What TV provider do you use

[raven@mirage]

I am looking around for a different TV provider no longer with Rogers since they have been over charging me for a phone service I cancelled in August.

Anyway I looked at Bell Express I didnot like thier set up cost. so I am wondering what other options are out there for TV providers.

LookTV sucks ass like you would not believe they do not have HDTV or a PVR they just have some basical box with an antena.

I wonder about Starchoice but I think they would be the most expensive. then I was wondering what other choices is there when your living in the Toronto Area

I thought abuot calling Cogeco and Shaw and MTS allstream but i remember those services other parts of canada and outside of the GTA.

Is there anything else out there or do I have to wait til I make a settlement with Rogers before I get back Rogers cable.

And Bell wants to lock you in a 2 year contract regardless of what service package you get from them for your TV.

 

[Lou Siffer]

Do a search or ask around about Free-to-air. I don't know much about it yet, but I bet others do.

 

[OnTheWayOut]

Star Choice is actually cheaper the Bell Expressvu, not by a lot mind you ..... been using SC a bit more than a year and have no complaints. Switched from Bell when I went HD because they gave a better deal. Also you get US commercials on US channels, unlike Bell .... nice when the Super Bowl ads run

 

[oldjones]

Do a search here for "antenna". There's lotsa stuff, some in HD and all free.

 

[LazMan]

Depends on what you want to do...

I have Bell - mainly because I made a big investment in BEV hardware, and, well, it works. HD and PVR are worth it!

Starchoice has the best quality HD, but a fewer number of channels.

I don't think Look's accepting new customers, although years ago, when I had them, they were awesome - I loved having the ability to pick channels one by one, rather then as pakages. The ground-based microwave system they use has limited bandwidth; so HD will likely never happen.

Roger's will depend on the area you're in - I have an older cable system where I live; so HD is pretty harsh. Other people think it's great.

FTA is an option, but I'll be honest; when I get home from work, I want to watch TV, not drag out my computer, download the new codes, and f' with the box to get the channels back...

There are real pro's and con's to all of them... But in the end, they're all basically the same, too.

 

[goalie000]

I chose to Rent the stuff from Bell Express View. No installation fee and if anything goes wrong they fix it no charge. My package is 60 a month.

 

[raven@mirage]

WEll I called starchoice, their customer service is soo horrible, they claim their lower cost receivers will not work with Tivo which I find that very hard to believe.

Looks like I will be getting the PVR from Bell and putting down my $50.00 deposit to get my free installation, and be stuck in a 2 year contract.

I was hoping to get better answers from starchoice, but then again you can't really expect much from any of these companies when they don't really care of giving you a good customer service experience.

MAybe I should figure out how I can get back my rogers account since I really did enjoy thier service and I never really had to call them about anything regarding my service just once I moved they decided to charge me for the phone service that I cancelled.

the cable alone by itself was great and I did not have much issues with set they could pretty much leave the box and I could set up everything myself.

So I will have to figure out how I will pay off 1,300 I owe them. Maybe do some over time at work.

 

[tboy]

Yeah, rogers is cut throat when it comes to oweing them money. Because I don't have a regular 2 week cash flow like many others if you are 1 day late in your payment, whoop, there go all your premium channels and HD. The bastards even cut out the PVR so you can't view what you've already recorded or record anything new.

Yeah, look sucked ass the last few years I used them and they DID start screwing around with their channel packages even mid term. (as many do, they make you pay for BET even though I have yet to tune into that station).

Rogers seems to have the most channels but frankly, 99% of the time they all show the same programs so you're not really getting 600 channels.

Plus beware, they too screw around with their package line ups. I pay extra for HD and when I signed up, I got HD discovery, A&E, TSN Leafs TV etc. Then all of a sudden I lost all the specialty HD and TSN because they changed the programming. Now if I want them back I have to buy yet ANOTHER HD package.......

What burns my ass about all this crap is that we have to pay extra to get channels like Discovery, A&E etc, then have to sit through commercials. WTF do they have commercials when we're PAYING to watch their programming?

In addition, watch out for rogers phone rates. They are higher than anyone else. I mean seriously, $45.00 for regular land line service with call answer and caller id? WTF happened to $29.00 bell service? I'm THIS >< close to cancelling a home phone line and moving my number to Koodo for $25.00 a month all in (including call answer and call display).

I will say this outloud and if LE is reading, here me now: If I could install a grey market dish and pirate the signals I would. Not because I'm a criminal but because I am tired of getting RIPPED off by TV service providers.

 

[a 1 player]

In addition, watch out for rogers phone rates. They are higher than anyone else. I mean seriously, $45.00 for regular land line service with call answer and caller id? WTF happened to $29.00 bell service? I'm THIS >< close to cancelling a home phone line and moving my number to Koodo for $25.00 a month all in (including call answer and call display).

My home phone is my cell. I refuse to pay for two lines. I got the 'My Five" plan and use one of the slots for the long distance card, shit, I only pay about 35 a month for messages, call display, and long distance. Pretty well everything I need.

I say fuck the system (through loopholes) any way you can.

 

[raven@mirage]

I did some more research and pretty much anyone who lives in the Toronto area mainly downtown or in the GTA I think. are pretty much stuck wtih Rogers, Bell or Starchoice for internet service.

When I called starchoice they claim their basic box does not work with Tivo and I have come a great custom of being able to pause live tv. especially when I am cooking or need a quick BRB.

Now it looks like I have to try and wrok something out wtih Rogers. and listen to thier annoying bull shit crap to see if I can get my cable service back from them.

There is a somoene in my building who is constantly annoyingly handing out flyers for Rogers services. I called the number and he said once I clear up my Rogers accuont he will be able to reconnect my cable and give me the promotinal price. I guess he is really hurting for comission.

I wish there would be another option for TV service other then being stuck with Rogers or Bell or the half ass starchoice.

 

[emvee]

A couple of threads from the Technology forum here

Take a look at these threads:

https://terb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=133965&page=2

https://terb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=188266


I get 16 HDTV channels, 5 digital SD channels, and 4 analog channels (2 will go HD in July, another goes HD next Feb., the other in a couple years) with no monthly charge. It cost me about $150 (plus a HDTV!) to buy all the equipment and install it.

 

[K Douglas]

Since I'm boycotting Bell for life I'm with Rogers. I have no problems as long as you pay your bill on time you're fine. Never had an issue with their internet whereas with Bell it was nothing but a nightmare. Rogers is expensive but they are willing to deal if you complain about costs. Outside of the big two you are pretty well up shit's creek. Gotta love the CRTC.

 

[raven@mirage]

Since I'm boycotting Bell for life I'm with Rogers. I have no problems as long as you pay your bill on time you're fine. Never had an issue with their internet whereas with Bell it was nothing but a nightmare. Rogers is expensive but they are willing to deal if you complain about costs. Outside of the big two you are pretty well up shit's creek. Gotta love the CRTC.

I got bell for internet, I am impressed with how fast it is I won't switch back to rogers once I clear up my bill I only want Rogers for cable becuase I like the package I had wtih them. once my new furniture set comes in my place i will upgrade to an HDTV which means I have to some how sell the one I have or give it away and get my HDTV .... lol soo i will make a blog of what HDTV flat screen I should buy.

Even part of me wants to get that box that lets you watch your own cable stations from your laptop.

I just have to wrok out a plan to pay down 1300 for rogers, and call that annoying flyer guy to get the rogers win back promotion.