Your HD bill is probably killing you
By Jason Buckland, Sympatico / MSN Finance
If you’re like me, the first whiff you got of in-home HD TV was the last straw for you and your standard definition television. For people who never aspired to watch HD or go out of their way to experience the difference, you likely couldn’t care less about the fuss and hype surrounding the service. You can watch re-runs of Quincy M.E. and Jack Klugman will look just as unappealing on your 32-inch Magnavox as he will on a Samsung plasma.
But for the rest of us, once you’ve gone HD, you can’t go back. And your bill is probably roughing you up each month as a result.
There’s a few tips for trimming your monthly cable bill floating around on the web, but are they any good?
(Note: It’s worth disclosing than even the most basic HD package is going to run you at least $50 a month, and we mean basic. It’s easy to get lured in by the Future Shop/Best Buy ‘Free HD for six months’ promo they offer when you buy a new flat panel, though trust us, that runs out …
... Many monthly packages creep their way up and over the $100 mark and that’s still not outrageous by comparison. If you want an HD digital recorder as well, toss in a few extra bucks on top. Most HD subscribers concede this is ludicrous money to be paying for TV in an economic crunch but, hey, see paragraph two.)
The majority of tips to cut your cable bill suggest trimming yourself back to the leanest of packages and compensate by streaming your favourite shows online. Let’s forget for a minute that if you’re a sports fan, this already won’t work for you -- there’s nowhere reliable to stream live major sports on the Internet for free. The problem with streaming your shows online in Canada is that many of the big network sites won’t work if you’re logging on from north of the border. Even Hulu, a YouTube-like video site which carries NBC programming and a lot of vintage TV, isn’t available for Canadians just yet. There are a few shows we can see on the CTV and Global websites, but that’s about it.
What’s worse, it’s no secret that most cable subscribers aren’t ready to start ditching their service in lieu of online streaming, and the cable companies know this. In fact, as our own Deirdre McMurdy writes, cable prices are likely on the rise after regulation changes in the last federal budget. The Bells and the Rogers’ are the ones holding the cards here, not us.
So what do you do when you want to watch HD? You pay through the nose, and you’re probably not alone.
Posted by: John Lane | Feb 23, 2022 9:21:11 AM
I have just purchased a 50'' Plasma HDTV that came with a Bell starter kit that included free rental for one year for the HDTV box, free installation and free for three months a HDTV package (three channels). Our next Bell bill was up from $220 (internet,phone, tv) to $384. We had been charged for all the free stuff, phoning Bell we had some of this bill credited back to us, approx half of the overcharge, the rest will be credited on the next bill or the bill after, we are still required to pay the overcharged current bill. As for HDTV Bell and Rogers do not transmit full HDTV, only 720 and not full 1080 HDTV, only way for full 1080 is to use Blue Ray disks. Dissapointed in HDTV and what Bell and Rogers both charge. I am cancelling the free HDTV channels from Bell when the three months free are up.
Posted by: Dieter Goettling | Feb 23, 2022 9:46:50 AM
I am with Rogers and we are getting the full 1080 HDTV. I really like the quality and find it hard to watch the regular digital channels. However it is getting expensive, not sure how to trim the costs but negotiation with the cable company has helped me get a discount at least for the short term.
Posted by: Warren Braithwaite | Feb 23, 2022 9:55:30 AM
It is nice to see that people can use polite language when talking about these companies. The amount of greed that is in the stock market and what is happening to it should tell these people something but that is not likely.
Posted by: Ralf | Feb 23, 2022 10:01:40 AM
With all these new generation HD TV's, most have ATSC digital tuners built in, if within urban areas, rabbit ear antennae or chimmey mount antennae pickup these station over the air FREE and for Blue Ray DVD, too expensive, a good DVD and the upconverting options in the HD TV gives a very good picture on a large 52 incher.
