MONTREAL – Part product launch, part regulatory complaint, Videotron announced the official expansion of its high definition lineup today while re-sending a message Ottawa’s way about cable regulation.
As of Saturday, Videotron’s illico digital television customers in Montreal and area will gain access to Astral Media’s HD channels: Super Écran HD, Canal D HD, Ztélé HD and Canal Vie HD. This will bring to 20 the number of channels broadcast by Videotron in high def.
"Our goal and strategy were always very clear, we want to ensure a long term vision for our programming and our broadcasting grid to meet the various needs of our customers", said Claude Sauvé, vice-president, television distribution, VOD, Internet and wireless.
"As the first (cable company) serving more than 1.5 million households in Quebec, Videotron faces unique regulatory challenges," Sauvé also pointed out. "We must ensure a judicious programming combination in analog, digital and HD modes on the same network, in an environment where our company’s operations are subject to numerous regulatory constraints."
The following HD services are offered free of charge: SRC, CBC, The Movie Network, ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS. For $5.99 a month, subscribers can also add the HD versions of CTV, Global Television Toronto, Citytv Toronto, Rogers Sportsnet, TSN and Fox. On-demand movies and events are also available through illico on-demand – where viewers can watch for 24 hours as much as they want the program they chose – and through Viewers Choice HD on-demand.
"Competition boasts about offering much more to their subscribers while, in fact, they count in their offer, and have subscribers sometimes pay for, time shifting of channels all associated with the same broadcaster, or have them pay for channels broadcasting a single content, like a film or a monthly event occurring at specific hours," continued Sauvé, taking aim at Bell ExpressVu.
"For example, some American channels broadcasting in HD in western and eastern U.S. States are classified as two separate services while those channels offer mostly the same programming.
"At Videotron, each individual channel is counted separately."
In January, residents in the Quebec City region will be able to access the new HD channels as well. The company has spent $30 million upgrading its network in that area.
Further upgrades are scheduled in 2007 for Sherbrooke, Granby, Cap-de-la-Madeleine and Victoriaville.
