BC's First & Only All News Channel is the channel BELL & TELUS don't want you to see

[TVViewer]

UPDATE:

After years of being served with American and Toronto based all news channels which largely ignore BC, BC viewers finally have an all news channel putting BC first, the Vancouver based Global News BC1, providing viewers with 24/7 news from BC's news powerhouse, Global BC.

Global News BC 1 has been on the air for more than a year and is already a massive success with an audience that continues to grow.

Shaw cable was the first provider to carry BC1 at launch on March 14th 2013 (channel 21, channel 216 in HD). On March 15th 2013 Novus cable said the following on facebook "We've been getting a lot of requests for BC1, we're working on getting it in our channel line-up as soon as possible!" (BC1 is now available on Novus channel 217 and in HD on channel 180). In late May 2013, BC1 was added in HD on Shaw Direct (channel 1 classic, channel 501 advanced). BC1 has also been added to Delta and Coast cable in HD on channel 694.

However, BC1 is still not available on Bell or Telus. Both services carry the national Toronto based news channels yet don't seem to think their customers deserve the Vancouver based BC news channel offered on every other Vancouver provider, This is despite the fact that BC1 is a top 20 specialty channel in BC and ranks as the #1 news channel for Vancouver/Victoria in the key news demographic

If you want BC1, switch your service to Shaw, Shaw Direct, Novus, Coast, or Delta cable and join the hundreds of thousands of people who are watching BC1 each week! Shaw, Shaw Direct, and Novus offer BC1 in digital basic.


Number to Demand Global News BC 1 for Telus: 310 6988
Number to Demand Global News BC 1 for Bell: 1 888 759 3474
Number to switch your service to Shaw: 1 866 684 7487

BC viewers deserve to be able to watch the only news channel putting BC first!

Global News BC1 Channel Listings (will be updated with Bell & Telus numbers once they agree to stop ignoring their BC customers )

Shaw in Vancouver: Channel 21 / Channel 216 (High Definition)
Shaw Direct: Channel 1 (Classic) (High Definition)
Shaw Direct: Channel 501 (Advanced) (High Definition)
Shaw in the rest of BC: Channel 111 / Channel 216 (High Definition)
Shaw in Grand Forks and Salmon Arm: Channel 2 / Channel 216 (High Definition)
Shaw in Quesnel: Channel 88 / Channel 216 (High Definition)
Novus: Channel 217 / Channel 180 (High Definition)
Coast: Channel 694 (High Definition)
Delta Cable: Channel 694 (High Definition)
Eastlink: Channel 694 (High Definition)
Citywest cable: Channel 185 / Channel 237 (High Definition)
Bell: Not Available
Telus: Not Available

[musimax]

This article or press release is so phony. And it's pretty sad that they have to play up on this divide of West vs. East. Bell and Telus (which I assume they are speaking of Telus Satellite TV because they say Telus has added Toronto's news channel in HD, which is CP24; and that isn't even up to Telus to decide, Telus satellite TV is just Bell TV under the Telus name, Telus makes no decisions on what channels are added or not), do not even carry CityNews Channel, yet they fail to mention this fact. And the reason they carry CP24 is because it's an analog channel which they have to carry if I'm not mistaken as it's a category A channel. And CP24 has been around for years and years, BC1 is just launching. And let's face it, Bell owns CP24, so obviously they'd carry it, just like Shaw Direct is carrying BC1, and btw, they also seem to fail to mention the fact that Shaw has refused to carry CityNews Channel, on satellite or on their cable systems in Ontario, like Hamilton.

And it's not Bell or Telus' fault that all the other channels are based out of Toronto. Blame the broadcasters for that, not Bell/Telus. And let's not forget, Shaw/Shaw Direct also carries most of those channels too.

[TVViewer]

This is NOT a press release or article, it's MY own personal opinion, I think it's ridiculous that Bell and Telus will carry several Toronto based news channels which largely ignore BC but wont carry the one Vancouver based news channel.

