BellTV moves GSN

[Mystic]

I've subscribed to GSN since 1997 and it was always part of the fun & games programming package for $4.99/month.

Now BellTV has ceased this programming package and moved GSN to the highest upper tier programming package; and I was notified today that if I wish to continue receiving GSN, I will have to pay $40 more per month for this new package!

Yes, I will also receive 50 more channels including GSN, but I could live without them. I'm very nostalgic about GSN, but the only show I watch now is Match Game 74/75, but I'm pretty sure I already have all of them now on DVD now. The same for Pyramid and Card Sharks.

If B&W Over Night, or a retro-classic game show block was still on the network, I would upgrade my programming without hesitation, I just don't know anymore... I've never been faced with this, and competition for alternatives where I live is pretty limited.

I suppose what I'm doing in this post is trying to justify the extra cost for only 1 or 2 hours per day, if that.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this, and I thank you for your thoughts about this.

[DialgaChampion]

Maybe it's different in Quebec... from what I see on the Ontario Bell TV website, it shows GSN as part of the "Family 1" theme pack...

Anyways, I'm currently signed up with Shaw Direct, so maybe if they're available in your area, see about switching to them? Granted, Shaw has been raising their prices to what's practically now identical to Bell's prices, but at least Shaw lets you customize your channels more than Bell does. Bell usually packages all of their channels into theme packs, forcing you to choose an entire pack of channels, even though you might only want 1 channel in that pack of 5 to 7 that you're forced to take.

At least with Shaw's customer representatives, they're willing to help you cut your bill down. I've been with them since May 2009 and recently, they reduced my monthly satellite tv bill from $80 to about $64 by just removing duplicate Canadian channels I never even wanted in the first place (like CTV Calgary for example). Through the last few years though, I've seen Shaw's "Digital Favorites" bundle (which I used to be signed up on) jump from $44.99 to $48.99 to $51.99 to $56.99 to now $58.99/month (which is sadly on par with Bell's "Digital Essentials" bundle for $60/month and you only get 6 theme packs with it).

A few years ago, I remember the CRTC (though I hate them with a passion) saying something about in 2011, they would be introducing a bill to change the way satellite tv providers in Canada package their channels. Right now I think there's some sort of law that in theme packs, U.S. channels must be bundled with an equal amount of Canadian channels to promote Canadian content. But hopefully this'll change if the CRTC changes this...

Honestly Mystic, we may have to move to the U.S. soon. Have you seen the prices for DirecTV and Dish Network? Only about $40/month for the same number of channels we get right now (if not more). And the Canadian Dollar is even higher than the U.S. Dollar at the moment, yet we're still paying more than 50% in comparison to the U.S. prices.

[Mystic]

Yeah, Bell in Quebec seems to have removed the theme packages altogether, and now only offer "Top Anglo", "Top Franco", "Top Bilingual", "Best of the Best", and GSN is located on the latter. They also allow you to pick your channels, but GSN is for some reason excluded from this list.

I'm going to call Bell up tomorrow to see if they can do something for me, because obviously they're hiding all of the options that I should have just so I have to pay more...

I'd dump Bell altogether and go with Dish or DTV in a second if it became available up here. They weren't shy about dumping me down to basics, why should I be shy about doing the same with them.

[DialgaChampion]

This is what unfortunately happens when monopolies like Bell and Rogers try to take over the entire Canadian market and shove their unfair regulations down everyone else's throats.

Mind you, if everyone in Canada who's currently signed up with Bell decided to cancel their television services with them, I'm sure they'd have a change of heart come their prices and packages. Doubt that will happen anytime soon though.

[Mystic]

They say the same thing about gas prices. We're paying about $1.50/litre here, which comes to almost $5.00 a gallon! If everyone stopped buying gas for just one day, or boycott one particular gas company, it would show them that the customer is in control!

I'm going to call them up and see if they can do something for me, perhaps a package that includes this channel. I'm not sure what will come of it, I don't want to have to cancel, but if that's what it takes, I know I could go to Shaw, even if they aren't any cheaper, they would offer me GSN without paying $130/month!

[DialgaChampion]

Not sure if it will work, but maybe try using the tactic of "If you don't reduce my bill, I'll sign with another company" when you speak to Bell.

I know for a fact that Shaw takes that phrase very seriously and is more focused on customer satisfaction.

[Mystic]

I don't mind the channel selection options, but I'm sure I won't watch all 500 of them. Also, most of the channels are owned by the same company, so the same shows appear on all the channels. Atleast with the American channels, you get different shows on each channel, so it makes it worth paying to get each channel, plus like you said, it costs a lot less than what I'm paying now.