Skinny Basic Comparision Thread

[CDN Viewer]

In light of the upcoming CRTC hearing and all the complaints that have been voiced about the new skinny basic package, I decided to create this thread listing what each of the major TV providers is offering. Of the providers I have looked at (Bell, Rogers, Shaw & Cogeco), Bell has the worst offering and is very expensive. On the other hand, Shaw Direct has the most attractive offering (IMO), there services are reasonably priced (including sports- TSN pack is $8 versus $22 that Bell charges) and they offer good choice as far as pick and pay goes. Here is the info:

SATELLITE


BELL TV

Starter - $24.95/mo. ($21.95 + $3.00 Digital service fee) (http://www.bell.ca/Bell_TV/TV-Programming-Packages)
Does NOT include US locals
Equipment rental extra (HD box- $7/mo. / HD PVR- $15/mo.)

Add-ons

A la carte
All specialty channels available a la carte for $4 or $7
10 channels for $37/mo.

Sports
TSN1-5, Sportsnet Regional & Sportsnet One- $25/mo.
TSN1-5 $22/mo.
Sportsnet Regional- $15/mo.
Sportsnet One- $7/mo.

Movies
TMN + HBO Canada- $20/mo.
TMN, HBO Canada, Super Channel + Crave TV- $37/mo.
Super Channel- $15/mo.
Hollywood Suite- $6/mo.
Crave TV- $6/mo.
TMN Encore 1&2- $3/mo.


SHAW DIRECT

Limited TV- $25/mo. (http://www.shawdirect.ca/english/pac...ges/limited-tv)
Does NOT include US locals
Equipment extra, must purchase receiver

Add-ons (http://www.shawdirect.ca/english/pac...amming/bundles)

US Networks- $6/mo.

Sports
TSN Pack & Sportsnet Pack- $14/mo.
TSN Pack (TSN1-5 SD&HD, Golf Channel SD&HD, NFL Network and OLN)- $8/mo.
Sportsnet Pack (Sportsnet regional SD&HD, Sportsnet 360 SD&HD, Sportsnet One SD&HD, Golf Channel SD&HD, NFL Network and OLN)- $8/mo.

Movies
TMN + HBO Canada- $19/mo.
Super Channel- $19/mo.
Hollywood Suite- $4.99/mo.

Customizable Packages
Limited TV + 5 channels- $40/mo.
Limited TV + 10 channels- $45/mo.
Limited TV + 30 channels- $65/mo.
Limited TV + 45 channels- $80/mo.
(Add-on channel selection includes most specialty channels)

Pick and Pay
Take 1 for $3 or Take 2 for $4
(Not all specialty channels available for pick and pay)

[CDN Viewer]

CABLE


ROGERS CABLE

Starter- $24.99/mo. (https://www.rogers.com/consumer/tv/starter-package)
Includes US locals
Equipment rental extra (NextBox HD box- $12.95/mo.)

Add-ons

Theme packs
Science & History- $10/mo.
Nature & Wildlife- $5/mo.
Special Interest- $5/mo.
Drama & Comedy- $10/mo.
Classic TV & Movies- $5/mo.
Entertainment- $5/mo.
Contests & Gameshows- $3/mo.
Tween Entertainment- $10/mo.
Kids Entertainment- $5/mo.
Adventure- $10/mo.
League Sports- $10/mo.
Variety- $10/mo.
Lifestyle- $10/mo.
Spiritual- $3/mo.
Canadian News- $5/mo.
US News- $10/mo.
International News- $5/mo.
Music & Entertainment- $10/mo.

Sports
TSN Plus & Sportsnet Plus- $14/mo.
TSN Plus (TSN1-5 SD&HD, CBS Sports Network, ESPN Classic, Euroworld Sport and Big Ten Network)- $18/mo.
Sportsnet Plus (Sportsnet regional SD&HD, Sportsnet 360 SD&HD, Sportsnet One SD&HD and Golf Channel SD&HD)- $18/mo.

Movies
TMN + HBO Canada- $20.95/mo.
Super Channel- $15.99/mo.
Hollywood Suite- $5.95/mo.


SHAW CABLE

Limited TV- $25/mo. (http://www.shaw.ca/television/limited-tv)
Includes US locals
Equipment rental extra (HD box- $5/mo.)

Add-ons

Theme packs
Pick1- $6/mo.
Pick2- $10/mo.
Pick3- $15/mo.

Sports
TSN Pack & Sportsnet Pack- $14/mo.
TSN Pack (TSN1-5 SD&HD, Golf Channel SD&HD and NFL Network)- $8/mo.
Sportsnet Pack (Sportsnet regional SD&HD, Sportsnet 360 SD&HD, Sportsnet One SD&HD, Golf Channel SD&HD and NFL Network)- $8/mo.

Movies
TMN + HBO Canada- $18/mo.
Super Channel- $18/mo.
Hollywood Suite- $6/mo.
TMN Encore West- $3/mo.

