ExpressVu Delivers Three New International Channels

[cablewithaview]

Bell ExpressVu is adding to its programming line-up by offering national access to NTV Canada, RTVi+ and RTVi, three new award-winning Russian-language channels.

"Bell ExpressVu is committed to creating an immersive and varied viewing experience for our customers by offering an increasingly diversified line-up of great international programming," said Pat Button, Vice-President Marketing, Bell ExpressVu, in masking the announcement. "From award winning movies, documentaries and family and educational programming, to regional updates, sports and coverage of important cultural events from around the globe, Bell ExpressVu continues to celebrate diversity by delivering the best content and technologies to Canadians across the country."

NTV Canada is a Russian-language channel that broadcasts original programming from Russia and Canada. Featuring seven live daily news-
broadcasts, feature films, serials, popular game shows and coverage of top Russian and European soccer games, NTV Canada also airs two of the highest
rated talk shows, Free Speech and The Domino Principle and the hit program Ours with Lev Novozhenev.

RTVi+ offers an eclectic mix of cultural and entertainment shows, the latest movies, children's programming, game and talk shows 24-hours-a-day.
Mornings and afternoons are filled with quality youth programming, including cartoons, movies, fun games shows and learning programs. In the evening,
viewers can enjoy classic and contemporary Russian movies.

RTVi features news, public affairs, live coverage of local and national community events, sports, science, children's shows, family entertainment,
how-to programs the latest movies and soap operas.

ExpressVu has also recently added new domestic channels including Prise 2, Cinepop, CGTV Canada and Discovery HD:

- Prise 2 is a French-language channel offering television and cinema classics including comedies, dramas, and cult TV shows from around the world since the '80's.

- Cinepop features commercial-free French-language film classics from Hollywood, Europe and Canada, including Quebec.

- CGTV Canada enables viewers to explore the casino and gaming lifestyle, local and international casinos and how to play the most popular games.

- Discovery HD also delivers information programming plus award-winning documentaries from across the planet on science,technology, adventure, nature and world cultures and features live events, original Canadian productions and shows like American Chopper and Monster Garage.

http://www.cablecastermagazine.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=52848&issue=02202006

 

[Kryspy]

Hi,

I may just be an a$$hole but why would I care about increased international programming?

As a Canadian we have 2 main languages...... french and english...... so why waste transponder space on german, russian,pakistani etc.

If people miss whats going in in their homeland they could always take a vacation.

These channels cannot conceiveably be that profitable and the PQ is just horrendous.

I am not trying to belittle anyones ethnicity but if they truly want to provide these channels rent some transponder space on some other satellite.


Kryspy

 

[Mr Tony]

Thats why I have SC....they dont add any of these oddball ethinc channels

 

[Kryspy]

Iceberg,

Yeah but unfortunately Starchoice still thinks HD is a "fad" and isn't that popular and their firmware bites the big one.

Kryspy

 

[Satellite Expert]

Hi,

As a Canadian we have 2 main languages...... french and english...... so why waste transponder space on german, russian,pakistani etc.

These channels cannot conceiveably be that profitable and the PQ is just horrendous.

Kryspy

Canada's 2 DTH/DBS companies do not make programming decisions based on the wants/needs of their subs. Business decisions are made for the best business interests of their core businesses - for Expressvu, this means Bell Telephone; for SC, this means Shaw Cable.

The more services a customer buys from a supplier the more profitable that customer is and the less likely they are to churn. Bell is competing against Rogers for the phone/cell phone/tv/internet business. That's why Bell continues to subsidize a money losing business (Expressvu) even after all these years. In the same way, they add channels to Expressvu to try to halt telephone/internet subscriber losses to Rogers. And it's why one sees the bulk of Bell advertising $$$ spent on Bell Mobility, where they think they have their biggest advantage over Rogers at this time. Want TCM on Expressvu, call and ask Rogers to add it - that's when you'll see it on Bell.

Western Canada is a bit different as there is no strong 4 offering service. Telus is weak in tv and cannot offer HD. Shaw has no cell offering. Bell has no local telephone or internet service. So Shaw spends their resources on telephone infrastructure rather than satellite or cable tv. Good results for Shaw and and poor results for Telus during the last year show that Shaw is attacking with the best strategy for their business. This explains the lower amount of HD on SC and even lower level on Shaw Cable.

 

[Kryspy]

Satellite Expert,

I hope that reply wasn't for me as I understand the way the business model works.

The point was that ethnic channels are a waste of transponder space. Ethnic requests would be less than 3% in Canada meaning that the loss or churn would be far less than the expenditure to license those god awful channels.

It simply is transponder space better used elsewhere like I don't know providing a proper 9 day guide etc. which would in turn keep the existing and future english/french subs happy which comprise the other 97%.


Kryspy

 

[Darkman]

Russian channels - Ya!!!!