[dockyard]

With fiber coming to hrm will this also mean we will be able to get On Demand. This is one thing I really miss about not having eastlink . Anyone have any inside info

 

[8th Hussar]

I was speaking to a BellAliant executive about a month ago and she said that big things are coming with the Mediaroom update, including an On Demand service that will be up and running by the summer.

 

[philster]

From my understanding On Demand is currently being tested in conjunction with mediaroom in the Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton markets by Execs and project managers.

 

[8th Hussar]

Yep. The exec I spoke to is one of the testers but she didn't go into any details. She did say that it was a huge improvement over the current PVR software and that she was very excited about where the tech is heading.

The one specific we talked about was the commercial skip feature of the PVR. I mentioned how it really ticks me off to have to wait a couple of seconds or more for the PVR to catch up before I could hit the skip button again and she said that was one of her pet peeves too. Apparently, the new software is much better in that respect.

 

[Dr.Dave]

@8th Hussar, I use Mediaroom with MTS TV and the 30 second skip works great. I watch some programs that have a 4 minute commercial break. I press the skip button 8 times and it starts at exactly the right spot.

 

[Bdub]

On Demand will make TMN/HBO a lot more useful to me. I record the shows, but never seem to catch the movies.

I realize that they only offer about 70 HD movies on demand, but I still think that would be great if Aliant offers all of their VOD content.

 

[8th Hussar]

@8th Hussar, I use Mediaroom with MTS TV and the 30 second skip works great. I watch some programs that have a 4 minute commercial break. I press the skip button 8 times and it starts at exactly the right spot.

That's what I tried to do with my Motorola VIP1216 the first time I was watching a recording. Then I realized that I can only skip once, then wait for the PVR to catch up and press it again, etc, etc. Sometimes, I think it would be easier and less frustrating to just sit through the ads.

What hardware are you using?

 

[Dr.Dave]

MTS uses the Motorola VIP1216 PVR. (160 GB)

 

[NB_TVLover]

MTS, Verizon and most other telephone companies providing TV service use the same 1216 receiver the difference is mostly related to the software that's loaded. I know the 30 sec skip on BellAliant is anoying but talking with people who first got FibreOp the current one is far better.

 

[Dr.Dave]

NB_TVLover, just a few minor corrections. Verizon use a Motorola QAM-based box similar to the cable TV PVRs.

Most other telcos in North America use either Motorola-based VIP1216, 1225, 1232 or similar Cisco-based PVRs. AT&T U-verse uses both.

 

[dockyard]

For us folks who know nothing what is mediaroom? Is it the software that Aliant will be using

 

[Bdub]

Yes, it's the new firmware. Go to Fibetv.ca to see a demonstration of what they're doing with it. I'd guess that the Bell Aliant implementation will be similar.

And I HOPE we'll be able to use Xbox 360 as secondary receivers, like Telus and AT&T do with Mediaroom 2.