Enough people subscribe to Shaw in BC for Global News BC 1 to be successful without carriage on Bell or Telus, but I think it's very unfair to Bell and Telus customers in BC to be deprived of the only news channel delivering 24/7 news from a BC perspective. Bell and Telus customers deserve BC's all news channel.

[Mayhem]

I think it's ridiculous that Bell and Telus will carry several Toronto based news channels which largely ignore BC but wont carry the one Vancouver based news channel.

I think Telus will eventually give in like Cogeco did with Citynews Channel. Bell on the other hand I doubt it, bringing Global BC1 will only drive people away from their existing properties like CTV Vancouver and CTV News Channel.

Enough people subscribe to Shaw in BC for Global News BC 1 to be successful without carriage on Bell or Telus,

Works for Rogers.

but I think it's very unfair to Bell and Telus customers in BC to be deprived of the only news channel delivering 24/7 news from a BC perspective. Bell and Telus customers deserve BC's all news channel.

Bell won't add the channel because its a direct threat to CTV News Channel as CNC is to CP24. Its as simple as that.

[musimax]

This is NOT a press release or article, it's MY own personal opinion,

Ah, IC, the post makes perfect sense now.

My first post says it all. But I will to that, that there are many factors that go into launching channels, like price (we don't know if Shaw is asking too much or not), other requirements like packaging Shaw is asking for or the requirement that Shaw may be asking that the HD channel also be carried, net benefit of carrying it from the BDUs perspective, space available, viewer requests, the viewership of Global BC newscasts from Bell may be not that great and thus why bother adding a channel based on that?, etc. We don't know any of this. And, not to mention, other than Shaw-owned carriers, it doesn't seem like anyone else is carrying it either like Novus, EastLink-owned systems Delta and Coast Cable (and EastLink will add just about anything, especially if it's in HD), and whoever else is out there. And, one more thing, it hasn't even launched yet and maybe those providers will begin to carry it, and let's be honest, how many brand new channels actually get launched with large providers these days right from the gate? FX Canada launched and from launch date, what was it, EastLink and Rogers were the only ones carrying it right? I think Cable Cable carried it too, but a little later. Same goes for CityNews Channel, wasn't Rogers and maybe Cable Cable the only one carrying it from launch date?

There's just so many factors and playing up on this silly notion of "oh the West is getting the shaft again" is ridiculous.

[InMontreal]

This is NOT a press release or article, it's MY own personal opinion, I think it's ridiculous that Bell and Telus will carry several Toronto based news channels which largely ignore BC but wont carry the one Vancouver based news channel.

Can't help but notice... Now you know how Sun News Network managers feel about their channel not being carried by their competitors.

[TVViewer]

[QUOTE=Mayhem;60866]

I think Telus will eventually give in like Cogeco did with Citynews Channel. Bell on the other hand I doubt it, bringing Global BC1 will only drive people away from their existing properties like CTV Vancouver and CTV News Channel.

I expect both to carry it eventually. Telus is notorious for not carrying channels at launch date yet a lot of people are assuming that it will be available on Telus March 14th, they need to know that if they want BC1 by launch date they need to call Telus or switch to Shaw.

As for Bell, I think they will eventually give in to popular demand. Global BC's news programming is far more popular than Citytv Toronto's, Global BC totally dominates in a market where more viewers consume news than anywhere else in Canada, and as the only 24/7 Vancouver/BC news channel they are tapping into a huge market nobody is serving. Meanwhile Citytv Toronto is not the dominant news organization in Toronto, and CityNews Channel launched against the very established Toronto news channel CP24. It's a lot easier to justify not carrying the 2nd Toronto news channel coming from the non-dominant station than it is not carrying the the first and only Vancouver station coming from the station that absolutely dominates the Vancouver ratings.

