Bell TV Moving HD Channels Around

[HOOT]

I know a lot around here have their favorite lists and thought I would give the heads up, if you didn't already know. Bell TV will be moving some channels around as of March 4th, 2009.

I hate when providers do this, but Bell seems to be doing it for a reason that actually make sense by grouping the channels a bit better now.

So now Discovery(827; was 853) will be moved between National Geo and TLC.

The Sports section of things will now look like this:

.........Mar 4th.............Was
845 - The Score.........The Score
846 - SN Ontario.........SN East
847 - SN East.............SN West
848 - SN Pacific..........TSN 2
849 - SN West............Raptors TV
850 - TSN..................TSN
851 - TSN 2...............SN Ontario
852 - Raptors TV........SN Pacific

More organized and hopefully a sign they are adding more HD soon.

[Madman]

Thanks for the update, I read something quick on Discovery HD about the move and thought it was good to place it beside TLC like it is in SD.

Speaking of National Geo HD - mine dissapeared after the "free preview", but it doesn't even show up in my guide if I show All Chans and not just All Sub.

[ken0042]

If you are "grandfathered" into the $10 HD package; where you are supposed to get all the HD that you also have the SD channels for you need to call Bell to get it turned back on.

Bell set up some HD only packages- so you can have an all HD lineup if you wanted. There's a number of people over at Digital Home with the same thing- I am also have to call once I have my patience level increased.

[Madman]

Yeah, I've had the $10 for every HD channel for about 4-5 years now.

...not looking forward to calling Bell at all.

[Walks44]

So, if you first got on Bell's plan for $10/month your supposed to get every HD channel? except for movie channel's, or does work for packages subscribed to, such as National Geographic?

I think I might have to investigate my bill further

[csnarpy]

good luck getting those channels back. I noticed the same thing and called 6 different times to get my channels back for free. No luck. They end up explaining that it was a free preview (indefinitely) and now that the new HD line up is up, those channels are not included. They also explained that the upcoming change was indicated in my bills for a while and had plenty of notice of the change.

If anyone can get those back for free, using the grandfather clause or whatever, please let us know. It cost $5 more to get them back. I presently have my HD for free from retentions but its going to come back some time or another.

[TurnedTheCorner]

I'll have to look and see if I have National Geographic, now that you mention it.

I hate seeing all the SN channels, knowing that they're almost always blacked out when anythijng useful is on. I realize SN's original focus/intent was to provide local coverage, but I hope they someday get national rights for their hockey broadcasts.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by csnarpy

I presently have my HD for free from retentions but its going to come back some time or another.

That might be why you can't get back on the old plan. When they give you something for free under retentions, they usually move you to a new plan. So I would bet you got moved, and that's why the old plan no longer applies.

Apparently lots of people from DHC got it added. I guess I'll have to call and see what happens.

[csnarpy]

Originally Posted by ken0042

That might be why you can't get back on the old plan. When they give you something for free under retentions, they usually move you to a new plan. So I would bet you got moved, and that's why the old plan no longer applies.

Apparently lots of people from DHC got it added. I guess I'll have to call and see what happens.

I was always on the old plan, the retentions never came into effect whatsoever. everytime they quoted me, it was without the reductions (30% off, free hd and pvr rental). I actually was confused when they were saying the price but it soon clicked in to me and I clarified my bill later with another agent. Once I got those channels put back, i was then put to the new plan but not before.

[ken0042]

Well, I just called and spoke to a CSR who seemed to be based in eastern Canada. (at 10:30 he told me to enjoy the rest of the afternoon.)

Anyway, I told him the issue, and that I was supposed to be grandfathered, and he said I should be getting the channels, and was going to be adding them back to my lineup. Now it has been an hour since I called, and although it "can take up to 2 hours" I still don't have them back. At least I can now call back and tell them that I am missing them, supposed to have them as confirmed by the last CSR.

Hopefully I win this round of CSR roulette.

[csnarpy]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Well, I just called and spoke to a CSR who seemed to be based in eastern Canada. (at 10:30 he told me to enjoy the rest of the afternoon.)

Anyway, I told him the issue, and that I was supposed to be grandfathered, and he said I should be getting the channels, and was going to be adding them back to my lineup. Now it has been an hour since I called, and although it "can take up to 2 hours" I still don't have them back. At least I can now call back and tell them that I am missing them, supposed to have them as confirmed by the last CSR.

Hopefully I win this round of CSR roulette.

Yep, they did that to me to start as well. ah well, good luck.

[Draug]

Originally Posted by ken0042

If you are "grandfathered" into the $10 HD package; where you are supposed to get all the HD that you also have the SD channels for you need to call Bell to get it turned back on.

Bell set up some HD only packages- so you can have an all HD lineup if you wanted. There's a number of people over at Digital Home with the same thing- I am also have to call once I have my patience level increased.

