Bell Launches IPTV Service In Canada
Bell Fibe TV, the internet tv service from Bell, has at last formally been launched, and is now being offered in several Canadian neighbourhoods.
The digital IPTV service thats delivered over fibre optic networks, Fibe TV is powered by Microsoft Mediaroom multimedia software, a widely used IPTV platform, and will be delivered on Bell’s high speed fibre network.
Fibe TV is expected to become available to almost five million households by the end of 2015, the company said. The product was soft launched by Bell along with it’s internet service over the past few months in select areas.
“Bell Fibe TV’s incredible range of flexible programming options and innovative features are revolutionizing the way you watch TV,” said Kevin Crull, President of Bell Residential Services, speaking at a press conference at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, the newly opened headquarters of the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto.
“Bell TV has been at the forefront of TV innovation as Canada’s HD leader. Fibe TV strengthens our leadership with unique next-generation services: a PVR like no other, HD and SD video on demand services and a cutting-edge interface with advanced search capabilities.”
Fibe TV is being positioned as a new complement to the Bell TV satellite service, which already delivers HD television content to almost two million customers across Canada.
It’s also being seen as a direct competitive salvo, aimed squarely at the cable industry.
Bell says it plans to be Canada’s largest TV provider by 2015, and so it’s investing billions of dollars in its fibre, satellite and wireless broadband networks in order to deliver the most extensive TV services in the industry.
Last week, Bell announced its acquisition of CTV, in part to ensure its customers have access to top sports, news and entertainment content across all three screens – television, mobile and online.
Content exclusivity becomes a real possibility with the integration of such partners as Bell and CTV (or Shaw and Canwest, Videotron and Quebecor, Rogers and the Blue Jays among other examples) but Crull says there are no immediate plans to limit the offerings.
Crull was appointed President – Residential Services in September 2005, and so is responsible for Wireline voice, all Internet access and portal services as well as the Bell Video Group.
He has more than 20 years experience leading sales, marketing, and operational teams including nine years leading major consumer telecommunications businesses. Crull was Senior Vice-President of AT&T Consumer and Small Business from 2001-2004, and also served as Senior Vice-President and General Manager of that company’s wireless business during 2004.
Bell started work at developing IPTV in its labs at about the same time Crull joined the company, and the early development would soon lead to a product that is ready at least for in-house testing and display, he recalled, but there is need for further development to become a robust product that is ready for prime time.
Bell has a in house development team thats ready to work on the platform, but Crull notes he is excited about using third party development opportunities, mentioning the Toronto based development firm ES3 as a partner and potential future supplier.
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I’ve been a BELL customer for many years now and just recently switched over to IPTV from Express VU. Personally, my excitement went from a high expectations to truthfully, a total let down.
The signal quality for the standard definition channels was VERY POOR compared to the satelite signal. Simply,the many stations are fuzzy/blurry. I called Bell’s FIBE support and spoke with their technicians and they were unable to help possibly due to the problem being with Microsoft.
Im very surprised others who switched over have not seen this problem unless people are watching HD only.
I will be switching back to Satelite.
On a scale of 10 FIBE TV is only about a 6.
I Just had Fibe TV installed over the weekend (used to be ExpressVu) and I have to agree with the above comment. The signal isn’t as crisp as the stellite was, and the limitation of 2 HD signals and 2 SD signals at once is very limiting especially if you have more than one flat screen tv in the house.
They sell it as being better than satellite, but with my satellite I was able to have two dual-tuner HD PVR’s in the house capable of recording 4 HD signals at once. Now if I’m watching an HD signal on one tv and the PVR happens to be recording a scheduled program, all other tv’s are locked out of HD signals. I’ve already had three situations in two days where I was locked out of the HD channels, and I only have two tv’s in my house. Definitely not the wave of the future they sell it as, not yet anyway. There’s no reason why either, there’s more than enough bandwidth available to provide at least 4 HD signals they just have to take the minimum cap of the internet connection. Even with all four feeds at HD you’d still have a faster internet than any other service available.
If you have one TV in your house, maybe give it a try, otherwise, wait.
Why IPTV is better then ROGERS:
SD channels look much better
USER interface is much more sleek and is HIGH RESOULTION unlike ROGERS
Flips channels instantaneously(flip channels the old way like in 80s)
Costs less per channel, costs less for hardware!
No contracted-out Cable man that doesn’t car about the install
Good looking hardware (cable box)
more harddrive space
overall the service blows Rogers away. Yes ExpressVu might be better but for those who rent and have a landlord that frowns upon the sat install…. here is your non sat solution!
Sounds like another luke warm offering from the cable/satellite/wireless/telephone industry that is just above the bare minimum. Pricing looks predictably uncompetitive as well since none of the players in this oligopoly want to rock the boat. With Rogers and Bell it’s not a matter of which one is going to step up and be a competitive lion, it’s which one sucks the least.