Shaw HD users, re new Superchannel HD - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Thor · 07-19-2008, 12:15 PM

So the preview ended for that 1 new SC HD channel, figured might be worth adding it since there are occasionally decent films on there.

So I goto Shaw's secure site to order it, and its $18.95 to add this channel, since they only sell it with the standard def superchannels (4 SD channels 1 HD channel package).

What a deal for 1 channel since I almost never watch SD on my box

Russic · 07-19-2008, 12:34 PM

the real kicker? If you subscribe to their "fully loaded" package (which gives everything they offer sans porn), superchannel isn't included. To top it off, I had no idea there was a free preview! Double anger.

Thor · 07-19-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

the real kicker? If you subscribe to their "fully loaded" package (which gives everything they offer sans porn), superchannel isn't included. To top it off, I had no idea there was a free preview! Double anger.

Haha yeah, I'm gonna call them Monday and see if they will allow one to subscribe only to that HD channel.

I'll post my results, be prepared for dissapointment!

HOOT · 07-19-2008, 02:18 PM

$19 for one HD Channel that is crazy!

Boblobla · 07-20-2008, 10:22 AM

I don't have HD but I did get the normal def SC. There are quite a few good movies on there and I feel that I get my monies worth.

Russic · 07-20-2008, 10:25 AM

They do seem to beat out the movie central channels by a few months don't they? Good movies, but I'm already paying beyond my means ... i probably don't need to have every channel.

OilKiller · 07-20-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor

Haha yeah, I'm gonna call them Monday and see if they will allow one to subscribe only to that HD channel.

I'll post my results, be prepared for dissapointment!

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOOT

$19 for one HD Channel that is crazy!

Don't blame Shaw. You HAVE to take the SD channels to get the HD channels.

It's 2008...this is just plain stupid. I NEVER watch any SD channels. I simply can't.

Blame the CRTC.

HOOT · 07-20-2008, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OilKiller

Don't blame Shaw. You HAVE to take the SD channels to get the HD channels.

It's 2008...this is just plain stupid. I NEVER watch any SD channels. I simply can't.

Blame the CRTC.

I wasn't blaming Shaw. But I also don't think it is the CRTC, I would put more blame on the contract Superchannel and provider agree too.

If it was the CRTC how can ExpressVu only want $16/month for 4 SD and 2 HD? Wouldn't they have to be the same pricing? or more if you get more channels? (serious questions, I don't know all the CRTC rules)

And don't think I am protecting the CRTC because they are a complete joke, because they stop a lot of good programming coming up here. The whole you need X amount of Canadian content is a slap in the face to Canadians as we should choose what we want to watch. I am more just curious how it works.

Thor · 07-20-2008, 03:25 PM

CRTC is so silly, I am asking for Canadian Content for 1 new HD channel, but not willing to pay for $19 to do so.

Do people not understand the concept of HD vs SD at CRTC or Shaw?

I would pretty much not ever watch SD if it wasn't for local news at 6pm, and on occasion comedy channel/space.

OilKiller · 07-20-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOOT

I wasn't blaming Shaw. But I also don't think it is the CRTC, I would put more blame on the contract Superchannel and provider agree too.

If it was the CRTC how can ExpressVu only want $16/month for 4 SD and 2 HD? Wouldn't they have to be the same pricing? or more if you get more channels? (serious questions, I don't know all the CRTC rules)

And don't think I am protecting the CRTC because they are a complete joke, because they stop a lot of good programming coming up here. The whole you need X amount of Canadian content is a slap in the face to Canadians as we should choose what we want to watch. I am more just curious how it works.

My point was, Shaw has no say whatsoever when it comes to allowing viewers to pick only HD channels. If you want an HD channel, you must sub to the equivelant SD versions first. Those are CRTC rules, not Shaw's or Bev's or anyone else.

As for the difference in price, well, once again we can blame the CRTC because DTH providers are also allowed to own the stations they carry (Shaw - Movie Central ~ BEV - CTV, etc.). The reason why it costs more for SC on Shaw is because it is in DIRECT COMPETITION with Movie Central which Shaw owns. Doesn't surprise me one bit they charge more for SC to get people to sub to their own service. It's not right, but the CRTC allows these kinds of monopolies and direct conflicts of interests. Works great for the corporations lining their pockets and sucks for the general consumer. Welcome to Canada...

Prototype · 07-21-2008, 09:13 AM

I found Movie Central had more "Big Studio" movies, but Superchannel, during the preview, had "Big Studio" movies sooner, but not as often.

I'm good with Movie Central, especially Encore Avenue HD. That channel is gold!

