[baum9260]

I have the digital basic package with Shaw direct. I've had this package for a few years and always had chanels 289, 290, 291 and 295 (western major network US feeds). Yesterday I replaced my 530 HDPVR with a 630 PVR. Once activated, these 4 channels were gone. Called one, told they would be added. Called again, told that if I had them before it was in error and I can't have them back. Has the package changed over the last 2 years, or did I really have these in error. I feel like I'm getting ripped off after spending $400 for a new box and loosing 4 channels.

 

[TJ77]

I don't believe the digital basic pack ever included the western US feeds. You probably were receiving them in error. This sometimes happens, though I'm not quite sure why.
Many years ago when I downgraded from gold to silver, several channels stayed active until I disconnected and went to Bell (which was a bad decision).

 

[baum9260]

A quick search of this forum shows several posts indicating that both East and West network feeds were included in the digital basic package.

Does anyone here have digital basic with both East and West HD feeds for ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX?

 

[dmbcanada]

Yes, I have it but the west feed is in HD only.

 

[0039]

Dig-bas is one us net as far as I know

 

[mastercontrol]

I have the Digital Basic and I only get the East feed for the standard def channels, but I get the East and West feeds on HD, which according to the website indicates the HD version covers both. If you hover over the icons for the HD versions of the channels, under "Other feeds included" it shows the channel number for the west version.

 

[gzink]

Above is correct. You should get both in HD.

 

[mastercontrol]

An update to what I posted previously, I now no longer get the west HD channels; they all show "subscription required" message. The page I linked to before still shows they are supposed to be included.

I guess they're taking the west feeds away from us, probably to push people to upgrade their programming.

 

[bortman]

I have the digital basic package and I still get both the east and west HD feeds. I hope I don't have to choose between one or the other. It's nice to be able to watch primetime shows later in the evening. BTW, my receiver is a 505.

 

[Scarborough]

Called them about the missing Western HD feeds. Answer was that they were "free" channels that are no longer free. I was told that I could have them back for $1 per month. I said no thanks.

So now I'm a soon to be former Star Choice/Shaw Direct customer. OTA/Netflix/network web sites will soon be good enough for me. These media giants don't get it. They shouldn't be increasing their package prices and cutting services when there are many cheaper, more user directed alternatives. They will be going the way of Blockbuster with their dinosaur practices with a formerly captive marketplace.

 

[DP Ames]

I was on Silver Choice until last week, and they already added the new $1/month "HD time shifting" fee to that package. Now I've switched to a Value package, and I don't know what they're going to do with that until I get the next bill. Shaw doesn't seem to provide any way to see your current package details and monthly fees online. For the moment I'm still getting East and West HD feeds.

It was bad enough when they charged a hefty annual fee increase every year without providing any extra value. Now they're adding multiple new fees and doing mid-year price increases with no notice at all. I guess they are trying to find money any place they can, but it must be costing them customers any place they have competition. Plus there are bound to be some customers reacting by downgrading their packages (like me), or switching some of their viewing to other sources like Netflix (also like me). You know the company is getting into trouble if they start chasing fewer and fewer customers with higher and higher fees. I hope that's not where this is heading.