New Bell HD Packages (formerly titled: Bell HD Price Increase)

  • Thread starter Thread starter haystack
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1. APTN HD was launched in early April, just afater the brochure was published.
2. CosmoTV is in free preview and is therefore listed in both the Essentials as a free preview channel and in its proper package where it will be after the preview is over (Lifestyle 1).
3. As far as I know, this means that the variety HD must not require a sub to the SD equivalent. (I could be wrong on that though)
 
Does anyone have a link to this? It has not yet appeared on the main web site. I cannot access it through the online version of Show Magazine either. :confused:
 
We don't have to pay anything more for now if we have been taking the HD package before. The new rates apply only to new subscribers. I'm betting that this is only an interim change by BEV. Within a year they will be completely revamping their themes to accommodate further new HD channels and possibly for the first time the dropping of some SD services.
 
As far as I know this hasn't changed. To get TSN HD you must also (and illogically) subscribe to TSN SD (which of course once you have HD you will never watch again).
 
All but 12 of the HD channels you get today will be free.

the remaining 12 are put into 5 themes
3 themes with 2 channels
2 themes with 3 channels
Themes will be $5 each
You can get a special of 4 HD themes for $10
But to get all the HD you get today it will cost you $15

4 HD themes @ $10
5th HD theme @$5

HD theme channels are

#1
WGN
TSN
RAPTORS

#2
SCORE
RUSH

#3
A&E
DISCOVERY

#4
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
SHOWCASE

#5
EQUATOR
OASIS
TREASURE
 
Yeah, I'm not sure what menzel means. I don't subscribe to channels in the Lifestyle 1 package and most of them show up in my Guide in red and none are pick-and-pay.
 
HDNet is included in all of the themes. The difference if I understand is you get all the same channels in HD as previous minus Equator, Treasure, Oasis if you opt out of the 5th HD theme. So I guess most people with opt in on the Free HD + $10 HD 4 Pack. For me, its a moot point. Dont really care for the 3Hi-Fi channels. I do also believe that they are doing this (based on Show article) to make space for more HD channels in the HD themes. Speed..etc.

Also for those that dont want an all in $10 HD pack, they can opt in for 1 $5 HD theme thus saving money too.....appears the customer now has more choice and control of what they want....although do understand that many may not want the $5 Equator HD pack....
 
I am currently paying:
Digital Standard, 12 themes and Premium Movies, Timeshifting: $95
HD Value Pack: $10
Service Fee: $3
Total $108/Month

From what I can see the new package (same channels as I have now) would cost me:
Digital Max: $95
4 HD Themes: $10
Service Fee: $3
Total: $108

Is there something I am missing? Is there any reason for me not to switch? I would really like to add More HD Variety (National Geographic, Showcase & TLC). I am hesitant to switch from the legacy programming but I am not sure if there is a reason not to make the switch. Any guidance would be very helpful. Thanks.
 
Once free preview is over for showcase and national geographic channels I think even existing customers will have to pay more.
 
Well all I know is that all HD packs were $10 all in. I dont recall even one price increase to the HD package. I think they are expanding the packaging to accomodate new hd channels in year. I mean how long do you expect one company to keep the package price the same while adding new HD channels. I mean, on the horizon Bell possibly has to accomodate Speed, Golf, TLC, APTN, and any more HD channels that come out.

How do you reccommend expanding the channel line up in HD with out taking an increase? What are your solutions or preferred methods? I mean thinking logically, they could have taken the $10 HD package and made it $12 for everyone? However, they are protecting the existing customers such as us from a forced price increase...
 
Folks cool down. Right now we're in the middle of the biggest change in TV in North American history. Switching to colour wasn't even half as complicated in comparison and it took a long time for every channel to be broadcasting in colour all the time.

How it will all shake out over the next decade is unknown at this time. I'd expect most SD services to eventually shut down leaving only their HD counterparts. At that point there'll be no HD/SD tie-ins left to annoy us. In the meantime we're going to have to live with weird packages, odd pricing and rules from BEV, *Choice, Rogers and any other company in the business or pull the plug.
 
You can get 5 SD themes for $20.
So with 4 HD themes for $10 that makes it $30.
Still an increase, but only a $5 one.
And the 4 HD themes also gives you HD timeshifting on the US networks.
 
You do realize the free preview is not unique to you, everyone gets to see the free preview channels. The notice in the guide regarding the free preview isn't delivered on a receiver-by-receiver basis, everyone sees that in their guide.

Nothing has changed, Bell TV occasionally allows their subscribers to see channels they are not subscribed to in an effort to try and get people to subscribe to those channels. If you had the channels before the free preview started there is no reason to think that you will lose them after the free preview is over. Why would you think that?
 
To me this is setting the stage to have an "HD access fee".
Which may not be bad if expressvu has to come out to say where stretched SD ends and HD begins for them.
 
I believe that's correct, regarding TSN. However, it is no longer necessary to subscribe to Rogers Sportsnet in SD (in the Sports 2 theme) to get Rogers Sportsnet in HD (in the More HD Sports theme). Thus, you can now actually get 4 HD themes (specifically, all HD themes except HD Sports) for $10, which was not previously the case.
 
This is just a way to make up money now before they have to have every channel in HD and drop the SD version by what is it now 2011?

Charge the first ppl now an exorbit amount and then drop the price so the average joe can afford it later. As more and more HD comes online i would think that they'd start droping some of the other SD stuff.

Correct me if i'm wrong on the HD / SD cut off. I'm thinking in my head that it could be HD or it could just have to be Digital signal. I don't feel like looking it up.
 
Thanks KSPSlice. Does this mean new customers will get these HD stations free and the rest are divvied up into theme packs? If so, some might like the new options.

-Mike
 
If you look at the brochure, the channels with SD requirements are TSN, Raptors and SportsNet. I had to blow it up to 150% to read the fine print though. Some of the French channels also have SD requirements.
 
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