[Shaw Champ]

Press Release: BlueSky TV is the Best Thing to Happen to Your TV Since Colour, and It's Available from Shaw Today

You can read more about it here:

https://www.shaw.ca/blueskytv/?intcid=ib-2017-01-11-blueskytv-hero1-all-shaw

https://community.shaw.ca/community/blueskytv

https://community.shaw.ca/docs/DOC-9886

EDIT by Dr.Dave: Starting October 15, 2019, Shaw renamed BlueSky TV to BlueCurve TV.

 

[buckycat]

I was just asking about it on the Shaw forum, and see that you beat them to the punch here.

 

[buckycat]

Couldn't find anything about 4k in the links above, is that going to be an option?

 

[Shaw Champ]

Hello, Shaw does not currently provide any 4K channels or services and thus isn't something that is supported at the moment, but it is part of our long term plans.

 

[buckycat]

Just looked at pricing, after the intro offer expires, $208.00 a month for TV and internet.

 

[LD500]

Our Arris Gateway system seems to have finally reached a level of stability with mobile remote programming. Now I want to try X1.
Will X1 require all new hardware? Hope Shaw doesn't expect us all to pay big $ to upgrade to X1 compatible hardware.

 

[magnet]

That is my question as well, will Shaw be providing a path to upgrade from Gateway to X1 for folks that own their equipment?

Also Xfinity advertises with X1 you can download recorded content from your PVR to your device to watch later. All I see is shaw offering some kids programming for download through Free Range.

 

[buckycat]

I don't see any option to buy equipment, it's included in the $208 a month.

 

[LD500]

I have Internet 150 and Premier TV now with my Gateway. 2 year contract for the Internet 150. We have 1 Gateway box and 3 portals which we own. Think Shaw would simply switch me over to X1 and include the hardware? I would welcome faster response on the guide along with the ability to quickly record 1 or 2 hours of TV without the guide, those are my major issues with the Arris Gateway these days. My Gateway is getting old so hard drive failure might not be too far off.

 

[buckycat]

^
Probably when your two year contract is up. Ask on the Shaw forum.
Are you in Calgary? Looks like its only available there to start.

 

[TheShay]

Is this the same hardware as the newer Gateway XG1? Looks that way based on the pictures. If so is it just a software update?

 

[Canucks4life]

Hopefully this will give Freerange TV a boost they've added a couple more channels since launch but still a long ways to go.

 

[Shaw Champ]

@buckycat the current promo that is for new customers is on the website and the one you saw.
There is no purchased BlueSky TV equipment its all offered in a 2-Year Value Plan.
@LD500 you will need new hardware for BlueSky TV the main box is an XG1v3 with RDK. There is an RDK tag on the back of the box to tell the difference. A quick way to identify a BlueSky TV box vs older devices we've provided is by the RDK label. BlueSky TV devices will include an RDK label on the back (left side) of the device. Older XG1V3s setup for MOXI will not have this label.
@magnet at the moment there is no upgrade path (for trading of equipment as an example). As there won't be any purchased equipment with BlueSky TV is not is simple process of exchanging. It would be similar when one upgrades to a new cell phone and terms, except in this case there isn't currently any discount or acceptance of changing/swapping equipment. Regarding, 'download recorded content from your PVR to your device to watch later' you're correct that is what Xfinity allows at the moment, it's important to stress that it could be that not all features of Xfinity will be the same in Canada but we are working through them and assessing. At the moment this is all that is available (kids).
@Canucks4life it really depends on broadcast rights, but we have the technology now to do more yes.

 

[buckycat]

FYI.
Someone asked on the Shaw forum if external hard drives are supported with the new equipment and the answer was no. Wouldn't bother me much, but I know there is always lots of discussions on the forums about external HD so I assume lots of people use them

 

[Jetranger]

There are, sadly, many negatives with this latest offering. One is the limitation of not being able to add additional storage. One 'solution' to this is to add additional boxes, which is an apparent option, but what cost is there for this? Additionally, you would get more tuners so more channels could be recorded at the same time but you would still only gain an additional 500GB of storage.

There is a 'voice' operated remote but to make this work, all remote commands are run back to the 'mother ship'. This means that if your connection ever goes down, you can't even watch what you have already recorded on your local machine. I find this the most ridiculous part. If your box can't talk to the Shaw servers, you can't watch your recordings. It's almost like they don't want you watching TV if they can't find out what you are watching. Way too 'big brother' for me.

The fact that there are other wonderful features of the equipment that are 'possible' but not being offered yet is the same trick that was pulled on us with the Gateway system. Remember how DLNA was 'coming soon' yet never did show up? At least this time they aren't saying any of it will one day be offered and then coming up with an excuse as to why others have it with the exact same equipment yet it isn't 'up to Shaw's standards' when they decide not to offer it.

I won't be jumping on this band wagon, sorry. Caveat emptor.

 

[buckycat]

$15 per month per box. Thats expensive storage.

 

[welwyngc]

Having Bluesky installed in Calgary on Monday - will report back - 2 TV set up.

 

[Shaw Champ]

@buckycat yes that is correct currently one can get 12 HD streams on up to 12 TV's and 1.5TB of storage in a maximum hardware configuration. Regarding storage concerns; remember the platform is cloud based and that is something for Shaw to explore in the future.
@Jetranger yes this is an integrated IP based system, everything is connected, it was designed like that. We're confident that the connection % is something that is not an issue and something that is not any worst than it is today which is minimal at best. However, there are way more benefits to this technology than their are drawbacks in my opinion. It's nothing to do with 'big brother watching' more the IP design itself.

IMO there is no doubt at this point in time this is the most superior viewing experience in terms of functionality offered that you can get in Canada that's why for us it's a premium offering.

 

[TheShay]

If Shaw provided an upgrade path to people that had existing systems that would be one thing rather than making them rent new boxes.

There is a very big diffence between cellphones and cable boxes - the later being expected to last for many years. Until the big cable providers understand that they will keep losing customers.

 

[buckycat]

^ If anyones wants to jump on the bandwagon, they had better be sure as its a two year commitment.