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?

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[Meowmix]

Hello @tarheel

I was told near Q3 / Q4. That can change however. There is no set date so far. It's still in testing internally.

[DeanLubaki]

Honestly, what are the advantages of X1 versus Bell Fibe TV?

[Sundog1966]

Yeah Bell   was drilling into my soul for 189 a month for tv and internet.

[Sundog1966]

In my case, for example, I am renting from TCHC social housing. i have no control over when they choose to rewire and given thier  billion dollar backlog of repairs I would say rewiring a house is not on thier list at all. Even if it is no cost. If even one tenant refuses entry the entire project could be  put on hold by tchc regardless of what they other  tenats want.

As far as upgrading my box. I just bought a new box online for $250.00. I expect to keep it for at least ten years. My tv is still a 720p flat screen that is five years old so 4k and 8k are of  no value to me. and given that my eyesight is 20/50 better resolution won't help. In my current situation I only get about half of the channels clearly that I am paying for.  Most of them say that channel is  not available and to try again later or they are all broken up.I have had rogers techs out her 11 times so far to fix it and they say it is a problem in the neighborhood and   referred it to second level service. That was six months ago and it has not improved. So X1 really does not seem to offer much value to me unless it works with my existing box and does not require re-wiring of my unit and the building. Unless you own a house and are not renting I don't see that X1 will be a appealing option.

[OLDYELLR]

Well put @Sundog1966. While there are always early adopters who crave to be on the bleeding edge of the latest technology, most of us just want decent TV with no extra expense involved.  After the introduction of digital cable, it was years before analog was no longer supported. I expect it will be the same with X1 IPTV.

 

[Meowmix]

Hello @Sundog1966

I hear you on that. I know many that rather stay with the HD boxes and the older boxes then be beta testers or be early adapters to the new technology.

TCHC won't do much even to renovate their units for anything ( my friend lives in one of those and tells me).

The X1 IPTV is for ones that want the new technology and want it now. I will most likely get my parents to change over as well. They currently have the 4K boxes ( as i do as well).

[BS]

And there are those like myself, who may want to go to the new technology and even love to beta test, but I just can't afford new technology anymore - so anything that keeps my costs for entertainment down is critical at this time in my life.

For those who can get it when it comes and can afford, do enjoy.  Me, I want to use my owned box with basic services for as long as I can get away with it.

And I know I am not alone.

Bruce

[Tmothy12]

Does the new box support Netflix and/or YouTube? Will this mean support will be dropped for all NextBox models?

[Meowmix]

Hello @Tmothy12

Yes from what I have seen it does have those in.

No Rogers will not stop supporting the Nextbox models. They will continue to support them until they fully decommission them in a couple of years.

[Meowmix]

Hey guys!

CEO Joe Natale went live during a phone call conference and said that 5,000 employees have requested service for the company’s upcoming Ignite IPTV platform.

Rogers has also launched the service with its Ontario base of employees, with approximately 1,400 employee homes running the service. “We’re pleased with the employee trials,” said Natale, during the call.

Unfortunately he did not give a set date for the launch for us.

"The next step for Ignite TV is a contained commercial launch. However, Natale didn’t specify when the company plans on launching the service to its customers".

Stay tuned for more information!

[Square]

So where is this beta testing for customers?  I have not heard a peep from any sources that any customers are testing, only that employees are testing.

[Meowmix]

Hello @Square

From a source within, they told me that they will roll it out once the big bugs are out of the way and it's fully capable to be working without major issues. Also they advised me that it may be a couple weeks before the actual launch that some customers get their hands on the beta instead. Not months before as per what they knew.

I'll try and get more information as it comes.

[Tmothy12]

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@Meowmixwrote:
Hello @Square

From a source within, they told me that they will roll it out once the big bugs are out of the way and it's fully capable to be working without major issues. Also they advised me that it may be a couple weeks before the actual launch that some customers get their hands on the beta instead. Not months before as per what they knew.

I'll try and get more information as it comes.

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I am excited for this product and anxious for a concrete date. But I can completely understand and appreciate Rogers taking their time to works things out after Navigatr. It will been even better for it.

[pvanb]

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@Meowmixwrote:
From a source within, they told me that they will roll it out once the big bugs are out of the way and it's fully capable to be working without major issues.

By that measure we'd still be waiting for the current NextBox to be released.

[JeromeM]

Saw a Rogers van today with a big Ignite TV logo on the side....... I wish I could beta test this thing or that they would release it ASAP!!

[gabriel_ko]

The Ignite Tv app is available on iOS right now

[tarheel]

It states the service is available to select Rogers customers. Any idea who those select customers are? I understand select employees have been testing the service for a few months but haven't heard which customers have been selected. Anyone have any information on this subject?

[Meowmix]

Hello @gabriel_ko

Yeah i downloaded the app a couple days ago. It's not really working until Ignite TV is out. The app looks good though

[Meowmix]

Hello @tarheel

Not yet. They will complete that stage soon from what I heard. Its only selected customers that get this.

[Square]

Well, I have been a Rogers Customer since 1978!  I guess because I haven't been selected yet, 40 years loyalty has no say in the matter?, LOL

[OLDYELLR]

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@Square wrote:

Well, I have been a Rogers Customer since 1978!  I guess because I haven't been selected yet, 40 years loyalty has no say in the matter?, LOL

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I've been a Rogers customer since cable came to my area,  mid-1980s if I recall. I've never been offered any free cutting edge technology for my loyalty, but I did receive one perk  In 2009 I got a call from Rogers offering me a free discontinued SD PVR and a digital package at a discount for less than I was then paying. I thought that was pretty good. Of course, by now my cable bill has doubled, getting close to $100.