Evil Shaw 2: Channel Changers

[Prototype]

According to Shaw's website:

Starting November 18, 2008, we will be changing our channel lineup to bring you a better TV experience. We are expanding our high-definition (HD) offerings to bring you more HD movies, sports and events.

By the looks of what we have, HERE, the changes being made, HERE, and what the channels look like, HERE... Shaw is a crock.

They say that they are expanding their HD 'offerings', but based on the changes page, they are adding two channels they were already offering (The Frame, and Superchannel HD 2).

And, by my count, it's 28 channels before the switch, and 28 channels after. Don't piss on me and tell me it's raining. You're not expanding anything other than my desire to stop paying you guys money.

And yes, I'm going to Bell tomorrow to see what I can do about switching over.

[metallicat]

What is the Frame HD? Never heard of it. And we've already lost a movie channel in the past couple of weeks with the addition of HBO Canada. Why did they have to do that? Why not just add HBO, rather than turning Movie Central 1 into it?

[Prototype]

Just a bunch of High Def stills set to elevator music...

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...ighlight=frame

And HBO Canada still shows movies, but with Superchannel available now, Movie Central has been playing more crap. Better to have one channel than two.

[browna]

Well, like channel switches in the past 20 years, usually it re-organizes channels (TSN, TSN2 side by side is a good idea) and allows for future expansion that makes some more sense.

The language is vauge, and yeah, right now its sort of a semi-add of HD, but I am guessing it means more HD isn't too far away.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Prototype

And yes, I'm going to Bell tomorrow to see what I can do about switching over.

I don't pay attention to amount of HD channels, so Bell might still be ahead when compared to Shaw in that deparment, but the hell I have experienced every time I talk to Bell about something at my mom's house, it makes me very glad I am with Shaw.

[Buff]

Here in Lethbridge, at least on the northside, channels 7 and 12 are of horrible quality. I was fine with CTV News channel and ShawTV being on those channels. They've switched it so that ABC is on channel 7 and CBS is on channel 12. Now I can hardly see what is on ABC and hear what is on CBS.

I've previously had the cable guys out to fix the problem as a couple other channels are the same way, but they can't do anything about it because the cram so much crap down the pipe now.

My question is, if I were to get digital cable, would those channels clear up or do the channel problems extend beyond analog?

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Rathji

I don't pay attention to amount of HD channels, so Bell might still be ahead when compared to Shaw in that deparment, but the hell I have experienced every time I talk to Bell about something at my mom's house, it makes me very glad I am with Shaw.

Shaw has 28 HD, Bell has closer to 70.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Buff

Here in Lethbridge, at least on the northside, channels 7 and 12 are of horrible quality. I was fine with CTV News channel and ShawTV being on those channels. They've switched it so that ABC is on channel 7 and CBS is on channel 12. Now I can hardly see what is on ABC and hear what is on CBS.

I've previously had the cable guys out to fix the problem as a couple other channels are the same way, but they can't do anything about it because the cram so much crap down the pipe now.

My question is, if I were to get digital cable, would those channels clear up or do the channel problems extend beyond analog?

I used to live in Lethbridge and the problem is that Global broadcasts its over the air signal on channel 7 and CFCN broadcasts over the air on channel 13 (not sure why you're having problems with 12), so your tv picks up the OTA signal along with the cable signal feed and they interfere with each other.

When I lived there, Channel 13 was the CBS feed on Shaw and there were times that the interference from CFCN was so bad it was completely unwatchable.

In the past, the cable companies would put things like the tv listings and community programming on the channels where there was bad interference (in Calgary, when A-Channel was approved it was given channel 5 as its OTA channel, which is why CFCN moved from 5 to 3 on cable back in the mid-90s). As the number of channels (both OTA and on cable) has increased, it's become harder to avoid putting regular programming on the same channels as local OTA channels.

Going to digital should fix the problem because you will no longer be tuning your tv to channel 7 to watch channel 7, just the cable box.