Not that I agree with Bell not carrying CityNews Channel, I think they should and it's sad they don't believe in CP24 enough to give their competitor fair competition but considering how Toronto already has CP24 and given how much time the national news channels devote to Toronto it's hard to say they are underserving Toronto not carrying CityNews Channel. However they are underserving their BC viewers by not offering BC's only all news channel. If Vancouver already had an all news channel it would be another story, but they don't, and unless they have a good reason like capacity restraints it's a slap in the face to their BC customers.

Bell won't add the channel because its a direct threat to CTV News Channel as CNC is to CP24. Its as simple as that.

Every single newscast Global BC produces does fantastic in the ratings, which is remarkable considering how many newscasts they put out each day, I just don't see how they can assume their BC customers will be okay with Bell not carrying this channel, the threat of losing BC customers should be more of a concern than losing a few CTV News Channel viewers (and Vancouver isn't even a strong market for them anyway)

[bigoranget]

TVViewer, why not ask Shaw why they don't carry CBC News Network in HD. They are probably the only provider in the entire country that doesn't carry it. CBC News Network is the most watched Canadian news channel.

[bigoranget]

I wanted to clarify a few things. Shaw Hamilton does carry CityNews Channel in both SD and HD in Hamilton. They added it back in November (about 1 year after launch). Also Shaw Direct will NOT be carrying Global News BC1.

[musimax]

I wanted to clarify a few things. Shaw Hamilton does carry CityNews Channel in both SD and HD in Hamilton. They added it back in November (about 1 year after launch). Also Shaw Direct will NOT be carrying Global News BC1.

Oops, sorry about the mistake with Shaw carrying CNC in Hamilton. I should have checked first, but it isn't listed on Wiki and nor can i assess channel listings on Shaw site, apparently it's down right now. But in regards to Shaw Direct carrying BC 1, I have seen stuff online saying SD will be carrying BC1. Here for example https://twitter.com/YvonneSchalle/st...86333410013185

[TVViewer]

[QUOTE=bigoranget;60873]

I wanted to clarify a few things. Shaw Hamilton does carry CityNews Channel in both SD and HD in Hamilton. They added it back in November (about 1 year after launch).

I never said Shaw Hamilton didn't carry CityNews Channel

Also Shaw Direct will NOT be carrying Global News BC1.

They will carry BC1 once they have the satellite space (current launch date for new satellite is April 15). The CRTC's evil anti-consumer 3:1 rule requires Shaw Direct to carry 3 more non Shaw/Corus channels if they want to carry BC1. They can't add it because they simply don't have the room, once they have the ability to add it they will, Bell and Telus have the ability and are just choosing not to

[CDN Viewer]

Bell won't add the channel because its a direct threat to CTV News Channel

How exactly is it a direct threat to CTV News Channel?! Global News BC1 is a REGIONAL news channel serving the province of British Columbia while CTV News Channel is a NATIONAL service?! They serve two different audiences, one caters to the viewers in a specific province while the other caters to all viewers across the country.

So why is the only news channel serving a market which has the most news viewers per-capita and run by one of the most successful producers of news in all of North America (Global BC) not carried on Bell or Telus?

Its not carried because they don't have to carry it, that's why. If there is enough demand from subscribers then perhaps it will be added at some point. This is a regional news channel and if it is carried by Bell then it should only be available to subscribers from BC. The same goes for CP24, it should be made available only to subscribers from Ontario IMO as they are the only ones who would have any interest in this channel and thus the only ones who would watch it. I think Telus will add it at some point (unless Big Brother Bell tells them not to ), I see no reason why they wouldn't add it?!

I think this is a good idea from Global, I wonder if they will launch a regional news channel for Alberta, I am sure there is enough support for such a channel. Also, while they are at it, Global should buy Sun News and convert it into Global News Network and go head to head with Bell's crappy news channel, whose news is mainly comprised of pop culture stories. Global National is quite successful so they could model their news channel after this program.

TVViewer, why not ask Shaw why they don't carry CBC News Network in HD. They are probably the only provider in the entire country that doesn't carry it. CBC News Network is the most watched Canadian news channel.