Pick and Pay
Each channel is $3/mo.
(Not all specialty channels available for pick and pay)


COGECO CABLE

Starter- $24.99/mo. (http://www.cogeco.ca/web/on/en/resid...basic-channels)

Includes US locals
Equipment rental extra (HD box- $7/mo. / HD PVR- $10/mo.)

Add-ons

A la carte
Most specialty channels available a la carte for $3.50/mo or $6/mo.

Customizable Packages (http://www.cogeco.ca/web/on/en/resid.../mix-and-watch)
My Mix 10 (Limited TV + 10 channels)- $38/mo.
My Mix 20 (Limited TV + 20 channels)- $46/mo.
My Mix 30 (Limited TV + 30 channels)- $53/mo.
My Mix 40 (Limited TV + 40 channels)- $59/mo.
(Add-on channel selection includes most specialty channels
TSN1-5- $3, Sportsnet Regional- $3, Sportsnet One- $1)


Movies
TMN, TMN Encore & HBO Canada- $21.99/mo.
Super Channel- $15.99/mo.
Hollywood Suite- $6/mo.

[CDN Viewer]

IPTV


BELL FIBE TV

Starter - $24.95/mo. ($21.95 + $3.00 Digital service fee) (http://www.bell.ca/Fibe-TV/Fibe-Programming-Packages)
Does NOT include US locals
Equipment rental extra (HD box- $7/mo. / HD PVR- $15/mo.)

Add-ons

A la carte
All specialty channels available a la carte for $4 or $7
10 channels for $37/mo.

Sports
TSN1-5, Sportsnet Regional & Sportsnet One- $25/mo.
TSN1-5 $22/mo.
Sportsnet Regional- $15/mo.
Sportsnet One- $7/mo.

Movies
TMN + HBO Canada- $20/mo.
TMN, HBO Canada, Super Channel + Crave TV- $37/mo.
Super Channel- $15/mo.
Hollywood Suite- $6/mo.
Crave TV- $6/mo.
TMN Encore 1&2- $3/mo.


MTS

Starter - $28/mo. ($25 + $3 for set-top box rental)
Includes US locals

Basic Pack (Starter + Essentials)- $45/mo.

Essentials- TSN1-5, CBC News Network, Gusto, Much, VisionTV, YTV,, Stingray Music, FNTSY Sports Network, Al Jazeera English, RT, The Weather Network.

A la carte
A select number of specialty channels are available on a pick and pay basis for $1.99 or $2.99

Movies

TMN & HBO Canada- $18.00/mo.
TMN, TMN Encore & HBO Canada- $20.00/mo.
TMN Encore 1&2- $8.99/mo.
Super Channel- $16.99/mo.
Hollywood Suite- $5.00/mo.

*Starter subscribers have access to all existing theme packs that MTS offers as well as other premium specialty channels*


SASKTEL

Lite maxTV - $25/mo. (http://www.sasktel.com/wps/wcm/conne...xtv/lite-maxtv)
Does NOT include US locals

Add-ons

Lite Sports pack (TSN1-5, Sportsnet Regional, Sportsnet One)- $14.99/mo.
Lite Entertainment pack (Cartoon Network, GameTV, VisionTV, WMovies, YTV)- $5.99/mo.
Lite Information pack (CBC News Network, CTV News Channel, Al Jazeera English, Miracle Channel)- $5.99/mo.
Lite Music pack (CMT, M3, Much, MTV Canada, Stingray Music)- $5.99/mo.

A la carte (http://www.sasktel.com/wps/wcm/conne...ingle-channels)A select number of specialty channels are available on a pick and pay basis for $2.99

Movies

TMN, TMN Encore & HBO Canada- $18.95/mo.
Super Channel- $12.95/mo.
Hollywood Suite- $5.99/mo.
CraveTV- $5.99/mo.

*Lite maxTV subscribers also have access to all existing theme packs that SaskTel offers as well as other premium specialty channels*

[Test Pattern]

IPTV

BELL FIBE TV

Starter - $24.95/mo. ($21.95 + $3.00 Digital service fee) (http://www.bell.ca/Fibe-TV/Fibe-Programming-Packages)
Does NOT include US locals
Equipment rental extra (HD box- $7/mo. / HD PVR- $15/mo.)

Add-ons

A la carte
All specialty channels available a la carte for $4 or $7
10 channels for $37/mo.

Sports
TSN1-5, Sportsnet Regional & Sportsnet One- $25/mo.
TSN1-5 $22/mo.
Sportsnet Regional- $15/mo.
Sportsnet One- $7/mo.

Movies
TMN + HBO Canada- $20/mo.
TMN, HBO Canada, Super Channel + Crave TV- $37/mo.
Super Channel- $15/mo.
Hollywood Suite- $6/mo.
Crave TV- $6/mo.
TMN Encore 1&2- $3/mo.

I won't be keepin my Bell Tv any longer. They are too bloody expensive and their programming sucks. Not to mention the company itself sucks bigtime.