OilKiller · 07-21-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prottotype

I'm good with Movie Central, especially Encore Avenue HD. That channel is gold!

You don't need to sub to MC to get Encore Avenue HD. It's included in the HD pack. I record movies off there quite often and do not sub to MC.

troutman · 07-21-2008, 09:42 AM

Shaw is not offering enough HD channels. We have had it for 1 1/2 years and they are still at about 20 channels. Don't other providers offer 60+ HD channels?

burn_baby_burn · 07-21-2008, 11:19 AM

I find that MovieCentral HD doesn't show as many movies as the SD versions do. For instance if a movie is on the SD channel I won't watch it because I want to see it in HD. I have been waiting for movies such as World Trade Center, Blood Diamond, or Flags Of Our Fathers on the HD channel for months. Instead we get the same old thing. How many times does MovieCentral think we want to watch Failure To Launch or The Davinci Code in HD?

Prototype · 07-21-2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OilKiller

You don't need to sub to MC to get Encore Avenue HD. It's included in the HD pack. I record movies off there quite often and do not sub to MC.

I'm aware of that. My household uses both, I'm just a fan of seeing older movies in High Def for some reason, but we do watch the newer stuff as well.

I have noticed that EA-HD still shows some movies in the box format, and not widescreen, nor HD. That angers me.

Bobblehead · 07-21-2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Shaw is not offering enough HD channels. We have had it for 1 1/2 years and they are still at about 20 channels. Don't other providers offer 60+ HD channels?

The problem becomes how they add new channels.

HD channels use more bandwidth than SD channels. So when they add additional HD, they have to make a choice - remove SD channels (still too many people receive SD - not palatable), add bandwidth (a lot of additional infrastructure costs), or compress the HD channels more.

Usually providers have done the final option. As result, the quality of HD suffers. You can no longer see the detail you should be able to see (and used to be able to see).

If providers aren't adding more HD content because they are busy adapting the network to be able to provide more more HD, I have no problem with it because I think they have already compressed the channels too much.

If they aren't providing HD because they don't want to spend any money then I think they are short sighted because they are competing with other services.

Bring on more competition, be it StarChoice (owned by Shaw anyways), BEV, Telus TV, or something else in the future (choice of shows served on demand, perhaps?).

Prototype · 07-21-2008, 02:09 PM

I actually called SHAW on the whole 'not enough HD channels', and their excuse was that a channel has to provide atleast 50% true HD programming for them to consider it for their line up.

Never thought of the above situations, which would make more sense.

As much as I gave them a resounding endorsement in Sample's thread "Telus vs. Shaw", I wonder what the difference would be to move to Bell.

OilKiller · 07-21-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Shaw is not offering enough HD channels. We have had it for 1 1/2 years and they are still at about 20 channels. Don't other providers offer 60+ HD channels?

Shaw actually is pretty much on par with BEV and or SC at this point when it comes to HD. BEV has a few additional channels, although I think they lack a couple that Shaw has as well (they may have added them since I last checked though).

I'm not aware of any provider in Canada that offers 60 HD channels and really, there isn't that much HD content to make them worthwhile anyway. If we were allowed to have channels like TNT, Showtime, etc. here, then maybe.

Vulcan · 07-21-2008, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OilKiller

Shaw actually is pretty much on par with BEV and or SC at this point when it comes to HD. BEV has a few additional channels, although I think they lack a couple that Shaw has as well (they may have added them since I last checked though).

I'm not aware of any provider in Canada that offers 60 HD channels and really, there isn't that much HD content to make them worthwhile anyway. If we were allowed to have channels like TNT, Showtime, etc. here, then maybe.

I just counted my HD channels on Bell and I count 61 plus the 4 Movie channels that I don't get for a total of 65.

The thing is some of these are part time channels such as the 6 baseball and 2 Nascar channels. It will change again when Centre Ice and Senators HD and NFL start up.

There are also 10 French HD channels and 2 FPPV channels with 4 English PPV channels.

So if you take off the special sport channels, the PPV and the French channels, I'm left with about 40 usable HD channels.

HOOT · 07-21-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Shaw is not offering enough HD channels. We have had it for 1 1/2 years and they are still at about 20 channels. Don't other providers offer 60+ HD channels?

Bell has closer to 70 HD options right now and are adding them a lot quicker than Shaw wants to or is able to.

Some people argue that those channels are not any good and so on. However I find I watch nothing but HD, except PTI, and friends with Shaw always complain there is nothing on in HD.

I believe Bell is launching a new satelite in August and it is suppose to open up a ton of channels whenever it gets up there.