The Grandfathering seems to still be working for me. I have every HD channel that has an SD equivalent in the 5 themes I am registered for. Sadly, the National Geographic has been put into a theme that I dont have.

It is a travesty that they use themes to spread out similar channels, rather than group like ones - how can Discovery and Nat. Geographic be in different packs????

I have a couple questions. First, if I now add the National Geographic to my SD selections, will the HD version come back too, or do I need to call them for that? Second, if I choose to go with an all HD lineup, can I get rid of the $31 "Digital Standard"? (Originally, it was the $31 "Digital Standard" combined with $20 "5 Themes" that allowed the $10 "HD Value Pack" to be added.

Update: I just looked at my most recent bill. They have arbitrarily decided to up the cost of the 5 Themes to $23 from $20, up the cost of the Digital Standard to $32 from $31, which is all on top of the $3 'Digital Service Fee' (aka customer tax) that they unilaterily added a few months ago. They are unreal...

[Draug]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Bell set up some HD only packages- so you can have an all HD lineup if you wanted. There's a number of people over at Digital Home with the same thing- I am also have to call once I have my patience level increased.

Not exactly ... I just clarified with Bell that you must have 'Digital Standard' in any programming package. That $32 crap has over 100 SD channels and all the radio.

If I could subscribe to a premium HD service, with only HD channels and no wasted bandwidth on the multitide of SD channels, I most certainly would. Sadly, not enough other Canadians would, so it is rather irrelevant.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Well, I just called and spoke to a CSR who seemed to be based in eastern Canada. (at 10:30 he told me to enjoy the rest of the afternoon.)

Anyway, I told him the issue, and that I was supposed to be grandfathered, and he said I should be getting the channels, and was going to be adding them back to my lineup. Now it has been an hour since I called, and although it "can take up to 2 hours" I still don't have them back. At least I can now call back and tell them that I am missing them, supposed to have them as confirmed by the last CSR.

Hopefully I win this round of CSR roulette.

Ken, did you get NG HD and Showcase HD back and still stay on the grandfathered plan?

I finally tried today with a call to retentions [I have to build up my outrage and a couple of arguments before I call] and she wouldn't do it for me. She did give me 30% off for a year and a 6131 HD receiver with a $100 rebate though. Now I just have to wait around to see if I've been played again. I did get her name and employee # and a confirmation # though.

[ken0042]

No, by the time I went to call back they were closed, and then I forgot.

I'll try again this week to see what they say.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Was going to start a new thread, but thought bumping this one would suffice.

Going to get Bell HD for the first time and wanted to make sure I was going about it the right way before I ordered it. A couple quick concerns/questions:

1) Seems like everyone has an HD PVR. The wife and I almost never need to record anything. Is going with just a basic HD receiver ok, or am I missing the boat? Does the PVR have that many more options that makes it a 'must-have'?

2) Programming. I'm a little confused......I was going to get just the HD Essentials package.......looks like HD channels with 6 theme packs. Now, do I only get the HD channels that are in my theme packs, or do I get all HD channels (minus the movies and such) plus the theme packs?

Any other advice you can give to help out an HD n00b? I've had regular Bell for about 10 years, just never ventured into HD territory.

Thanks in advance.

[Vulcan]

1. PVRs are nice but a regular 6131 or 6141 HD box should do you, especially since you can now add an external HD to make it into a PVR.

The 9241 PVR now being sold by Bell has the convenience of being able to record one channel while watching another but it no longer has PiP or the ability to operate two TVs dispaying seperate programming.

2. HD programming is so confusing now I don't think the CSRs even have a clue. It seems sometimes you have to order SD theme packs to get the HD, sometimes you don't. Anyways enjoy because HD is pretty damn good.

If you've got a new TV, try setting it up for the best possible picture and that isn't on the brightest settings. Try finding a review of your TV that gives optimum settings and than experiment for the vagaries of your room lighting, your preferences and since no TV is exactly the same yours will vary from the reviewers. Better yet buy a setup DVD or use the settings that come on some popular DVDs. The best way to go is to have it professionaly calibrated but that can cost.

Make sure you get the free install of the upgraded 20" dish from Bell if you haven't already got it.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I'm moving to a new house so they're going to put up a new dish for me. I'll ask about the upgraded 20", though..........thanks.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I'm moving to a new house so they're going to put up a new dish for me. I'll ask about the upgraded 20", though..........thanks.

If it's a new installation, it should be the 20" dish.

One thing I like about a PVR which also works on the regular HD box with an external HD is that I can put it on pause and take a leak with out having to wait for a commercial and if you pause it long enough, you just fast forward past the commercials. Very convenient. Also if you get home an hour or so after the game has started and you've set it to record you can start the game at the beginning and skip the commercials etc. so the game will finish in real time.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Yeah, that's one of the reasons I was taking a long look at the PVR, but as you said, an external will do the trick.