Star Choice will finally offer NHL Center Ice

[AvengeR]

The wait is over, Star Choice will offer NHL Centre Ice this coming season. Details on the pricing and packaging will be announced as we get closer to the season.

[Engine09]

Too late for me, I had Starchoice 3 years ago and switched to Bell for Center Ice.

Unless their HD channels are better and they're cheaper?

[AvengeR]

The HD channels are comparable in terms of quality. The reason Bell has more HD channels is that they offer a bunch of useless HD channels that no one watches. If you eliminate those, then both providers have about the same amount. Also, Star Choice does not charge for the HD channels, only 3 channels you have to pay for.

[Ford Prefect]

That's great. I switched away from Bell, even though their programming is better, because they were too frustrating to deal with. And the main programming difference for me was Centre Ice, so now all is good.

[greyshep]

That is nice. That was the only thing that made Bell moderately attractive to me. Though I really dont know how many Flames games that would really add to the already available list.


Glad I stuck with Starchoice. Way better customer service and better free HD services.

[McG]

let's hope that it is successful so that shaw passes that down to the land lines.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by McG

let's hope that it is successful so that shaw passes that down to the land lines.

it would have to be unbelieveably successful. i can see their strategy being to offer the NFL package for cable and the NHL one for satellite, so they get all their bases covered

[Engine09]

Though I really dont know how many Flames games that would really add to the already available list.

Flames games are blacked out, except for 1 or 2. That's not the point. If you're a hockey fan it's all about coming home on a cold Winter day and having your choice of 6 NHL games to watch, and sometimes 2 a night in HD. Heaven in your living room.

Yeah, for the sake of people who can't install a dish it would be great if Shaw would step up now.

[Juventus3]

Originally Posted by AvengeR

The HD channels are comparable in terms of quality. The reason Bell has more HD channels is that they offer a bunch of useless HD channels that no one watches. If you eliminate those, then both providers have about the same amount. Also, Star Choice does not charge for the HD channels, only 3 channels you have to pay for.

I watch oasis, rush, and equator all the time. Thank you.

Good arguement from the SC cheer squad though.

[Engine09]

Actually, I watch those channels also, quite a bit. Some beautiful stuff on there.

[Draug]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

Flames games are blacked out, except for 1 or 2. That's not the point. If you're a hockey fan it's all about coming home on a cold Winter day and having your choice of 6 NHL games to watch, and sometimes 2 a night in HD. Heaven in your living room.

Yeah, for the sake of people who can't install a dish it would be great if Shaw would step up now.

For the past two seasons, Flames games have NOT been blacked out on Center Ice. The only games that have been blacked out in the past two seasons are those that are either available to the Flames region with regular TV channels, or those that are on PPV. They wont guarantee it happening again, but it very well could. I give huge credit to the Flames for making it happen thus far.

It has been heaven both as a hockey fan, and as a Flames fan.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Juventus3

I watch oasis, rush, and equator all the time. Thank you.

Good arguement from the SC cheer squad though.

I watch those all the time as well. It's nice to have channels that have 100% high quality HD content - not like some of the others that brodcast 25% of their shows in HD.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Draug

For the past two seasons, Flames games have NOT been blacked out on Center Ice. The only games that have been blacked out in the past two seasons are those that are either available to the Flames region with regular TV channels, or those that are on PPV. They wont guarantee it happening again, but it very well could. I give huge credit to the Flames for making it happen thus far.

I have to agree with It is important to remember that NHL-CI is an "Out of market" hockey package. I can see the day when the Flames stop buying the rights for us; there will be an 8 page thread on here about how it isn't fair. It's better to keep reminding people now, then to assume it will last forever.

And by "assume it will last forever", I'm talking about earlier comments like "Though I really dont know how many Flames games that would really add to the already available list."

[Draug]

Originally Posted by fotze

no word on whether Shaw will be getting it? My contract is probably up pretty soon with bell anyway.

Let me warn you about Shaw... The compression on the HD channels is awful. It is much more compressed than Bell's HD.

I dont have numbers to back me up (although they may exist somewhere); I only have first hand experience. My brother and I each have the same audio / video setup. He has Shaw and I have Bell. His compression is far worse, and I mean no question worse.

I havent compared Starchoice and Bell, so maybe Starchoice is an option to get away from Bell's awful customer service. But, definately stay away from shaw if you want HD that looks like HD.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Draug

Let me warn you about Shaw... The compression on the HD channels is awful. It is much more compressed than Bell's HD.

I dont have numbers to back me up (although they may exist somewhere); I only have first hand experience. My brother and I each have the same audio / video setup. He has Shaw and I have Bell. His compression is far worse, and I mean no question worse.

I havent compared Starchoice and Bell, so maybe Starchoice is an option to get away from Bell's awful customer service. But, definately stay away from shaw if you want HD that looks like HD.

i can't commend on how Shaw HD looks compared to Bell, but i do know that in the last industry update session, one of the main goals that Shaw laid out was to improve the HD signal in the coming year, so take that for what it's worth

[RW99]

I had Shaw HD for a few months and got Bell HD a month ago. I didn't really find much of a difference in HD, but with all the SD channels being digital on Bell really helped on my LCD. Not sure if Shaw is all digital in your area though...

And the box is much better. Menus are cleaner and easier to navigate. Other than that, I haven't found much of a difference.

[Flash Walken]

What i really don't understand about shaw is why they don't offer it in Vancouver. The condo living here makes satellite almost impossible, and the buildings are already wired up with shaw, waiting to be plugged in.

There's more than a few hockey fans in the market.

[tanguay'sstillgood]

sorry to bump this thread, but does anyone have the link to the announcement from star choice about centre ice? i was looking for info but cant find much about it. thanks.

[AvengeR]

Originally Posted by tanguay'sstillgood

sorry to bump this thread, but does anyone have the link to the announcement from star choice about centre ice? i was looking for info but cant find much about it. thanks.

There will be an official announcement on the Star Choice website in a couple of weeks.

[greerb]

The staff at *choice was just notified of this a few days ago from the people I have talked to. The will be an official announcement in 2-3 weeks.

This is reat news I have been with Starchoice about 4 years and love thier programming and thier HD is not too bad, could use a bit of improvement though. I have thought about switching back to EV but from what I have heard Bell is trying to sell, and thier HD capability is maxed out.