[ackhamp]

I noticed this months bill is up $4 on the 6 theme packs I subscribe to. Anyone else have this too?

 

[cambo]

Call them and tell them to remove the charge or you will take your business elsewhere. These price increases have become far, far out of hand.

 

[hugh]

C'mon Do you really Bell will roll back their prices?


What is $4 as a percentage of your bill?

 

[cambo]

It's the optics of the entire thing.

$4 in January and if they follow Rogers' lead (which most of the time the follow each other), another $4 in August or January next year. You're now looking at significant increases with no additional value to the service you receive. This is the entire reason they have retention departments.

If you want to suck it up and take it like every other Canadian that is your choice.

Just like UBB. It's time for the consumer to stand up and say enough is enough.

 

[Panache70]

DishNetwork just bumped everyone 5$ but guaranteed a 2 year price freeze and free Starz premium movie channel for 12 months.

If Bell would guarantee me that my price was frozen for 2 years and throw in TMN premium movie package for a year, I would not be upset at all.

This is why the retention theads on many websites are getting busier and busier. Either you sit there and take it, or you call in and get 20$ off per month, free receiver rental etc.

 

[ScaryBob]

What is $4 as a percentage of your bill?

On an average subscriber's bill of $56, that works out to 7% or about 3 times the official rate of inflation. On my single theme pack, the $2 increase was 25% or about 10 times the official rate of inflation. On the premium movie packs, 10% and 12.5% each. Combine that with a 33% reduction in programming channels in my single HD theme pack. It seems to me that BellTV is basically trying to screw its customers. (Also see various threads on new Bell acquisitions and UBB fees.)

 

[travisc]

It's worth noting that according to figures reported to the CRTC by Bell, wholesale fees paid by Bell increased by 26% between 2008 and 2010. While I do agree Bell tends to increase their rates more than necessary, there are some price pressures that provoke these increases.

 

[avengingangel]

I was so peeved when I saw this as well.
In November I reduced my themes to try and save some money and then I get my January bill and it's nearly as much as it was before I lowered my package.

Combine that with the removal of HDNET and I had enough. I called into to cancel and was ready to go purchase an OTA antenna as the majority of my viewing is HD anyways.

They passed me through to retentions and ended up giving me my subsribed themes free for a year.

 

[Panache70]

avengingangel, how many themes did they give you for free? What is the $ amount of the credit you will get every month?

Just curious, as most posts about retentions seem to result in a 20$ credit per month.

 

[ScaryBob]

I was planning on canceling in May. Due to recent events, it may be sooner.

 

[hugh]

It's worth noting that according to figures reported to the CRTC by Bell, wholesale fees paid by Bell increased by 26% between 2008 and 2010. While I do agree Bell tends to increase their rates more than necessary, there are some price pressures that provoke these increases.

which begs the question, why is Bell stupid enough to pay 26% more for the same programming when that greatly exceeds inflation?

I would not be surprised if much of that 26% increase is to Bell owned properties.

 

[ScaryBob]

I would like to know just what broadcasters did to deserve a 26% increase in wholesale fees. IMHO, the quality of programming on most channels has tanked in the past two years. Other channels, like TSN are almost impossible to watch due to the number and frequency of commercials. Price increases and poor quality programming has resulted in all specialty packages being canceled in this household. IMHO, the CRTC should revoke the licenses of Cat2 channels that no longer fulfill their original mandate and let Canada go back to a limited number of channels. Then BDUs can reduce prices and programming quality can improve on the channels that are left.

 

[hugh]

I would like to know just what broadcasters did to deserve a 26% increase in wholesale fees.

In fairness, they have been delivering a lot more HD channels over the years. This costs money. You can't expect to get more and more HD channels each year and not pay more.

If Bell is offering 20 or 30 more HD channels over the last three years then it makes sense that their cost of programming has gone up. If its gone up because of more HD then the cost should be shouldered by people subscribing to HD.

Take out the HD channel costs and the SD theme packs and basic channels should not be going up anymore than 1 to 2% (rate of inflation)

 

[dirtroad]

Price increases are to help pay for CTV acquisition and GREAT NEW PROGRAMMING like http://www.marilyn.ca/

 

[Boca Junior]

Call them and tell them to remove the charge or you will take your business elsewhere. These price increases have become far, far out of hand.

Elsewhere?? Like where? It's not like any of the others operate any differently. If EVERYONE quit and didn't go "elsewhere", then maybe we'd see some positive action. But half the people I talk to don't even know what they pay for cable/satellite, and more worryingly, don't care. We'll pay it to whoever, whatever it is..gas, hydro, groceries etc etc. It would seem that it's just a fact of life.

 

[cambo]

Elsewhere is none of their business, but I see your point.

Elsewhere could be offline completely or Rogers or Shaw to you or I. It's sad, but our choices have become very slim.

 

[avengingangel]

avengingangel, how many themes did they give you for free? What is the $ amount of the credit you will get every month?

Just curious, as most posts about retentions seem to result in a 20$ credit per month.

i have 2 themes for $20.00. They gave me a $20 per month credit for 12 months.

 

[ScaryBob]

In fairness, they have been delivering a lot more HD channels over the years. This costs money. You can't expect to get more and more HD channels each year and not pay more.

But not over the past year. My choice of HD channels has gone down due to the removal of HDNET. It will soon go down again when SUN TV goes dark. The price increases of previous years I understood. In the past year, Bell and Canadian broadcasters have added next to nothing of value. I think Bell's customers are again being gouged to pay for bad management and to finance empire building in the broadcasting industry. The only difference between Canwest/Global and Bell/CTV is that Bell can pass their losses and acquisition costs on to their BDU customers.

 

[Digital79]

Just called to drop 2 themes myself, think I'll drop 2 more as well, also have the $20 credit.

Just don't watch TV other than HD sports
and news if a big story is breaking
not worth paying more and more.

According to the rep the price increases
are to allow Bell to build up the Fibe TV network and then move Sat customers to it.

 

[ScaryBob]

I've got to wonder how losing customers to other services and OTA is going to help build their Fibe TV service.