X1 IPTV service

[536]

Last year Rogers announced that it will be using the American IPTV platform X1.  Does this affect any of the current cable television customers?  Will current customers automatically be updated to this new platform or will this be in addition to the current cable service?

***EDITED LABELS***

[RJ_74]

Hey @Meowmix

WOW WOW WOW.... Yeah that is ridiculous...

Like Bell's top "Best" bundle package is currently on promotion for $139.85/month for 2 years...

Current regular price is $193.85/month

but their Internet is only up to 50 Mbps Download. So difficult to compare.

https://www.bell.ca/Bell-bundles

Can see people moving over to Bell...

and why would Rogers not put it on Promo ?

[Meowmix]

Hello @RJ_74

You it's insanely ridiculous that Rogers is charging a arm and a leg for the services because they are "new".

They rather take peoples money then give a discount or a promotion out. The rep I spoke to said the same. She even found it ridiculous that it's pricing like this and that Rogers wouldn't cut a promo.

They know there are losing customers from cable. So they are doing this to themselves. Once they realize that people will complain about the pricing in a major way that's when they will try and out the promo on and try and save this. They are not making this easier for them. It's making then look money hungry. That's all I am saying.

[RJ_74]

Hello @Meowmix

Like with all the issues we suffered with Nextbox and Navigatr, you would think they would be offering deep discounts...

https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/01/05/rogers-navigatr-still-feels-lost-to-many-roseman.html

https://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2015/08/14/rogers-tv-upgrade-leads-to-headaches-ro...

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/pvr-reboot-meant-some-rogers-customers-missed-nashvill...

Yes, very true... looks like they will be losing more cable customers in the near future..

[Meowmix]

Hello @RJ_74

Yup but remember this is Rogers. They will raise the pricing to whatever they want and charge a arm and a leg yet they try to forget all the issues they had with the NB3 and Navigrt software. That nightmare is long gone for them but still lives with us that suffered it.

Rogers won't change but once they see this calls when the profits come in, that's when they will want to give out promos or even during Christmas.

The agent said the same thing. By the end of Next year they got told they want to switch majority of the customers over to the Ignite TV. They want unless they offer some deep discounts.

[RJ_74]

Hey @Meowmix

Yes, very true.. we are still living with the awful Navigatr and the glitchy noisy NB3 with constant updates every night...

That's interesting, as I believe others on this forum have said that they believed Rogers wouldn't be pushing us onto the new system for a few years....

Its pretty sad as I've been with Rogers for as long as I can remember and before that Maclean Hunter cable (before Rogers bought them out in the early 1990s).  Since Navigatr was introduced I've been patiently waiting to switch to this new IPTV... Never wanted Satellite, and then Bell  Fibe kept offering me deals but I never switched... Now I don't know what to do.....

[Meowmix]

Hello @RJ_74
.
Atleast 2 reps have said that Rogers wants to move most customers to the Ignite TV packages by the end of next year but DOUBT that would happen unless they offer deep discounts and or offer some free stuff.

Not many will want to return the rental boxes which have movies and shows still recorded on them and some do not even have new Tvs which have HDMI. So how are those supposed to go get it?.

Interesting to see how Rogers deals with their earnings call when many won't get this because of the pricing.

They won't even waive the install fee. That's how bad they want the money from us. They want us to get their services but won't play ball and offer a discount or waive the install.

Great way to bring out their new Ignite packages and think we will fork over $150 for the install.

[RJ_74]

Hey @Meowmix

Yes will be interesting to see what happens...

Maybe they are trying to make up the money they lost when they scrapped their in-house IPTV  😉

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rogers-scraps-in-house-iptv-plan-partners-with-co...

To be honest it looks like they are more focused on their Wireless Division...

"More than half of total revenue for Rogers was from the wireless division, which was up nine per cent to $2.19 billion"

http://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/rogers-q1-profit-adjusted-earnings-soar-on-revenu...

and their Cable growth was only like 2% at the end of last year.

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/rogers-communications-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-201...

https://about.rogers.com/cnwposts/rogers-communications-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2017-re...

[pvanb]

@Hybrid_Noodle — I see what you mean now. Sorry I opened that can of worms.

Yes, the prices are high now. This is no doubt by design and meant to get a handful of early adopters. Rogers doesn't *want* everyone rushing onto the new platform all at once. It isn't even listed on their website yet, unless you know where to look. Eventually they'll make a push to get everyone else at which point you'll see the usual promotional 2-year discounts etc. The other thing that makes it so expensive is requiring at least the 500u Internet package.

Full-price anything with Rogers is expensive these days though unless you're grandfathered into an old plan. Now that our promotional period is over we're paying $175 a month for the Popular Cable Package + 4k cable box + 100u Internet, which is nuts.

