Bell TV Pricing, themes and programming package discussion

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"In addition other TV companies link A&E, Showcase, NAtional Geo, etc.... At least Bell only has it linked to a few channels....."

This is not true. Starchoice also offers HD channels without having the SD equivalent. Discovery HD, TLC HD and A&E HD are offered in a $5 package that doesn't require to subscribe to the SD equivalent. So other providers also offer HD channels without SD.
 
See post #224 for the preamble to this...

Got my first bill since switching from the $10 legacy HD pack. Of course, despite the promise in writing that my bill wouldn't go up... it has. I am being charged for an additional HD theme.

I called retentions (why bother with the bottom feeders), and spent about 20 min on the phone. Hasn't been resolved yet. They had me email them the transcript of the chat, and a supervisor is due to call me on Monday. Yeah, right...

I have been with them for less than two years, and I have probably invested close to ten hours in total phone calls to get them to fix things.

I have a residence in Ft. Lauderdale... I am considering getting it hooked up with Direct TV:rolleyes:
 
crazycanuck You still would not get SNHD as it is in a different HD theme. More HD Sports :D
 
I have been watching TLCHD for about a month. When I got home tonight I could not find it. Not even in my favorites.

I had only "basic" HD, but had been receiving the channel anyways. Was it in preview, channel moved, or did Bell actually catch their mistake.

Thanks.
 
lars I did this . Dropped my news and learning SD theme( only really lost CNN). dropped my grandfathered $10 HD pack. Added new 5 HD themes. Spoke to a supervisor to complain about the sneaky way bell is operating and got 40% off for a year for my trouble.
 
Star Choice seems to have the cheapest HD only bundle at 49.96 before taxes. Bronze + Sports + HD sports + HD extra. Everything HD including timeshifted networks except movies of course. You also get RDS HD without needing a french theme pack like Bell forces you to take.
 
Well good luck with that although I feel your pain. That's why they always put that little asterisk disclaimers at the bottom of their "deals" along the lines of "terms and conditions subject to change" etc...
 
With the removal of TLCHD I might finally be forced to change my programming package - because TLC is a channel I do watch a lot, and many of the shows are in HD.

So - if I'm being forced to call Bell, I'll take some money out of there pockets in the process - by getting rid of a theme pack that I rarely (if ever) watch.

That will save me a whole $3 - but its something. I still mad that my plan went up by $5 with the changes they made in January.

I'll have to drop the current grandfathered HD package, and pick up 4 HD themes (I never ever watch the treasure, etc channels)

I'd cancel the movies too, but others in the household watch those channels. I find there is nothing ever on them worth watching.

I really wish I didn't like my dual tuner PVR so much, because then I could swich providers and be done with all these random changes.
 
I am confused. So I can get 4 or 5 HD theme packs without having to get the equivalent digital theme packs?

It would be nice if Bell informed and trained their customers. Twice online, I asked a question and the CSR gave me wrong information. I am looking at subbing with Bell but would like the HD receiver (one that can add a hard drive.) Any suggestions as to the cheapest price for this receiver?

I was under the assumption that HD Max and Extra came with 4 HD theme packs but I am told by Bell that they are a $10 add on fee...is this correct?

Any help is greatly appreciated!
 
Sorry but I find the Bell sight quite confusing in find out what is the best package for me.

Perhaps some of you gurus can help me out.

I want all the HD channels minus any movie channels or most of them. Which package or what package should I build or have to attain all the HD minus movies.

Thanks

Customer service suggested BasicHD $23 and then add 5HD theme packs?
 
Can someone help me as well with pricing. It gets confusing on what SD channels/packages you need to get the HD channels etc.

How much will it cost me if I want all the HD minus any specialty movie channels?

I don't really care about SD channels as I rarely watch these.
 
