TORONTO – Rogers Communications said Tuesday that it will try out a leaner basic programming package that it claims will provide its cable customers with the choice and flexibility that they have been asking for.
Available November 8 as a trial in London, ON, the Rogers Digital Starter Pack will offer a standard set of 86 core TV channels, including government mandated channels, for a base price of $20.29/month excluding taxes. Customers can order the Digital Starter Pack and may then choose any additional 15, 20 or 30 channels from more than 100 options, starting at $26.38/month, plus taxes. The Digital Starter Pack trial will run until the end of March 2012.
"Customers have told us they want to build their own TV packages and only want to pay for the channels they watch," said John Boynton, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer, in the announcement. "We have been looking at offering more customized solutions for some time that give customers more flexibility with all the benefits of reliable, digital cable, including Rogers on Demand. This trial gives us the chance to hear from our customers about the packages that work for them."
The Digital Starter Pack trial program comes in response to the CRTC’s demand that vertically integrated companies such as Rogers, Bell Canada, Quebecor Media, and Shaw Communications submit a report by April 1, 2012, detailing the steps they have undertaken to provide their customers with more flexible programming choices.
