Bell TV Pricing, themes and programming package discussion

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Depends on if you are including bundle discounts etc.

Digital Std: $32
5 SD themes: $20
4 HD themes: $10
DSF: $3

Then factor in promotions
 
I know this doesn't help much, but you could drop the $1 for timeshifting.
You get free HD timeshifting with the HD value pack.
 
I see what you mean now. That legacy stuff doesn't affect me.
Guess we'll see what happens when we get installed.
 
I have been a Bell TV subscriber since Sept 07. On the $10 HD plan, along with 5 themes. I lost NG HD and Show HD. I have always had Showcase (Show E and W on 616 and 617), so I shouldn't have lost it, correct? I can't even find Nat Geo SD when I show "All Chan" (believe it is supposed to be 524).

What should I expect when I call retentions? To get just Show HD added back? Or, both?
 
Some people are on budgets. Or maybe they only want 5 theme packs...
I am not a fan of sneaky marketing, with fine print charges...
When I called in to activate my 9242, the CSR tried to get me to "upgrade" my package, as I was on a grandfathered plan...
I was told I would save money if I upgraded
I asked how
And was told that currently I only have 3 HD theme packs and pay $10
If I "upgraded" I could get 4 HD theme packs for $10
I asked how I would save money....
I think we have every HD channel that I want, maybe some are on free preview so I don't notice right now, but she couldn't name a channel that I didn't already have, or that I wanted...
I decided not to upgrade over the phone, as I told her I would have to do some more research before changing to a plan that may end up costing us more money...
 
I do, and I have not yet lost them.

Here is part of the email I received today:

Unlikely, since they never do.



So are they going to eventually get rid of the value pack, or just make it too expensive to keep? Eventually, when most channels are HD, are they going to start charging a premium for SD?
 
I've thought about that as well. There really isn't much than can be dropped and still have a worthwhile package.

digital std 32 - Mandatory.
service fee 3 -Mandatory.
5 themes 23 - If you try to reduce this, the price goes to $8 per theme. That provides a saving only if you want 0, 1 or 2 themes.
hd value 10 - Virtually no HD otherwise.
timeshifting 1 - Mandatory.

Also, some HD channels are tied to SD channels so you are stuck getting one or more themes if you want any sports HD, Showcase or National Geographic.

The only real options are to switch to another service with a different package setup. Cable and *C both have packages that provide popular channels plus HD without having to buy a lot of theme packs. If you live near Toronto or the US border and just want the major networks, another option might be to go OTA.
 
Where was the notification? I'm on the $10 per month HD pack since 2005 and I want NGHD to stay. I read the forums to keep up with BEV issues but have to admit I haven't lately. I live in a rural area in Ontario and a week or two ago received a glossy letter saying how I'm now getting HBO Canada and Sportsnet Ontario for free - about 2 months after the fact. Now, wouldn't making use of that envelope to include the fact that HD programming changes were coming and what choices were available to subscribers have made sense? As silly a question as it is I just had to ask.
 
I just found out that my bell package has the free basic HD channels.

So all i need is the HD receiver and I can watch those HD channels?
 
I am also a legacy $10 HD subscriber and in addition to losing Showcase HD and TLC HD, despite subscribing to the SD channels, I appear also to have lost TSN2, again despite subscribing to TSN SD.

I know Haystack was posting a few weeks ago that this was some kind of mistake and that if you went high enough in the CSR chain, legacy HD subscribers could convince them to restore the lost HD counterpart channels. Is it a safe assumption that this was not, in fact, some kind of mistake and that legacy HD subscribers will no longer get any new HD channels unless they are on free preview or they change over to a new HD theme package, even if you subscribe to the SD counterpart?
 
I am a "legacy $10 H.D. subscriber and through Bell's transition I note they automatically converted me basically to (4) H.D. themes. I would really like to have National Geographic and TLC but in order to get them I need to subscribe to a fifth theme pack and pay an additional $5. I actually went to do this online today but stopped when the selection requested that I deselect my former $10 package. Does anyone think there may be an advantage in the future regarding the additional H.D. channels that may appear by staying on as a legacy $10 subscriber. Maybe someone will challenge through the courts what many have been saying regarding to subscribing to the equivalent S.D. channel. By the way I do subscribe to both NG and TLC S.D. I too think that Bell should automatically provide those subscribing to the S.D. channel the H.D. channel for free. Any thoughts?

Cobra
 
What's in the Bell HD Digital Basic package? It's $33/month not including GST/PST which seems like a bargain compares to Shaw. I don't see any other fees being listed so I hope that's it, $33/month plus tax.
 
Slowtyper, did I not explain. They were refering you to the All-In-One HD Upgrade Program. To get this promotion of 6 months free HD you must rent a HD Receiver and have Genesis HD programming. There are no ands ifs or buts. If the Customer Loyalty Representative gave you the free HD promotion in addition to your 30% save offer, they must of issued you a satisfaction credit for the HD programming otherwise you are not eligible for the All-in-One HD Upgrade program.
 
im on some list to try and get back old bell custoners. i confirmed at bell store today. bell store cannot beat or match that deal...

as ssoon as i confirm, it ill report back here.
 
NG HD and Show HD are not included in the (now) legacy $10 HD package. You will have to switch to the new HD theme packs to get them.

-Mike
 
Even though I demanded and got a 40% discount from Bell I also read the
forum for my local cable company. Although it' still cheaper than Bell I read
they have all kinds of trouble with their HD/PVR equipment.

So Bell feels they have a "monopoly" of sorts and squeeze us all the time for more money.

Talked to a guy who is living in an area where Telus is testing fibre to the
curbside. He's blown away with the quality and speed. Tech told him they still
have tons of signal headroom. Now I see Telus has announced they will spend a
LOTS more on Fibre to the curbside.

So Bell....smarten up...I'll leave at the first chance...you're pricing yourself out of the market.

FaxCap
 
ok, but I guess you may as well take the entire HD theme then since it will cost you $5 anyway (I should say $13 since you need sports theme 1). Funny marketing, pick n pay available but it will still cost you the same- why bother lol!
 
Actually instead of taking the Sports 2 SD theme for $8, you can just take the Raptors channel as a $2.50 pick'n'pay, which would give you access to RaptorsHD.

So...

Digital Standard: $32 **
Digital Services Fee: $3
Sports 1 SD: $8
Raptors: $2.50
4 HD Themes: $10
===============
Total: $55.50 + tax

**The default price for Digital Standard is $33, but that includes $1 for U.S. network timeshifting, which you can decline since you would get it for free with the 4 HD themes. (unless they've changed that detail recently)

(If you also have your internet or cell phone plan with bell you can take an extra $5 off)
 
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