbers. Many channels were shown in multiple tiers. The lists were sorted alpahabetically . And many of the channels I do get were not even on their list.

I started my own nicely strucutire spreadsheet, based on the breadcrumbs they gave me but it cannot possibly be correct. I will try again. And I will galdy post it once its in decent shape.

What I actually receive

My intent was to confrim the above list by sitting in front of the TV and visually cheking each ungreyed channel to ensure I am receiving what I am paying for. But, intermittently half my channels are blacked out (8642 firmware) so I cant even do that at this time.

[yyzlhr]

If your tier is in market you can simply log on to Rogers.com and see which channels are in your package, then punch in your city and it will tell you what channel number its placed in.

You indicated that you have VIP Ultimate with movies. Generally that includes everything you see in the Digital VIP package on the website plus either TMN or Super Channel plus the US superstations plus about 25 "top specialty channels". However this can vary depending on when you signed up for that package as Rogers releases many iterations of its TV packages under the same name.

You can in fact use the guide to see which channels you are subscribed to. Even if you have the channel blackout issue with the new firmware, the guide still accurately reflects which channels you are subscribed to.

[MyMedia08]

Originally Posted by yyzlhr

.....However this can vary depending on when you signed up for that package as Rogers releases many iterations of its TV packages under the same name. .

Exactly. There used to be a time when the tiers were more static and more clearly defined. All I am really after is a list of the possible channels, and to highlight those channels I am supposed to get. I can then verify against what I actually receive. I am starting to build this up here: http://mediaman.hostingsiteforfree.c...s_channels.xls

I posted it as a spreadheet in case others want to tweak it for thier own use.

Its a work in progress...I know get more that what I currently show, as this first pass based on what customer service told me I get; I know I get more. I will populate it based on the IPG (although that approach of course wont help in identifying channels that I pay for, am entitleld to, but do not receive).

I think however I will delete the Tier column as it seems to be all over the map.

[MyMedia08]

Ok, finally got exactly what I was after:

• MY-CHANNELS-BY-NUMBER.PDF
  
• MY-CHANNELS-BY-NAME.PDF

These listings give me a comprehensive and accurate list of every channel I receive (and only the channels I receive), with channel numbers, channel name, and a flag re HD or not. I formatted them in an easy to read alternate shading, 3 column PDF format. I did not indicate tier as its really a useless term for me,sgiven some many channels are in multiple tiers, and there is much inconsistency over regions, over time, and even upon request to customer support.

I did try first getting such as a list from customer support ( and via My Account) but results were inconsistent and incomplete. So I ended up having to make sense of it on my own, pulling the "all channel" list from the web, throwing it in a database and flagging what I actually receive via confirmation off the IPG.

As it's now database driven, it was also easy to generate the list of the channel I do NOT receive ( ie additional channels I may want to choose from one day):

• MY-ADDITIONAL-CHANNELS-BY-NUMBER.PDF
  
• MY-ADDITIONAL-CHANNELS-BY-NAME.PDF

Finally, I also readily have the 'all channel' list in the same formatL

• ALL-CHANNELS-BY-NUMBER.PDF
• ALL-CHANNELS-BY-NAME.PDF

This whole thing is really a service Rogers should provide its customers.

[MyMedia08]

Interesting to note that I get all the "HD VIP" channels but one... A&E HD (533).

Perhaps that'S correct for Thornhill, perhaps not.

Regardless, I would never call in to correct it (last time I tried something like that, I got the channel I requested, but lost others I had, and got billed in error).