Yes, that is a question I would like answered as well and I can verify that they are indeed the ONLY major provider who does not carry CBC News Network HD. I have sent in many requests to Shaw Direct about adding this channel yet they don't seem to be interested in carrying it. It appears to me as though they have some sort of bias against the CBC in general and probably would not be carrying any CBC channels if they didn't have to. I wonder why they have such a hate on for the Ceeb, it can't be a Western Canada thing as I have read comments on other boards from people from the Western provinces who like CBC News Network and are demanding that Shaw add the HD feed to their lineup.

[TVViewer]

[QUOTE=CDN Viewer;60877]

How exactly is it a direct threat to CTV News Channel?! Global News BC1 is a REGIONAL news channel serving the province of British Columbia while CTV News Channel is a NATIONAL service?! They serve two different audiences, one caters to the viewers in a specific province while the other caters to all viewers across the country.

Well, the goal is to get BC viewers who watch the existing all news channels to switch to BC1.

Its not carried because they don't have to carry it, that's why. If there is enough demand from subscribers then perhaps it will be added at some point.

That's the entire point of this post, to let Telus and Bell's BC customers know that if they want to watch BC1 they need to call them and demand it or switch to Shaw. Not everyone who subscribes to these providers knows that they have not yet signed up to carry BC1, this post is letting them know that and how they can get it. I'm not saying they should be forced to carry it, i'm just saying why they should carry it and what their subscribers should do if they want to view it.

This is a regional news channel and if it is carried by Bell then it should only be available to subscribers from BC. The same goes for CP24, it should be made available only to subscribers from Ontario IMO as they are the only ones who would have any interest in this channel and thus the only ones who would watch it. I think Telus will add it at some point (unless Big Brother Bell tells them not to ;)), I see no reason why they wouldn't add it?!

I think this is a good idea from Global, I wonder if they will launch a regional news channel for Alberta, I am sure there is enough support for such a channel. Also, while they are at it, Global should buy Sun News and convert it into Global News Network and go head to head with Bell's crappy news channel, whose news is mainly comprised of pop culture stories. Global National is quite successful so they could model their news channel after this program.

It would be more likely for Global Calgary and Global Edmonton to get their own news channels than a regional Alberta news channel. A national Global News Network is unlikely but if it were to happen they wouldn't buy SUN News Network, they would just launch their own.

Yes, that is a question I would like answered as well and I can verify that they are indeed the ONLY major provider who does not carry CBC News Network HD. I had sent in many requests to Shaw Direct about adding this channel yet they don't seem to be interested in carrying it. It appears to me as though they have some sort of bias against the CBC in general and probably would not be carrying any CBC channels if they didn't have to. I wonder why they have a hate on for the Ceeb, it can't be a Western Canada thing as I have read comments on other boards from people from the Western provinces who like CBC News Network and are demanding that Shaw add the HD feed to their lineup.

Later this Spring when Shaw Direct's new satellite is up they will be adding hundreds of HD channels, I would expect CBC News Network to be one of them. They simply don't have room at the moment.

[Mayhem]

As for Bell, I think they will eventually give in to popular demand.

Remember this is Bell we're talking about, the company that made its money through a legal monopoly. I doubt they know what popular demand is.

Meanwhile Citytv Toronto is not the dominant news organization in Toronto, and CityNews Channel launched against the very established Toronto news channel CP24. It's a lot easier to justify not carrying the 2nd Toronto news channel coming from the non-dominant station than it is not carrying the the first and only Vancouver station coming from the station that absolutely dominates the Vancouver ratings.

No real station is dominant in Toronto. Citytv has the morning news, CTV has evening and Global is making headway with pushing CTV from the noon hour newscast and CBC makes the other three feel good about themselves. Although the thought of a station with that much domination over a large market is kind of scary, with that level of power you can control how people perceive reality, just look at Fox News viewers.

