MrShag
join:2006-07-09
Hamilton, ON | IPTV? Is there any idea when you guys will be releasing IPTV?
Thanks.
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UBB - Universal Butt Banged. Thank-you Bell My I have another. |
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| reply to MrShag
Obviously, only TSI staff can officially reply to the question, but I can sure speculate.
I highly doubt that TSI would ever become a television carrier. Typically, only incumbents do that as it requires a massive amount of capital on a scale that smaller/indie providers don't have the power or resources to acquire. |
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| I would also wonder if the risk that type of venture would require a seperate company in case it tanks. Would be curious to see what a IPTV / Netflix / Hulu like service created by TSI would look like. Lots of potential as the Canadian market is wide open. Netflix needs some encouragement (read: competition) to get it's Canadian library improved. |
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plebelPremium
join:2011-01-27
Ottawa, ON | reply to NytOwl
Perhaps they could do it in partnership with a dedicated IPTV provider that already holds a Canadian broadcast license. Perhaps a company such as VMedia?
»vmedia.ca/ |
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 GuspazGuspazPremium,MVM
join:2001-11-05
Montreal, QC
kudos:20 | reply to NytOwl
said by NytOwl:Obviously, only TSI staff can officially reply to the question, but I can sure speculate.
I highly doubt that TSI would ever become a television carrier. Typically, only incumbents do that as it requires a massive amount of capital on a scale that smaller/indie providers don't have the power or resources to acquire.
They've said officially on many different occasions that they want to do it. They worked on reselling ExpressVu for a while, but that didn't go anywhere. They're currently working on an IPTV offering, as they've said during CRTC proceedings, but if they have serious plans for it is beyond me.
It's not impossible to do; Colba already has such an offering, and Acanac/Distributel is on the verge of launching one. The problem is that the CRTC's current regulations require an IPTV provider to restrict their service to customers strictly over their own network, with an address attached to the line. This means that Colba can only sell IPTV to Colba customers (although they'll sell an IPTV-only dry loop), Acanac/Distributel can only sell IPTV to Acanac/Distributel customers, etc.
VMedia's approach is to be the supplier; they will sell wholesale IPTV services to an ISP. The ISP can offer television service to their subscribers by the CRTC's rules, but they don't have to do any of the back-end work to build the offering besides possibly getting the BDU license (not sure how the requirements work in that case).
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Developer: Tomato/MLPPP, Linux/MLPPP, etc »fixppp.org |
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| reply to MrShag
Any recent news regarding TekSavvy and IPTV?
Seems like Acanac is already beta testing and almost ready to roll theirs out. The channel offering seems to be same as bell FibeTV |
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 TSI MarcPremium,VIP
join:2006-06-23
Chatham, ON
kudos:14 | We're interested in doing it but we currently have no such plans. I looked into it extensively a couple years ago and found it problematic for a number of reasons. I felt like it was all more of a headache than anything.
Right now our plans are simply to do what we're already doing, but better. Seems that's what people want from us so I'm inclined to oblige.
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Marc - CEO/TekSavvy |
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Guru
join:2008-10-01
kudos:2 Reviews:
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| said by TSI Marc:Right now our plans are simply to do what we're already doing, but better. Seems that's what people want from us so I'm inclined to oblige.
Glad you accepted that and noticed!
Appreciate it. |
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GuspazGuspazPremium,MVM
join:2001-11-05
Montreal, QC
kudos:20 | reply to TSI Marc
said by TSI Marc:We're interested in doing it but we currently have no such plans. I looked into it extensively a couple years ago and found it problematic for a number of reasons. I felt like it was all more of a headache than anything.
Right now our plans are simply to do what we're already doing, but better. Seems that's what people want from us so I'm inclined to oblige.
What about solutions such as VMedia which are intended to basically let you wholesale IPTV? The idea is that they provide all the IPTV stuff, and you provide the physical network the CRTC requires to reach customers (the whole IPTV BDU requirement that it can't leave your network thing)?
I ask because there's a factor beyond just the business proposition here, in that TekSavvy customers are barred from getting IPTV service unless it comes through TekSavvy. We're forbidden to subscribe to FibeTV, Zazeen IPTV, or Colba IPTV (the three IPTV services widely available at the moment, I believe).
Basically, for somebody like me who can't get satellite, Videotron has a complete monopoly on television service so long as I remain a TekSavvy customer, so the inability to get IPTV is an incentive to switch away from TSI.
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Developer: Tomato/MLPPP, Linux/MLPPP, etc »fixppp.org |
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TSI MarcPremium,VIP
join:2006-06-23
Chatham, ON
kudos:14 | That's all true. I'd love to find something that works for us. I'm not sure that VMedia is it.
I guess I feel that getting into TV just to do the same as what's already out there that everybody seemingly is moving away from.. Just doesn't make sense to me. I'm not convinced that there's even a business there after everybody else takes their cut.
Then you have Netflix, Apple TV, Boxee, Xbox, PS more and more content is available online now and Satelite service from Shaw and BEV is also available everywhere.
