TORONTO – Rogers Cable issued the most recent salvo in the (“we have more HD!” – “no, we have more HD”) battle between it and Bell TV.
Rogers today said it has finished the launch of 18 HD channels, giving it “the most variety” of high def services.
“With 34% of Rogers Digital Cable customers subscribing to the high definition television service, and viewership of HD titles on demand doubling in the last year alone, it is clear that HD is the future of TV,” says this morning’s press release.
"If you’ve ever turned on the television and said ‘there’s nothing on’ it’s because having more doesn’t necessarily mean having what you want. What matters most to our customers is having the most relevant programming. It’s about having the most choice and flexibility when watching HDTV," said David Purdy, vice-president of video product management, in the release.
"With Rogers, we have the most choice in HD programming with on demand HD, the most HD movies and most HD sports programming. With 24 channels available free with your HD digital box, 72 total HD channels available and 255 HD titles available On Demand – which is not available on satellite – it’s clear we offer the widest variety of HD content in Canada."
Bell has its own claim to HD supremacy by saying it has all other distributors beat on the sheer number of HD channels it offers.
The HD channels Rogers launched in the past few weeks include: TSN2 HD; Historia HD; RDS HD; RDI HD; HBO2 Canada HD; TVA HD; Sportsnet East HD; Series+ HD; Sportsnet West HD; Super Ecran HD; Sportsnet Pacific HD; TQS HD; APTN HD; VRAK HD; Canal D HD; Ztele HD; Canal Vie HD; ARTV HD.
So far this year, Rogers has launched 20 channels in HD (which also includes HD-only channels Rush HD, Equator HD, Treasure HD and Oasis HD), “and is committed to adding hundreds more programming choices through channel launches and continued enhancements to On Demand HD programming. With the recent expansion of the On Demand platform and the launch of the HD PVR Extender1000, Rogers offers HD fanatics, HD programming whenever they want,” reads the release.
"When it comes to HD On Demand, there is no question that Rogers is the leader. Our delivery of the best quality HD programming through the most advanced and innovative technology is just one way we continue to dominate the marketplace, bringing our 600,000 plus HD customers an unrivalled customizable entertainment experience," Purdy continued.
Rogers also recently added free primetime shows from Citytv, Global and E! to its on demand library, and in HD, with award winning show 30 Rock joined by Breaking Bad. In addition, premium movie subscribers have embraced VOD as their preferred way to consume these channels; with HBO Canada On Demand and Superchannel On Demand proving a favourite destination to view series such as True Blood and Burn Notice, according to the press release.
Customer interest in personalizing their TV viewing experience has boomed, too, notes the company, with over one-in-three new HDTV customers adding an HD PVR to their service in 2008.
By coupling the HD PVR with the HD PVR Extender500 or the HD PVR Extender1000, HD fans can record even more HD programming (an additional 60 hours of HD with the Extender500, or an extra 120 hours HD with the Extender1000).
