Shaw HD Plus

[Vulcan]

On Bell I pay $10 extra for HD. This only covers the major channels. In order to get TSN, RSN, and Discovery HD, I have to order the sports package and whatever package Discovery comes in. Other new specialty HD channels will also depend on what packages I order. Cable or Satellite, they catch you coming and going. I'd like to have some honesty from all the providers.

[fredr123]

Bump. So August 23 has come and gone. The new HD channels are here and... I'm underwhelmed to say the least. Having Discovery HD is kind of cool but the only other channel added (if you don't count TSN and Sportsnet) is CTVHD.

On my set, at least, CTVHD is unwatchable. Both the picture and the sound are choppy and stutter. A few times I tried to switch to the channel and it basically froze my entire cable setup. Awesome. And there doesn't seem to be any additional HD content on there that isn't already available on one of the major American networks. Double awesome.

The other Canadian timeshift channels are also available now as part of a free preview (at least I think it's free). Again, I fail to see the point. Unless you want to watch news from Toronto or something, all the same content is available on the American timeshift channels. Maybe I'm missing something here but I don't think I'm gonna be picking up the tab for these additional channels.

Thoughts?

[Vulcan]

About the only reason CTV HD exists is so that they can pick up the advertising from their simsubbing. Almost no original HD programming.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by fredr123

Thoughts?

Yep. I think you have it right. By offering a small sample from across Canada they are missing the advantage of Canadian time shifts. Having Saskatchewan channels would be handy, because for 6 months they are an hour off the rest of the world.

CTV-HD is good on Bell- I think you may want to call Shaw and tell them that it is crap.

However now with CTV-HD; once it's working, you will have HD time shifts without Shaw having to add 4 US East HD feeds.

[TurnedTheCorner]

The HD timeshifts with Bell are nice. You get a CTV East and West feed, plus East and West feeds for all of the major US networks. I almost never get signal substituion for the West programming.

I switched to Bell over a year ago, and seeing how porrly Shaw is still doing at rolling out HD channels, I am glad I switched.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

The HD timeshifts with Bell are nice. You get a CTV East and West feed, plus East and West feeds for all of the major US networks. I almost never get signal substituion for the West programming.

I switched to Bell over a year ago, and seeing how porrly Shaw is still doing at rolling out HD channels, I am glad I switched.

Cost was pretty much my number one concern when the wife and I went with Shaw digital cable. We have broadband internet and their digita phone service all bundled together. The price is pretty reasonable all things considered but the TV situation sure is ****ing me off.

I know it's pretty difficult considering all the deals that each company offers and the various packages they throw together, but has anyone ever done (or better yet, has a link to) a good side-by-side comparison of Shaw and Bell (and maybe Starchoice)? I'm interested to see how much of a difference the price really is given the difference in quality and channels available.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by fredr123

but has anyone ever done (or better yet, has a link to) a good side-by-side comparison of Shaw and Bell (and maybe Starchoice)?

The problem is all of the service providers bundle their channels differently. But the bottom line is generally they are all in the same ballpark. One difference with satellite was the time shifts, but now Shaw is offering some.

Biggest difference with Bell and Shaw is the fact that Bell's customer service simply sucks. I'd describe how badly it sucks, but there are forum rules against that kind of language. If you can put up with Bell's BS, then you are set.

Also be sure to look at the bundle pricing you get with Shaw. Internet and phone by themselves are available; and you likely won't lose much by dropping TV.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Also be sure to look at the bundle pricing you get with Shaw. Internet and phone by themselves are available; and you likely won't lose much by dropping TV.

But I would have stupid Shaw HD box to get rid of. We paid a lot of cash for that thing and I don't think the wife would be too impressed if I went and sold it less than 6 months after getting it.

I get the feeling I probably wouldn't be happy with either service...

[ken0042]

Looks like Bell once again has taken their PDF off with their price list. I've taken a screenshot of their old one, so if you use this one keep in mind the prices are $2 higher- so add $2 to whatever package you decide to get.

Another thing is that if you are picking 3 or fewer packs they are $8 each.

Oh, and I hope you have good eyes. Sorry in advance for the resolution of the image.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2..._price_old.jpg

[ken0042]

If it comes down to selling the current box, they usually fetch a decent price used.

But you are right, and keep in mind that HD is in its infancy. Might be worth exploring in a couple of years.

[Mccree]

Discovery HD is pretty cool and I do see myself watching the Canadian Timeshift channels alot (for what ever reason).

A & E HD launches on Labour day in the US so I assume that is when we will get it.

THe other two channels are to launch in November (I think)

I also get the CTV travel channle for what ever reason. I do not pay for it I just get it.

[TurnedTheCorner]

I would have to agree with the comment regarding Bell's woeful customer service. I believe the product offered is superior, but the customer suppot is non existant. I signed up last year to get $10 off my HD PVR, plus 50% off Centre Ice. After 4 phone calls and 1 email to customer service after my bill was consistently wrong month after month, I just got my billing cleaned up in April or May of this year. That was a defnitie headache. But I submit that as bad as Bell is, no company in this field offers truly exception customer support. It's a matter of choosing the lesser of many evils.

[Bobblehead]

A few weeks ago one of my Starchoice receivers went bad. By the time I was done (and tier 2 support, after less than a minute of discussion, agreed to replace the receiver) I had been on the phone for 97 minutes. Less than 10 of that was actually speaking. The people I've spoken with each time have been great, but the hold times are brutal.

[jamesteterenko]

In terms of service, I have been happy with Shaw. About a year ago, I switched my phone & internet to Shaw from Telus (I already had cable through Shaw). A few months later, I picked up an HD PVR digital cable box. (I don't have an HDTV, the purchase was more for the PVR.) I did have a faulty box to begin with, but it was easily replaced. Since then, the only problem I had was a couple weeks ago when some of the channels were not working. It was resolved within a couple of minutes over the phone, even though I called late in the evening.

James.

[mykalberta]

Shaw is one of the biggest scammers on the face of the planet.

1st they make you pay a ridiculous amount for the HD/PVR or just HD box, then charge you for those channels.

There is no way they are getting my 9.99 extra when they dont even allow you get FoxNews as a 1-off but need to buy their "news package" Why oh why didnt I get ExpressVu (oh yah high speed bundling).

MYK

[fanforever1986]

Originally Posted by CrzyCanuck

Bell charges 10$/month for HD.

Bell Does charge $10/month. Bell also has 31 HD channels. I was with shaw from the first day they had HD in i think 2001(started at 4 stations) up until this summer(when they had increased their number of channels to i believe 8 or 9). In the meanwhile, Bell went from 4 stations up to 31. Can you IMAGINE...they added a new station once a year!!...amazing dedication to their costumers.

The difference between shaw's 'plus' for $9 and Bell's HD for $10 = Best $1 upgrade in the world. Hell...Wendy's wants 50 cents for 12 more french fries...

Get bent Shaw.

[greerb]

It's kinda hard for Shaw to their HD lineup when they rent Satalite space from Bell, once Shaw's new satalite is up in orbit I'm sure we will se a fair bit more channels from both Shaw and *Choice.

As for the price of the HD channels I think it is well worth it. After seeing HDTV I will never go back to standard digital or analog.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by greerb

It's kinda hard for Shaw to their HD lineup when they rent Satalite space from Bell

Are you sure you aren't thinking Star Choice; which IIRC hosts the Cancom signals that Shaw uses.