[Meowmix]

Hello @RJ_74

Yup seen those articles before. The 2% will turn to let's say 4-5% but nothing more at the pricing they are offering this service and no waiving the install. Only the ones that have money to waste and ones that want to get this to show off will get the service. I don't see many wanting to spend $150 for install and then another $250 Plus taxes for services that you can get for cheaper somewhere else OR just cut the cord. I have built in Android in my tv which my remote has voice recognition and built in Netflix and YouTube ( Rogers doesn't even support YouTube at the moment). Plus I can add Kody and watch movies. I can't record but can do more without paying that much.

[mcsandy]

@pvanb

You shouldn't be apologizing for Rogers poor pricing model... If anything Rogers should provide better pricing to early adopters on an unadvertised soft opening which users are practically beta testing for their hard launch.

[pvanb]

That being said, I'm still looking forward to hearing about the usability/features from the brave early adopters. So please keep posting that stuff 😉

[mcsandy]

@pvanb

Yes not to be bitter its just more disappointing this should be a exciting launch at improving the overall end customer experience. Lets hope they get their pricing model fixed on the hard launch. 

[pvanb]

@mcsandy — I'm not apologizing for the pricing, but I do understand the reasoning for it. I am apologizing for derailing the conversation, however.

[mcsandy]

@pvanb

Understood. It seems like Rogers is testing the waters for the boundaries customers are willing to pay. No doubt the hardware cost on this is putting a nice dent in their pocket. 

[57]

Answers to some questions in the last few pages.

1. The TV boxes will be WiFi.  If there are issues (dead zones, etc) Rogers will fix it so it works.  It may be using MESH.  Each box will have access to "cloud" recordings. No need to call it WHPVR, because it's more than that since you can also access Netflix, YouTube and who knows what in the future.

2. The Home Phone that was mentioned to me is the deluxe package that has 6-7 options, including things like home & away voicemail, call display, etc.

3. Rogers will also provide (at this time) a concierge number for Ignite TV customers, not regular channels.

[mcsandy]

@57

Would there be any concern about having say 4-5 boxes all streaming on the same wifi network? Would there not be some degradation if it uses the same band as your normal devices?

[Hybrid_Noodle]

@pvanb No worries. It was bound to be derailed at some point in time and I just didn't want to be the one derailing it :).

Bell is currently installing FTTH in my neighborhood (Its an absolute mess of construction in a subdivision that's 20+ years old) so I was excited to hear that IPTV was going to be offered so I could actually compare the same(ish) levels of service for value. Seems though the value may not be as close as I originally expected.

[57]

---

@mcsandy wrote:

@57

Would there be any concern about having say 4-5 boxes all streaming on the same wifi network? Would there not be some degradation if it uses the same band as your normal devices?

---

I'm sorry, I'm not an expert on the topic of WiFi.  There are people on this forum who are.  However, similar stuff works over on Bell and I suspect the issue has been tested by Roger. That is one of the reasons they're only offering the high end Internet.

[ivanpetrov]

I am actually really interested in getting this. The navigatr thing even with its latest improvements leaves a lot to be desired.. So that Ignite modem that would have to replace my current Hitron Rogers modem which runs in bridge mode, scares me a bit. The routers Rogers has used over years have always been sub-par compared to a pro router such as Ubnt/Mikrotik/Meraki. I use dedicated router and a network of hardwired access points to provide sufficient coverage throughout the entire house and my setup works really nice - access points handle seamless wifi client roaming for devices moving around the house or for load balancing purposes. I guess it won't be an issue to continue using my wifi network the way it is configured now, but will I be able to connect the streaming box(es) to my wifi, or, like Bell, I will be forced to use whatever Wifi their router/modem creates. That's just creating unnecessary wifi interference and will no way work better then the setup I currently have.

Also - will I have to lose my router too, or there is way to pass the public IP to the device behind the new Ignite router?

Can anyone confirm if the entire setup can work of standard Ethernet connections without relying on any wireless connection?

[Datalink]

@ivanpetrov from what I understand so far, the modem will run in Bridge mode without issue, as you do now.  So, if you happen to have a Hitron CODA-4582 modem (Intel Puma 7 chipset) or other modem (Intel Puma 6), swap out your current modem for yet another Intel Puma 7 modem, in this case the Arris XB6 (Intel Puma 7 modem). 

https://wikidevi.com/wiki/Arris_TG3482ER

The X1 will run via 2.4 or 5 Ghz wifi or ethernet.  So, in theory, as long as you don't let the tech lead you astray, swap out the modem and connect the X1 to your ethernet network and carry on....

[ivanpetrov]

Thanks Datalink! That's awesome news!
My current modem says model CGN3