- Get your #baseball cap on! MLB Extra Innings is on free preview until May 5th. ^eo
Choose the TV YOU want: Rogers trials new flexible TV package
November 1st, 2011 a 4:08pm
You asked us for more choices and told us you want to build your own TV packages and pay for the channels you like to watch. So today, we’re launching the trial of a new TV offering that is designed to do just that.
From now until the end of March 2012, Rogers customers in London, Ontario will be the first to try the Rogers Digital Starter Pack, a pilot program designed to give you the flexibility to customize your TV package, while enjoying all the benefits of a digital cable service with features like Rogers On Demand.
Here’s how it works:
The Digital Starter pack comes with a set of core TV channels, which includes channels that we as a cable company must carry. You get 86 standard channels for $20.29/month.
You can order the Digital Starter Pack and then choose any additional 15, 20 or 30 channels from a list of more than 100 options, starting at $26.38/month.
These prices include all monthly fees such as the Local Programming Improvement Fund fee, which the government requires us to charge. Prices do not include applicable taxes.
This is one way we’re moving toward giving you the most flexible TV choices. And, while it’s only available right now to our customers in London, Ontario, we want to hear from you. Would you sign up for the Digital Starter Pack and Mix Pack options if it was available in your area?
UPDATE: (December 5, 2011, 5:02 pm): We know some of you have been looking online for details about the Digital Starter Pack and the channels that are part of the offer. Click here for the full package details. Remember, this trial is only currently available to customers in London, Ontario.
Carly is a regular contributor to RedBoard
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Yes I would. I canceled my Rogers cable this month, citing this as the main outage. I watch very few channels (HD TSN and HD Sportsnet), and it was far too expensive for me to justify.
Of course I would use this….sounds like a very nice option for those that pay for channels they don’t use!
I am London. Can I see the list of starter pack and the option choices?
I am also in London and would like to see a channel listing.
Hey Frank, Peetah – starting next week, stores in London will have full details of what’s included in the package and the options available
I take issue with the following statement:
“These prices include all monthly fees such as the Local Programming Improvement Fund fee, which the government requires us to charge. Prices do not include applicable taxes.”
The government and the CRTC does not require you to charge for LPIF.
From the CRTC Website:
What recourse do I have to avoid this increase?
Subscribers can contact their service provider, as this increase is not required or regulated by the CRTC.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/INFO_SHT/tv13.htm
Of course they lie, they aren’t required to “Charge” it, they are required to pay into it and have passed the cost along to us, despite the CRTC.
Completely agree with you. Saying the government requires Rogers to charge the LPIF is an outright lie.
This doesn’t need to be a trial only in London. EVERYONE wants this. Please launch this in the GTA asap!
“Available beginning November 8 as a trial in London, Ontario, the Rogers Digital Starter Pack delivers a standard set of 86 core TV channels, including government mandated channels, for a base price of $20.29/month including all monthly fees.” How is this giving me choice when before I can even choose the channels I want, you (Rogers) and the government is forcing me to have 86 channels, many of which I may not want! Do you provide a list of these mandated 86 channels anywhere?
I also take issue with the fact that I am currently a subscriber to the HDTV SPECIALTY PAK. Since I have subscribed to this, at least 2 channels have been removed – most recently HD NET. No additional channels have been added and the price has gone up? What is Rogers doing about this?
I hope that’s not $20.29 for the basic service plus $26.38 for the extra channels. That makes this just as expensive as the cable package I just recently cancelled, citing cost and a desire to choose my own package (and customer service that Rogers should be ashamed to admit providing) as reasons. Given my experiences with Rogers, my guess is that this is $20.39 for the service, plus $26.38 for the channel choices, plus digital terminal rental, plus HD fee, plus digital services fee, plus taxes.
Yes, good questions. I’m guessing you’re right. Digital Starter Pack plus plus plus which brings it right back up to too much money. Thanks for what exactly?
Yes, you read correctly, and yes this is bogus! While it’s more freedom of choice of channels, it’s just as expensive as their VIP package. Again Rogers gets it totally wrong.