Not that I agree with Bell not carrying CityNews Channel, I think they should and it's sad they don't believe in CP24 enough to give their competitor fair competition but considering how Toronto already has CP24 and given how much time the national news channels devote to Toronto it's hard to say they are underserving Toronto not carrying CityNews Channel. However they are underserving their BC viewers by not offering BC's only all news channel. If Vancouver already had an all news channel it would be another story, but they don't, and unless they have a good reason like capacity restraints it's a slap in the face to their BC customers.

CP24 current fame is not just simply because of its history, but its easy of access to the general public outside of the home. Accessing CP24 you only need a basic Rogers analog subscription and a built-in tuner for it to be accessible in stores, train stations, malls, elevators, public bathrooms and medical offices. With CNC you need a Rogers digital cable box; Rogers has the infrastructure to make CNC available with the use of built-in digital tuners that is installed with every new flat screen television, but for some stupid reason they prefer the over priced and can't fit anywhere in a public place Rogers cable box. If they made CNC available via unencrypted Digital QAM they would easily make head ways against CP24.

Every single newscast Global BC produces does fantastic in the ratings, which is remarkable considering how many newscasts they put out each day, I just don't see how they can assume their BC customers will be okay with Bell not carrying this channel, thre threat of losing BC customers should be more of a concern than losing a few CTV News Channel viewers (and Vancouver isn't even a strong market for them anyway)

True, but having a "fantastic" newscast doesn't translate into ratings for a cable news channel or vice versa. CBC News Network beats CTV News Channel, but The National falls far behind CTV National News.

[CDN Viewer]

Later this Spring when Shaw Direct's new satellite is up they will be adding hundreds of HD channels, I would expect CBC News Network to be one of them. They simply don't have room at the moment.

Shaw Cable has room to add it, yet they haven't even though subscribers are demanding it. Face it, for some reason Shaw does not like CBC, as a result I don't see them adding CBC News Network HD ever!

[xxmattxx]

I doubt BC1 will be added to Bell or Telus satellite unless they get overwhelming demand. However i could see BC1 being added to Telus Optik at some point.

[SportsFan]

Later this Spring when Shaw Direct's new satellite is up they will be adding hundreds of HD channels, ...

I'll believe that when I see it.

[user]

Maybe Bell would be more willing to carry this channel if they didn't own a couple of news channels themselves. Too bad the CRTC allows companies to own both the content and the pipe it goes through, a practice TVViewer has defended in the past if I recall correctly.

[TVViewer]

[QUOTE=Mayhem;60880]

No real station is dominant in Toronto. Citytv has the morning news, CTV has evening and Global is making headway with pushing CTV from the noon hour newscast and CBC makes the other three feel good about themselves.

My point exactly, Global BC's news programming dominates every single time slot. They are unmatched in Canada when it comes to the number of successful newscasts they produce, not carrying their all news channel is not the same as not carrying a channel like CityNews Channel, especially since it's not Toronto's only all news channel. It's harder for Bell to get away with not carrying BC1 long term

True, but having a "fantastic" newscast doesn't translate into ratings for a cable news channel or vice versa. CBC News Network beats CTV News Channel, but The National falls far behind CTV National News.

I don't think a successful half hour national newscast is enough to justify a successful 24/7 news channel, but when you can successfully produce 8 hours of news a day I think it's a pretty good indication that you will have success with an all news channel. Global BC has found success with newscasts scheduled in time slots other dominant stations don't even dare to attempt, in fact, they have successful newscasts in time slots even 24/7 news channels don't produce live news in. Their incredible success with news from morning to night 7 days a week is a pretty clear indication that they will be successful with 24/7 news.

[TVViewer]

Maybe Bell would be more willing to carry this channel if they didn't own a couple of news channels themselves. Too bad the CRTC allows companies to own both the content and the pipe it goes through, a practice TVViewer has defended in the past if I recall correctly.

How many news channels does Telus own?

It's only a matter of time before all BC providers carry BC1, but their customers shouldn't have to wait, the more people who call now and ask for it or switch their service to Shaw the faster it will be added.