Most of this "technology change" is a marketing ploy to get your hard earned $$$$$$
Posted by: Tony | Feb 23, 2022 10:01:46 AM
John Lane is absolutely right. 1080p doesn,t exist except on Blu-ray. bell can,t transmit the signal without it degrading in the atmosphere and Rogers optical cable system can,t handle the info. signal required to get 1080p.This is a big scam by the cable providers.Most t,vs have built in tuners,yet we still require set top boxes. If you have 1 of the older digital boxes,KEEP IT.Minimal strething will happen but you can live with it and you will save a ton of money.Also.save your money and stick with a 720p t.v. i sell this stuff far a living and i tell my customers the same thing.
Posted by: Ralf | Feb 23, 2022 10:02:32 AM
With all these new generation HD TV's, most have ATSC digital tuners built in, if within urban areas, rabbit ear antennae or chimmey mount antennae pickup these station over the air FREE and for Blue Ray DVD, too expensive, a good DVD and the upconverting options in the HD TV gives a very good picture on a large 52 incher.
Most of this "technology change" is a marketing ploy to get your hard earned $$$$$$
Posted by: Garth W. Ross | Feb 23, 2022 10:18:41 AM
We are seriously considering cancelling all t.v., regardless of whether it is Rogers or Bell. When you do the math the prices being charged for the extremely poor programming choices is literally ridiculous. Combine that with being laid off, and suggested further increases in pricing I think it would be in our best interests to abstain from partaking in all the services provided. We will simply go with the internet as at least their you can go to sites of interest & the price still remains affordable, if you go with the "light package". I am quite disturbed at the price charged for all services as our income keeps going down and they all want to charge more? Maybe they should start losing their customer base as that may force them to play on a level playing field. However, that is not likely, as the "greed factor" seems to be firmly in place! I think it is called a "Captive Audience"?
Posted by: eddie | Feb 23, 2022 10:33:39 AM
Yes prices are going up for repetitious programming.........however...........if you are still with Bell for programming and phone and internet, take a few minutes and call them.......tell them you are leaving for greener pastures (cable) if they don't direct you to the "loyalty dept" yes thats right!
Ask to speak to someone from the Loyalty Department...........I am no paying less than what the local cable company offered me last fall..........about 80 bucks cheaper than before I complained
Posted by: eddie | Feb 23, 2022 10:35:01 AM
Yes prices are going up for repetitious programming.........however...........if you are still with Bell for programming and phone and internet, take a few minutes and call them.......tell them you are leaving for greener pastures (cable) if they don't direct you to the "loyalty dept" yes thats right!
Ask to speak to someone from the Loyalty Department...........I am no paying less than what the local cable company offered me last fall..........about 80 bucks cheaper than before I complained
Posted by: Jeff | Feb 23, 2022 11:11:23 AM
My wife and I gave up our cable service a year and a half ago and we hardly miss it. Now with rabbit ears and DTV converter box, we get CBC, SRC, and TVO, plus 3 US stations that broadcast 8 program streams. The only things missing for me are a watchable NBC affiliate and Newsworld or NewsNet, and my wife wouldn't mind having the Cooking channel back. Still, no ongoing charges for TV are music to our ears. If you must have your specialty channels or your "certified" 1080x720 HD programming, feel free to pay through the nose for it. Unless I find some serious funny money in my pocket, I'm content to watch my 20", "virtually flat", CRT set until it craps out. TV just ain't that damned important.
Posted by: ERIC MEADOWS | Feb 23, 2022 11:16:04 AM
I have found that where practical - switch to satelite- STAR CHOICE from CALGARY was my choice & they provide most HD CHANNELS FOR FREE - with a few exceptions such as NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. Check it out- they have a web site,& their costs are very reasonable.
Posted by: Summer | Feb 23, 2022 12:07:12 PM
We get basic Rogers but supplement it with FREE movies, compilation TV shows (ie Gray's Anatomy), and great documentaries (including National Geographic) on DVDs and videos from the library. We can keep them for a week or more with online renewals.
Posted by: Glen Groff | Feb 23, 2022 12:51:46 PM
Buy an UHV or HD antenna and you can pick up about 26 stations in the GTA. The antenna can be installed in an attic space but losses will limit the effectiveness. For best results you need to get it outside and oriented towards the signals. Most are from Buffalo. The best part is , this is the best HD image you can get and it is FREE.