[mykalberta]

If you email them, add in the fact that you will no longer stand not to have TBS - and for them to replace PeachTree TV with an actual TBS.

I am tired of bit torrenting FrankTV and sad I am unable to watch it on TBS.

[Prototype]

As of Saturday morning, Bell will be my provider.

[metallicat]

I see that the Frame HD is not offered in Edmonton...

[getbak]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

I see that the Frame HD is not offered in Edmonton...

Damn, you're missing out. Call them and demand it.

[Thor]

Re-arranging channels isn't adding more content.

Wonder what they will charge for the 2 Superchannel HD channels, 18.95 added to the package?

Thats it for me and Shaw, moving soon, definitely moving to Bell.

[Hack&Lube]

Still on regular cable so I guess changes are only for HD folks? Honestly, channels up the wazoo to the 200s never really appealed to me. These days, why watch TV when you have a computer.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

If you email them, add in the fact that you will no longer stand not to have TBS - and for them to replace PeachTree TV with an actual TBS.

I am tired of bit torrenting FrankTV and sad I am unable to watch it on TBS.

From my understanding it is not Shaw's idea to do this. I read, can't find the link right now, that the CRTC was no longer allowing TBS because of it's content and they had to replace it with a Canadian version of TBS which in turn brought you horrible Peachtree.

There was some fight about TBS would have to change a few things, etc. and wanted nothing to do with it.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by getbak

I used to live in Lethbridge and the problem is that Global broadcasts its over the air signal on channel 7 and CFCN broadcasts over the air on channel 13 (not sure why you're having problems with 12), so your tv picks up the OTA signal along with the cable signal feed and they interfere with each other.

When I lived there, Channel 13 was the CBS feed on Shaw and there were times that the interference from CFCN was so bad it was completely unwatchable.

In the past, the cable companies would put things like the tv listings and community programming on the channels where there was bad interference (in Calgary, when A-Channel was approved it was given channel 5 as its OTA channel, which is why CFCN moved from 5 to 3 on cable back in the mid-90s). As the number of channels (both OTA and on cable) has increased, it's become harder to avoid putting regular programming on the same channels as local OTA channels.

Going to digital should fix the problem because you will no longer be tuning your tv to channel 7 to watch channel 7, just the cable box.

Thanks. I assumed that it would fix the problem, but wanted confirmation from somebody else.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by HOOT

From my understanding it is not Shaw's idea to do this. I read, can't find the link right now, that the CRTC was no longer allowing TBS because of it's content and they had to replace it with a Canadian version of TBS which in turn brought you horrible Peachtree.

There was some fight about TBS would have to change a few things, etc. and wanted nothing to do with it.

I heard that Peachtree is WTBS in Atlanta, it used to be normal TBS but it was changed for some reason. I heard the reason they wont change it is because some users want Braves games.

Sorry to hijack, not really worth a thread on its own, but IMO fits nicely with a generic SHAW b!tch fest.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Shaw has 28 HD, Bell has closer to 70.

Yes but Shaw has:
East & West ABC, NBC, FOX & CBS [Football]
CBC, TSN, TSN2 & Sportsnet [Hockey]
Discovery

What else do you need? I'd love to be able to order a cable package with only those 13 HD channels and nothing else. Maybe throw in CTV and Global for some Canadian content...

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by kevman

Yes but Shaw has:
East & West ABC, NBC, FOX & CBS [Football]
CBC, TSN, TSN2 & Sportsnet [Hockey]
Discovery

What else do you need? I'd love to be able to order a cable package with only those 13 HD channels and nothing else. Maybe throw in CTV and Global for some Canadian content...

Yep and that's you. I am surprised how many random shows I watch on channels I have never even heard of.

So if that works for you, then that's awesome! I just prefer options because pretty quickly every channel will be coming to HD and I can rely on Bell to add them as they have done, Shaw not so much.

[ppatko]

Shaw drives me nuts sometimes.. the wait times on the phone are crazy.

But... after dealing with Telus for my mother.. and Bell for a family friend... I'm VERY happy with the level of service i get from Shaw.