Bell launches new streaming platform
TORONTO — Consumers who hope Bell’s new streaming TV platform will offer an experience that rivals conventional television should temper their expectations, suggest analysts.
Even though the company’s new Alt TV, unveiled Monday, is billed as a lower-cost replacement for traditional cable packages, there are several key differences that could leave some subscribers feeling shortchanged.
“It’s not the same,” said Brahm Eiley, president of Convergence Research Group, an organization that watches Canada’s telecom industry.
“You’re not really getting much of a cutting-edge viewing experience.”
Alt TV is the latest attempt to stem the tide of Canadians who are abandoning their expensive cable packages for low-cost alternatives such as Netflix, CraveTV and Amazon Prime Video. The service lets viewers stream live programs through devices such as Apple TV, on their computers and through smartphones or tablets.
It starts at $14.95 per month for a package of 30 channels, which includes Canadian networks CBC, CTV, Global and City, and the big U.S. networks ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.
More expensive packages, catering to sports fans and movie buffs, are also available, while individual channels can be subscribed to a la carte.
But there are requirements in the fine print.
Subscribers must already be signed up for an “unlimited” plan with Bell’s Fibe Internet service, which is regularly priced starting at $84.95 per month.
Hooking up Alt TV doesn’t require a visit from a cable technician to get started, which will save customers from the hassles of scheduling around their workday. Its mobile app also lets viewers watch their TV package anywhere in the country.
Alt TV is launching first in Ontario and Quebec with plans to expand to Atlantic Canada and Manitoba.
Bell’s product is similar to PikTV, a live streaming service recently launched by Telus Corp. that carries its own additional fees — users must buy a $100 set-top box to watch at home. It is only available in B.C. and Alberta.