ExpressVu DISH Network Canada has been on air for 10 years

H

Hugh

New member
ExpressVu launched service on September 10th 1997, as "ExpressVu Dish Network Canada", using the Echostar logo. ExpressVu actually went with Echostar after a deal for Star Choice to use the Echostar equipment fell apart.

ExpressVu was third DTH service launched in Canada. The first was Alphastar which launched in the Spring of 1997 and failed in a few months. The second was Star Choice in the summer of 1997.

In 2000 Bell took over full ownership of ExpressVu.
 
I work alongside the guy who installed the first ever system for a Paying Customer.....

I believe they are still trying to correct the billing problems.....(Only Joking)
 
When I first got BEV the picture through my 27" flat screen CRT (now relogated to the basement) and S-VHS imput blew my mind. Plus the price, time shifting etc was exceptional. Over time Rogers and others have really picked up their game and the advent of digital cable and updated infrastructure has really leveled the playing field.

I still enjoy my BEV and since joining the HD world a little over a year ago I have been enjoying life with my 9200. It will be interesting to see if BEV can stay competitive with HD by either dropping some SD channels to make room for more HD channels or getting MPEG 4 up and running and/or another bird. I still like BEV but it sure isn't the bargain it used to be. We need BEV though to keep ROGERS progressing and ROGERS to keep BEV on its toes and advancing.
 
Who would have imagined the radically different outcomes this single event has created.
 
I've had Expressvu since just before Bell took over. I had an agument recently with a friend who thought they were always bell, but i think he's wrong.
My first receiver is a 1000 and still works. My second was a 2700, also still working. I bought a 5900 and sold it when i got the 9200. What are the chances of it still working at 8 years old?
 
Your friend is wrong, Bell acquired ExpressVu early on to get a quad play, TV, Wireless, Home, and Internet. The company if my memory serves correct was just called "ExpressVu" and was acquired in 98 I believe.

Pretty impressive that after approx 10 years all your existing hardware still works, good for you. The 9200 was a well constructed box, relative to a few other models introduced. The 4700 apparently was the best model in terms of long life and realiability..

-Mr.TV
 
MR. TV, why don't you read the first post and you would see you are mistaken.

(deleted some posts. this thread is about 10 years of ExpressVu, NOT piracy!)
 
Hugh,
I did read that - and notice "In 2000 Bell took over full ownership of ExpressVu". I was just under the impression that Bell became a part owner in 98-99 and full ownership occurred in 2000. anyways thanks for the heads up.
 
Signed up in Jan of '98 or '99 (can't remember right now) and watched an installer work in the Winnipeg winter at minus some ungodly cold temperature hooking up my huge 36" dish with a single coax on a single LNB running it to my brand spanking new 2700. That dish was HUGE and it now sits on my workbench in the basement.

The guy offered to change the single coax LNB to a dual coax for an additional $50!!! Times have sure changed!!!

Then had the experience of having ExpressVu come out for the repoint to their own brand new satellite. What times those were!!!

All I really remember clearly was my wife hated it as she had audio from one source and video from a second!!!!
 
I still have my 24" DishNetwork Canada branded pan and Linear LNB from pre Nimiq days.

Congrats to ExVu on the first 10 years, The next 10? could be interesting for many reasons, technology being only a part.
 
Oct or Nov '97 for me. I had a 1000 and a 4500(still have the 4500). I think the 4500 cost me something like $750 or something like that.
I may still have my monthly bills from them filed away somewhere.
 
I remember installing them for friends back in 97...ohh the pain of getting it activated. :o

Funny to see how quickly times passes by in technology. 10 years ago, I wouldn't never guessed that this system would be sending pictures crisper than life....as in HD. Congrats to BEV !!
 
It really does not seem like 10 years have passed since I saw the first displays for All You Can Eat programing. Looking forward to winning their current contest (???) and watching the launch of a new bird next spring. Going to enjoy my trip to Russia. ;)
 
The equipment still costs BEV a bundle but with heavy subsidies on the hardware for new customers, a lot of the cost is passed on to BEV. The cost for 9200 must be in the $800's (sure some retail folks would know actual costs) - very similar to the wireless model of cell phones and their lowered price given you take a 1, 2, or 3 year contract. Pass savings on to a customer if they lock in for extended periods. Nice to see affordable technolgy now a days through offers, etc.
 
I think the 9200 costs $828, this is the landed cost to Bell.

You were pretty close.......
 
Possibly more remarkable is that the real future for ExpressVu lies in delivering TV over Bell's wireline network where true innovation can occur and both the costs and limitations of satellite technology can be put behind it. Satellite edition of ExpressVu will continue to be helpful for revenue outside of Ontario and Quebec where Bell doesn't own the wires; but the real money to be made will be to Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa where a fibre network can, in 3 or 4 years, take on cable head-on and winback its legacy phone business.

Satellite is a nice to have; but hardly more than a footnote to the new owners as of Friday (the shareholders give away the company in the Friday vote in Montreal).
 
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