ExpressVu loses 7000 customers in Q2

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Looks like this is the first time this has happened:

hxxp://www.bce.ca/en/investors/financialperformance/quarterlyresults/index.php

Video
 
You have to consider that those are summer stats...there is always a higher volume of disconnection during that period due to the moving season.

I'm cuious to see what were the stats at the same period last year
 
I think the move to DTH has peaked. Ten years ago, cable companies really stunk. Since then the quality of service, products and features have improved dramatically to where I believe cable is a better deal (not for everyone but for most). The result is that DTH does not have the appeal it once did.

In addition, Bell's decision to cut non-paying customers (smart move) obviously has had an impact as well as their move to contracts (IMHO a dumb move) which I think stops many folks from signing up.
 
This is actually old news (Q2 results) and there was already a thread about it.

Hugh, could you let my cable company (Cogeco) in on the secret that cable is the better deal. Apparently they haven't heard.

-Mike
 
Would agree that the number of subscribers to DTH will remain about the same for the foreseeable future. In urban centres cable certainly has the advantage as to its availability. More a question of availability than more value for the dollar.
 
Agent you keep referring to a "moving Season" please be aware this is unique to your area. In the free world, people can and do move when they actually want to......
 
Maybe EV will follow the DISH lead and actually bring a product like SLINGBOX into the stream to try and stem the tide of deactivations. I read the article Hugh posted and this feature alone could help persuade many cable subs to have a look at EV.

John
 
I believe they are comparing Q2 2007 to Q2 2006 which would take into account the same seasonal variations such as summer peak periods (if that were the case).
 
I expect the loss of customers at EV will increase before it reverses. I cite the following factors:

1. Increases interest in HD by Canadians coupled with:
a. Increased competition in the HD arena from *C.
b. Loss of the "HD Leader" status to major cable companies.
c. Incompetent handling of HD simsubs by EV.
d. Real and perceived issues with the technical quality of EV's HD signals.

2. Lack of features such as VOD.

3. Contracts ending for rental customers, creating more churn as customers reevaluate their options. (IIRC, rentals started about 2 years ago so that must be now be dealt with on a continuing basis.)

4. Large price increases in the past 18 months that create "sticker shock" when contracts end, make cable appear more affordable and drives away long term customers.

5. Issues over the quality of customer support and unpopular company policies compared to other ISPs.
 
I mcan only speak for myself, since I have had all 3 SC/BEV & Rogers at the same time at one oint. All 3 have good points and bad.

At present I have Rogers and "US" service.

Why I left SC & BEV? Not because the services was bad, contare. I like both SC & BEV they had channels not offered by Rogers Ottawa(more local more or less), that and couldn't afford 4 services at the same time.

SAo sold SC off to a friend.

BEV on the other had was a slightly different story. It was main due to home phone/sympatico issues whichj made switch to Rogers for those services and since my Bell Mobility contract was just about to finidsh I switch that over as well, so why not BEV to cable to get a better deal.

Though I pay a bit higher in cable(but got more specialty channels out of ut and a few different HD channels although the HD is that important) the rest of the services where some what cheaper. So in the long run more or less I'm pay a few dolars les then I was with BEV(not SC/BEV).

Anyway if I didn't have a problem with bells home phone/sympatico I would still have BEV/SC.The only thing I hate about DTH/DSS is rain fade. had 2 24" dishes for BEV and had the largest for SC still got rain fade most on BEV not as much on SC only when it rained heavy, either then that had no real problem with them.

Wold I recommond BEV or SC to someone else? Sure there good services, just like I would Rogers even though I had I major issue with them before which made me leave them in the orginal place after having cable for 30 years.

I'm not sure what the future holds for BEV or SC but I wish them luck. But I'm happy with Rogers though I wish they could add some of the things BEV does with there iTV service.
 
I think thats the most objective post I have ever read on this forum.

djino
"Good read.. thanks MCIBUS"
 
There WILL ALWAYS be a market for *C and Bev....

Home owners like myself who live OUTSIDE city limits (Rural) where cable is not available.
 
I completely agree. I know people who have left over 1c and 1b !! I'm still tolerating it though and haven't bailed yet as I don't like the Shaw Motorola based receivers. If EVU ever dumps the Echostar products and moves to Motorola, I'll be switching.

EVU listen up: better get your act together because you are certainly loosing your customers over this HD sim-sub crap!!
 
In general I was happy with BEV, but I was at the point of making the jump to HD an wasn't about to get stuck with (buying ..hate renting) a reciever that was not going to be capable of the newer services. Rogers was very enticing with a free 2 year rental of HD PVR....programming is about the same ballpark give or take a buck or two...so in my opinion a no brainer for now. In 2 years I will re-evalute the situtation. Over the years I've had every service out there except SC. IMHO there is no overwhelming winner, pros and cons to all of them.
 
In Calgary with Shaw now offering Center Ice, time shifts, many HD channels
I see no reason a current cable sub or a new home buyer would go to the the hassle to putting up a dish. I assume other cities are similar, I think Bell ExpressVu will only loose customers as time goes by.
 
I think they have lost substantial business from previously loyal US customers living in the southern reaches, whom they urinated all over by making the signal unavailable. Many of them canceled their Bell service and either pirate the programming now or switched to Starchoice.

And yes, I'm very aware that Americans are not allowed to subscribe to Canadian services and anyone who does or did so is guilty of a capital crime and should be executed.
 
I agree - EVU has completely lost the programming advantage they once had. Shaw has really caught up with the HD and timeshifting.

If you live in a city where cable is a viable alternative, the only reason left to go with EVU is really the STBs. Those Motorola's boxes are really junk. The Echostar product line far superior. For example, there are no Shaw boxes with multi-room dual-tuner options and UHF remotes.
 
Your right the 9200 is better than the Shaw box but its close. Biggest diff is cost.

One thing I like on the Shaw is you can sort listings on a channel by name and it has firewire out to record to a PC, at least it worked a year or so ago.

But with a 2 9200's you can have a PVR on 4 TV's or more with splitters,
as opposed to buying 4 boxes at $700 with Shaw, but then with Shaw you get analog cable for extra tvs and Pcs.

If shaw ever makes a good trade in offer I'll go with them.
 
Unfortunely as BEV brings more quality channels like Super Channel , international channels , sports (setanta) , HD, which are more expensive , it will be more attractive to be pirated. I think most of those loses are due to customers switching to FTA. The biggest loosers are honest paying customers.
 
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