I’m fine with getting my standard basic cable pack, however the only other channel I want is TSN HD. Under your current model (and this model is no better) I’d have to order VIP package ($25 more) to get TSN SD… Then I’d have to get the HD Sports pack ($10) more in order to get TSN HD
Do you not get it ROGERS!!!!! Why do I need the SD version of the channel when I watch everything in HD!!! I don’t want the VIP package because A. It’s too expensive B. I don’t want all those channels and C. the majority of them are in SD
I’ll certainly be looking into this. I’m currently over-programmed. Watching maybe 3 stations and even then very irregularly.
What about those of us that do not want the “starter pack?” I want to choose a select number of premium channels and that’s it. $2/month per channel, including all fees and taxes and time shifting. Having the option to provide own digital receiver is a must. I’m not interested in purchasing/renting a box from Rogers.
Hey Rob – there are some channels we must offer under CRTC rules, which come in the Starter Pack
The principal sounds good, but further details, including the options vs. cost needs to be outlined. As a starter, posting the service offered, including the total package/cost in London should help the subscribers in other regions to assess the pros and cons of the proposal.
ronnie
Fantastic! I, too, would subscribe to this. Can’t wait until it arrives in Toronto.
Yes I would IF, and big IF the channels I wanted were available and ALL of them in HD AND I want a whole home PVR, thats it, not to uch to ask I don’t think :-)
COMPLAIN EVERY NIGHT w my girlfriend how we have 500 channels and waste half our night endlessly surfing the guide – finding nothing to watch
Considering cancelling cable, this will definitly give you a chance to keep my business.
However, am sure w all types of fees and PLUS this and PLUS that — wont be too much of a difference financially
I just dont see why Rogers would want to lose revenue on their customers CABLE bills… there is always something in it for Rogers, and other than CRTC busting your balls, I have to think there is some kind of a catch or the $$ amounts will still be similar.
Please prove me wrong or you wont see a $ of my cable money ever again.
Thanks
It looks like Rogers misunderstands. I don’t want 86 standard channels plus a minimum of 15 others for a minimum of $26 plus a bunch of other fees.
All I want are the standard over-the-air channels (about 10 to 15 depending on location, which Rogers can and should provide for free or less than $10 all in) plus 2 or 3 cable only channels for about $2 each per month. Making my total bill all-in somewhere around $15 to $20 per month. No extra fees. No extra made-up taxes.
Anything more and I’ll stick with the free OTA HD and get the rest over the internet.
Will channels like space discovery and hgtv hd start being offered?
Hi spaced. Yes SPACE, HGTV and Discovery are available as part of the 100 channels you can choose for your 15, 20 or 30 options
are they going to be available in hd is what i am asking
Some channels are available in HD but HGTV, SPACE and Discovery are not as part of this offer.
Can you answer how many channels are offered in HD? Or are all these SD channels and then if you want HD you have to order the HD add-ons?
Come on Rogers fess up!!! Get the true answer from your customers as to whether this is actually meetings customers demands of more competitive pricing and better options
Yeah, at first glance, this sounds great. Then, when you look at the prices, you think “Holy Crap! They are ripping us off again”.
No. Why? Two reasons:
1 – Because you did not disclose the full prices, including all “fees” “charges”, “surcharges” and “taxes” for this, I’m forced to believe that you don’t want us to figure out that this will cost us the same or more than what we’re paying now.
2 – Because you did not disclose the list of channels available to pick from, I’m forced to believe that only the unpopular channels will be offered as add-ons, while the popular ones will be locked away in ever-more-expensive tiers.
That’s cynical, I know, but given Rogers’ treatment of its customers the burden is on you to prove to us it’s not accurate.
I cancelled my cable about 15 months ago and built a custom OTA PVR. I do have signal trouble, mostly in the winter time but would only turn cable back on if I could get clearQAM for basic HD stations for about the price you are offering.
It was mentioned that this is digital service, does that mean you need to digital cable box? Why has rogers discontinued ClearQAM service anyways?
Hi Dani S – this is a digital service so you would need a digital box for this package.
As someone who dropped his Rogers cable service during the summer for reasons of lack of choice and cost, I’d seriously consider looking into what is offered under these packages if they should become available in the greater Toronto area. I’d also like to see a bottom line price that includes all applicable tax, fees, rental charges, etc… so that it’s blatantly transparent as to what I’ll be paying on a monthly basis.
YEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!! (Orillia, Ontario)