Posted by: Glen Groff | Feb 23, 2022 12:52:45 PM
Buy an UHV or HD antenna and you can pick up about 26 stations in the GTA. The antenna can be installed in an attic space but losses will limit the effectiveness. For best results you need to get it outside and oriented towards the signals. Most are from Buffalo. The best part is , this is the best HD image you can get and it is FREE.
Posted by: Steve MacDonald | Feb 23, 2022 12:55:30 PM
I have been using Bell ExpressVu since 2001 when I went big screen 42" due to poor service by cable. We upgraded to an HD receiver 3 years ago when the HD PVR came out. We bought a New 52" 1080p last month - works great. Bell charges about $10 for HD service and you get all channels that are purchased in your standard def in HD as well. I get the Movie Network all in for about $80. I think the trick is to only subscribe to packages you watch and bundle as much you can. As well keep all your services to a minimum as the frills cost a lot extra.
Posted by: Scitt | Feb 23, 2022 1:07:13 PM
Here's how it works:
First off bundle everything together with one company. Customers with more than one service get higher discount priority than those with less services.
There are two tiers of support (when you call into the customer service centre). Tier one is the support agent you reach when you first call in. They have limited ability to do anything to really cut costs off your bill.
Tier two is where the real support agents are. At Rogers the department you want to ask for is "Customer Relations". When calling in you tell the first tier support agents that "Hi I'm calling back, the previous person I spoke to at Rogers said to ask for the Customer Relations Department"
Customer Relations has access to retention deals, loyalty deals, they have discretion to shave literally hundreds of dollars a year off your bill. You should only call once a year (they track how many times customers call) so your account doesn't get flagged. When you finally reach a CR agent, simply be polite but firm, let them know you feel you are paying too much. It helps if you have researched out deals at Bell, so you can pull these up as examples.
I have a date on my calendar I call my "Rogers Discount Day" -- the day I call in to Customer Relations to save myself tons of money each year on cable/internet/phone/wireless.
It's easy to save money if you know how to work the system.
Posted by: Chris | Feb 23, 2022 1:28:22 PM
I've been watching HD since it's beginning and over the years have had my HD service with all three of Canada's providers (Rogers, Bell and StarChoice). By far the best price and service has been with StarChoice! For $60 a month I'm getting over 290 channels and all the HD channels (besides TMN). It didn't hurt that the Hd box was the least expensive one at FutureShop. Can't go wrong with SC.
Posted by: Dale | Feb 23, 2022 2:09:40 PM
Seems Bell satelite can't deliver National Geographic HD 828 & Showcase HD 838 even though I have them in my SD themes. Long time customer and pay $10 for HD but now would have to pay
$15 for 5 HD themes to get the two channels. Seems just another way to grind more money from customers. $3 service fee last year another $2 added this year. They say for better expanded service but I am getting less and paying more. When you own 3 HD recievers it is hard to go elsewhere.
Posted by: Gord | Feb 23, 2022 2:14:02 PM
I have been with Bell for 10 years now. I do like the wide range of programming and the access to all of the HD channels. The price is what it is but I would like to see Bell get rid of the programming packages where I have to pay for 5 other channels just to get the one I want. Sure you can buy the ones you want individually but you may end up paying more for this option. (2-3 channels in one package). Calling the retention department did work for me when I first bought my system in early 2009 but you may not see any changes for up to a month or more because they bill a month in advance. It took me 5 months to get the changes to my account actually adjusted to the rate I was initially quoted.
Posted by: K-Rock | Feb 23, 2022 2:43:24 PM
Have HD with Cogeco - costs about $10 more per month all in. If you have a big TV - 42" or larger, there is a REAL difference. Our 46" Plasma there is a real difference and I try to watch the HD channels, but unfortunately the on-Demand is all standard def. But, on the 32" LCD we have, I really can't tell the difference, and on a 27" CRT it would be a total waste of money. My bill for internet, cable and phone all through Cogeco is less than $175 a month - bundle, bundle,bundle!! I personally like TMN and those frills and would ditch the cell phone before ditching the premium TV, and we don't even watch a ton of TV. I just like it to look good when I do watch it.