EastLink Channel Discussion Thread

17672 Views 56 Replies 17 Participants Last post by David1953, 4 h ago

magnet

Discussion Starter · Dec 31, 2014

This thread will be for rumours, channel deletions and complaining about any channel not offered by EastLink.
Actual confirmed new channel announcements and channel deletions will now have their own thread.
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=227282

1 - 20 of 57 Posts

jimbo42

· #2 · Jan 10, 2015

Although not announced by Eastlink yet but has been announced that Eastlink is one provider signed up for it's service by TerrorTV, TerrorTV should be launching on Eastlink on March 26th when TerrorTV has it's official launch.

thenewdc

· #3 · Jan 10, 2015

It ain't gonna launch unless it has another major carrier, you'll see.

David1953

· #4 · Jan 10, 2015

Thenewdc is correct, jimbo42. Terror TV is one of the channels that I most look forward to seeing, but sadly, I know of no other providers other than Eastlink that has made an agreement to carry it.

jimbo42

· #5 · Jan 15, 2015

I'm assuming that they did get their 3 providers signed that they required, that's why they announced Officially that there launch is on March 26, 2015 with a 2 month free preview.

They are launching on March 26th 2015.

jimbo42

· #6 · Jan 26, 2015

I'm starting to think some are right when they say this channel will never launch, they now have removed the March 26th launch from their website, now it just says launching in 2015.

David1953

· #7 · Jan 27, 2015

That is really sad to hear, jimbo42. Why does it has to be that my fears of this channel turning out to be "vapourware" may not turn out to be unfounded after all?

This is one channel that I was most looking forward to seeing, a true horror channel in Canada.

jimbo42

· #8 · Jan 30, 2015

I finally got a response to my emails from TerrorTV:

We just want to give you an update on the upcoming launch of TERROR TV in Canada.
At this time (Jan. 28th) we are still in talks with the cable/Satellite providers to get a distribution deal....
For multiple reasons, it is taking longer time to get those deals in place (capacity, etc...)

We are very excited to bring you a whole variety of horror content for your pleasure...and we are SO READY to do so... We are working very hard to get those deals in place and we will keep you posted on any develpment.

In the meantime, we ask you to keep calling your cable/satellite provider and ask for TERROR TV.

Best,

The Terror TV Team

Be Afraid ! Be Very Afraid!

This is pretty funny, they are still in talks? I mean they been "in" talks for over a year and a half give or take. How long does it usually take to hammer about a distribution deal? I'm thinking not 1.5 years lol.

denben73

· #9 · Feb 7, 2015 (Edited)

RE: 3 new French HD chs David1953 posted in the Channel Announcement Thread

As much as I used to say that Eastlink needed a channel shuffle badly for the HD channels, myself, I doubt it will happen. IIRC, the only free sections of numbers now are in the 717 to 728 range with a few exceptions. Also, some slots in the high 730s.

You want to see a mixed up bunch of channels? Come see our channel lineup.

HD channels run in the 700s and 800s here with the two local Canadian stations, 101 channel #s apart. 702 CBET (CBC) and 803 CHWI (CTV2).

Channel shuffles are probably one of the most upsetting things to customers and would probably cost them subs. It's probably not worth it for most providers. Mind you, with the amount of numbers available they could REALLY stretch everything out and probably be giving lots of room on the dial for everything.

David1953

· #10 · Feb 24, 2015

It's a little bit surprising that Eastlink hasn't picked up FXX yet, which I just noticed was added to Cogeco's lineup.

I always thought that Eastlink was on good terms with Rogers, and, in fact, was one of the first providers to offer FX when it launched a few years ago. That makes the situation with FXX even more puzzling.

David1953

· #11 · May 1, 2015

Apparently Action HD launched today, and according to the thread referring to this launch in the Television Industry forum, it has been picked up by Rogers, Bell, and Shaw, but no sign whether Eastlink will be carrying it at the present time.

eastcoast gal

· #12 · May 1, 2015

It's on 725 here in Bridgewater.

