Bell messing up channel move

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Bell is moving Discovery HD from 853 to 827 in a couple of days. (I think they are moving some other HD channels as well.) What I don't understand, is why they never considered in their protocol design the ability to move channels... at least I assume they never considered it because I don't understand why they seem to be handling this move so poorly... They've been using the "show info" to inform the change for quite some time... but why on earth are they not making it so I can already switch... why do a flash cut? I would have thought their software treats the channel number as a lookup to the actual frequency and time slot of the content... and so if they wanted the content to appear on multiple channels it would not mean they're sending down multiple copies of the same content...

I guess I will hope they're not flash cutting, and that starting on the 4th the content will be in both places for a while... but if that is the case.. then why all the early whining about the change in the info...

Does anyone know Bell TV policies well enough to understand what they're doing and why they seem to be managing it poorly?
 
LOL - @ trying to make sense of Bell policies

They do have the technology available to them to use a single stream for more than one "channel". I'm guessing that maybe some of the channels are moving to existing numbers so that it isn't possible across the board so they are doing it for consistency???
 
they can and do switch channels to new transponders and new frequencies etc on a regular basis and it is seemless to most users.
What they are doing this time, letting you know that channel numbers are changing, is telling you that you'll have to update your favorite lists after the change.
 
Agreed Tom, but the OP's point here is for a channel number change why not broadcast on both for a given period of time allowing people to set schedule, lists etc during that period, say 2 weeks rather than on day x channel 123 becomes 456.
 
No matter what Bell does , they will never make everybody happy . The info has been showing on affected channels for weeks .
 
That's not true... this would have made me happy because it makes sense:

In info: This channel X is moving to channel Y. Please start watching Y now because X will be removed on -date-.

And then to start sending the content on both channels at the same time for at least a month. That way, when I see the reminder, it can immediately prompt me to act, and the action will be be possible. (Right now I can't go update my favourites for example, because I can't tune to the channel YET... but they're still nagging me about the change.)

OR:

If they AUTOMATICALLY updated all my favourites and scheduled recordings, that would also please me... but you'd still want to leave something on the old channel for a while to explain what has happened.
 
This wouldn't work with the changes they're making because they're mostly moving the Sportsnet channels, TSN2, and Raptors around among the same channel numbers.
ie:
SNH-P: 852 --> 848
TSN2: 848 --> 851
SNH-O: 851 --> 846
etc....
 
So then they would need to do the move less quickly and move in more than one wave... not unheard of when you WANT to please your customers...
 
I wonder if they will leave the channels mapped to their old locations for a while as well.

-Mike
 
Different things please different customers. As far as I'm concerned, better to move the channels once and get it over with. They've been warning us for a month, what the problem?
 
It isn't a problem for most people, but it is an inconvenience when the technology exists to have made is less of an issue. Personally I don't really care, but I understand the issue. If you happened to be away this week and wanted to record shows on these channels it would not have been possible (or at least without a lot of planning - manual timers etc).

It is simply something else to add to people's frustration level since the timers in most of the PVRs right now are flakey to begin with and shows are often missed. Messing with the channels ceratinly won't help in this regard.
 
Has anyone else lost channels again as a result of these changes? I have lost SNH-W and ONCE AGAIN the check switch and online synch did not work and I will have to call the call centre to have them re-hit my card. The same thing happened when they added the HBO channels... I had to call to have a bunch of my channels re-added. Why can't they find a way to do channel re-maps properly? This is a complete waste of my time.

Just running out the door and annoyed becuase I know when I get back I will now not be able to watch the Oilers game in HD without calling and being put on hold.
 
Well after spending 3 x 40 minute phone calls to India and Canada on crappy impossible-to-hear ISDN phone lines this evening on the issue of my sportsnet channels missing they finally told me that there's nothing they can do and that I have to pay a $168 fee to have my original owner 9200 receiver swapped for a refurb. Suffice to say I am not impressed. My 9200 was working FINE until they decided to mess around with the channel #'s. The same mess happened when they added HBO.

Their retention department will be presented with 2 options on Monday. Either replace the receiver FULLY at their cost or I will be switching to cable. Shaw is currently offering a free HD PVR with (I think) 4 months paid subscription. Bell can take my $130/month programming fee + NFL Sunday Ticket Package subscription and shove it where the sun don't shine... I am sick of this incompetence evey time they change their channel lineup.
 
Strange that they would determine it is a hardware failure in your receiver. Programming is stored on the card, so if anything, one would assume that is what is defective, not the receiver. But as you say, neither should be your fault. I'd try calling again.....
 
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