This has happened to me 3 times now and that's not counting changes due to "previews" that ended. Originally, HD was free, then it cost $10, Then it had to be changed to the "new" HD pack for $10, then it was changed to the "new" HD themes at $15 for 3 HD themes (since I don't sub to sports SD. I would like TSN HD but not the cost of other baggage.) I now pay $5 for 1 HD theme. This gives me 90% of what I want in HD at 1/3 the cost of 100% so it's not a bad compromise. I suspect that a new theme will be added in the next year so I can go back to 4 themes for $10 (unless they pull another switch.)
 
So let me get this right, if I have the HD Value package for $10.00 and the subsequent SD channel I do not get the HD version? Specifically the package called more HD variety which is TLC, Showcase and National Geographic? If I want it I must add a HD theme for $5.00?

I am also on a retentions package, if I change this will this do anything to the retentions package?

I want them back, but if I have to add it I will simply cancel the premium movies, do not need them till Dexter comes back on the air.

I just love Bell, they also told me that if I get the SD version, I automatically get the HD version such $$&&%%& liars.
 
Can you elaborate when and how you got many / most HD channels for $10.? Which channels have you been getting, and when did you activate those? I was trying to compare because my friend swore that he could have done it via the online management only a month or two ago only he didn't click it all the way through. I really doubted he could have done this only not so long ago, but some of you might have had this for very long and that's a diff. scenario.

Yes, it is both convoluted and sneaky. The Bold print of $10. any 4 HD theme packs is basically a lure, not a truth.
 
I have lost TLC HD as well but it was listed as free pre-view until sometime in March. I can't remember the exact day. It is listed as part of the More HD Variety pack with NG HD and Showcase Hd in the latest Bell Tv Programming Guide flyer effective Feb 1/09.
I still have TSN HD. I am a subsciber to The old HD pack since 2005.
 
And it will get worse if you now go into the old "Source" stores. I heard an amazing claim only on friday about how you can add EHD's with a USB hub to a 9241. I waited for the salesman to head into the back and advised the customer that he was wrong.
 
This is the same problem I am having. What a bunch of BS! I pay for ShowCase, TLC, and NatGeo in SD but I don't get the HD equivelent??? I am also on the retention package so they have me by the balls here because even if I was to swap out Sports 2 (which I have never watched) or the SD package with TLC then I would lose my retention package and my monthly price would go up a significant amount. I'm going to be looking into what Rogers can do for me and use that agains't them to give me a lower price.

I don't understand why when they changed from all HD for $10 to the 4 HD packages for $10 that they wouldn't let us choose our packages. I don't need all 5, but I don't even watch one of these packages at all, and the one with Oasis I could certainly live without.
 
I just noticed that. Aye, aye,aye. The thing that bothers me (and I know this isn't Bell specific) is paying for all these packages (even having to pay for basic digital) when I rarely watch SD now. It just seems like a waste. It would be nice if there was a $50/month pack that was all the HD channels only (including movies even). I have no use for the SD channels now and especially when it comes to sports & movies (if I watch news in SD it's no biggie but even then there is a HD version). This way the people who paid big money for an HD TV can subscribe to just the HD channels, everyone else can continue with SD only. I'm sure the economies of scale come into play but we can dream can't we? lol
 
I notice on the Bell site that it looks like Bell has decided to add another HD-Theme - HD-Time Shift, for all the Networks...yikes.

I want to move from the Grandfathered $10 plan to pick up all the HD Themes...but I'm wondering what the total cost difference will be...anyone who has 5 themes and the $10 HD's done this yet...care to comment on the process and the cost differential?
 
What doesn't sit well with me is the marketing they used to sell the $10 HD Pack. The big selling point was you'll get new HD channels by subscribing to the SD channel.

Fast forward to today. $10 theme is discontinued. People are grandfathered. Great, but what about the marketing they used to sell it? Especially, get new HD channels by subscribing to the SD channel. How is that grandfathered in? It isn't :(

All this does for me is make me get on the net and see what's better out there and or use this as amunition to get a discounted rate from retentions.
 
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