David1953

· #13 · May 1, 2015

You beat me to it, Eastcoast gal, and it is now on the guide on channel 725 in Halifax as well.

It's great to see that Eastlink is adding it on the first day.

denben73

· #14 · Oct 29, 2015 (Edited)

Channel re-alignment coming.

Found out this AM that EL will be rearranging channels across their systems this fall. It's linked from their main page on their site.

http://www.eastlink.ca/portals/0/cabledigitaltv/new channel numbers.pdf

Starting in Ontario in November and ending in BC in early December.

A few things I observed...

Looks like SD and HD content will be intermixed.
Most channels will have new channel numbers. Possibly the same numbers across the country. I has suggested this to them years ago when they were announcing new channels on FB and Twitter and had to list 8 different channel numbers for the different regions. )
Unless some info is missing it looks like SD versions of HD channels will be turned off. It's going to save some bandwidth but I imagine there are still a few SD-only boxes that are going to be affected. Also, if this document is correct the "lowest" channels will be in the 400s. Also, no more analog at all?
Looks like it might be the end of Real Estate channels, certain barker channels and the TV listings channel.
If this is complete, the only Weather Network feed is going to be in HD. Does that mean that there will be truly local info on the HD feed very soon?

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smallmj

· #15 · Oct 30, 2015

My read of the document is that they are leaving SD channel numbers alone. I can't imagine them dropping all of the SD/HD duplication unless they stopped charging extra for HD.

David1953

· #16 · Oct 30, 2015

Good find there, denben73, and you're even more up to date with what's going on at Eastlink than I am, lol.

I also noticed that Eastlink will be using channel numbers over 1000, for French and Ethnic channels.

smallmj

· #17 · Oct 30, 2015

Looking at the new arrangement, it looks better than the current mess. They've done a good job of grouping themes together. They are using the 500s and 800s in a much better way. It doesn't clearly say what they are doing with the 40 channels of Stingray audio, unless they are dropping 30 of them and putting the rest in the 990-999 range. That seems unlikely to me. They haven't put anything else in the 900's so I'm guessing the 900 range will be used for audio.

I guess they are trying to keep many of the channels in the same position so it doesn't confuse people. The main networks, sports, expensive movie packages all stay put. Many kids and lifestyle channels stay put too. Timeshifts are mostly their current numbers minus 100. Some channels are their current numbers plus 100.

I didn't notice it before, but there are a bunch of SD channels mixed in with this numbering scheme. I'm guessing all of the current SD channels will stay put, and the SD-only ones will just use 2 virtual channel numbers.

Most currently available signals are on this list. There is no adult stuff, no religious stuff. Some other channels are missing: CPAC English, beIN Sports, MovieTime, fyi, or CNN International.

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denben73

· #18 · Oct 30, 2015

Thanks David.

Smallmj, I thought afterwards that they may leave the SD versions alone (channels 1-399) but just duplicate the channels into the HD ones so customers that watch both don't have to jump everywhere to get the content. Don't know for sure though. The change happens in about 2.5 weeks for Ontario and I'll be checking with friends I have in Timmins to find out what exactly happened.

As for the Stingray channels, I think it is supposed to be 900-999 and the document has a typo. But I don't see them have 100 stingray channels but you never know. SaskTel has 99 or 100 of them.

Did anyone else notice "Teletoon Retro" is listed but not the "Disney Channel"? Also, Nickelodeon is referred to as Nick Jr.

jimbo42

· #19 · Dec 3, 2015

we were suppose to get Disney xd & Disney jr HD channels but there's still no sign of them anywhere. Eastlink was scheduled to have them up on Dec 1st. very odd.

denben73

· #20 · Dec 3, 2015

Actually, according to their FB CSR, it is supposed to be tomorrow.

At least it's two channels that are NOT in new channel positions.

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