I'm also happy to let somebody else blow their brains out on it first, iron out all the kinks, get a better glimpse of what the future has in store since this is changing so rapidly. The Bell-Astral stuff working its way through still also... Let alone that usage rates, if they stay the way they are completely kills any of this anyway. Our usage on DSL keeps going up and up and up even though our growth on DSL is fairly flat. We're about to launch Cogeco before the year is over and frankly, I don't know why since we'll probably loose money on any signups. It's a pure bet that CRTC will come to their senses on the UBB stuff that's playing out still like 5 years after it started....
I guess you could say I've been around the block long enough to know to choose my battles carefully. To me the UBB battle isn't over yet. It's very real and I don't think people have fully realized just how precarious a situation we're all in at the moment. Combine that with the fact that we spent so many resources a few years back that it really distracted us from what we do and I just won't be caught doing the same thing again.
Even with all of that though, would I love doing it? Hell yeah! But it has to be right and I don't think it is yet.
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TSI MarcPremium,VIP
join:2006-06-23
Chatham, ON
kudos:14 | reply to Guru
You'll be the judge of that! 
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Marc - CEO/TekSavvy |
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Guru
join:2008-10-01
kudos:2 | You never know!  |
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| reply to MrShag
Fair enough haha. Hopefully IPTV is viable in the future. Going to have to get rid of Rogers for now, TV costs are too much to get any multicultural or useful channels. And can't get access to FibeTV without crappy low cap bell DSL. |
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| reply to TSI Marc
said by TSI Marc:That's all true. I'd love to find something that works for us. I'm not sure that VMedia is it.
I guess I feel that getting into TV just to do the same as what's already out there that everybody seemingly is moving away from.. Just doesn't make sense to me. I'm not convinced that there's even a business there after everybody else takes their cut.
Then you have Netflix, Apple TV, Boxee, Xbox, PS more and more content is available online now and Satelite service from Shaw and BEV is also available everywhere.
I'm also happy to let somebody else blow their brains out on it first, iron out all the kinks, get a better glimpse of what the future has in store since this is changing so rapidly. The Bell-Astral stuff working its way through still also... Let alone that usage rates, if they stay the way they are completely kills any of this anyway. Our usage on DSL keeps going up and up and up even though our growth on DSL is fairly flat. We're about to launch Cogeco before the year is over and frankly, I don't know why since we'll probably loose money on any signups. It's a pure bet that CRTC will come to their senses on the UBB stuff that's playing out still like 5 years after it started....
I guess you could say I've been around the block long enough to know to choose my battles carefully. To me the UBB battle isn't over yet. It's very real and I don't think people have fully realized just how precarious a situation we're all in at the moment. Combine that with the fact that we spent so many resources a few years back that it really distracted us from what we do and I just won't be caught doing the same thing again.
Even with all of that though, would I love doing it? Hell yeah! But it has to be right and I don't think it is yet.
well you might attract some animators like myself into adding content others DO NOT have.... one aspect you prolly note that a in canada from canucks might be attractive....
It actually is far more appealing for indies to start out with ya and build up then it would be to go on there own and its one way artists might get a better rate of compensation while not worrying as much about getting screwed by a big label....i bet you could get some serious talent rolling in no time....and with a pool around ya as a creator it might be easier to get "other" projects done that might otherwise take longer....just a two cents as i noticed this. |
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TSI MarcPremium,VIP
join:2006-06-23
Chatham, ON
kudos:14 | I'd be all for that.. Sounds interesting for sure. That doesn't sound like an easy thing to get going though. We'll keep doing our homework though and if we see opportunities that are a good fit for us you can be sure we'll play our part.
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| reply to TSI Marc
said by Guspaz:Basically, for somebody like me who can't get satellite, Videotron has a complete monopoly on television service so long as I remain a TekSavvy customer, so the inability to get IPTV is an incentive to switch away from TSI.
said by TSI Marc:Then you have Netflix, Apple TV, Boxee, Xbox, PS more and more content is available online now and Satelite service from Shaw and BEV is also available everywhere.
Netflix and these other services killed blockbuster/brick and mortar stores, but TV is a service, with a programming schedule and live shows, its something entirely different.
And if we always have the CRTC on our back were going to have this TV idea anyways, because you cant just sell channels online, it needs to be tied down into this service, area by area, locally.
Guspaz wants it and you made it clear youre not selling it. ok.
but dont go saying satellite is available everywhere, some people live in condos that are not allowed, apartments that point in the wrong direction, or a house thats blocked by a neighboring high rise or even a tall tree, or its raining or its snowing and you cant get signal. There. lots of reasons. but i find it very odd that you would ignore the well respected poster before you who just said he cant get satellite.
not to mention that the big boys are bundling up deals and stealing your customers because you dont sell it..... |
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| reply to TSI Marc
Ever thought of talking to Netflix to get a price discount for Teksavvy customers by including Netflix with your internet plans? Having only the highest tiers including Netflix like 28/1 300Gb w/Netflix for $50 and 28/1 unlimited w/Netflix for $65. It might encourage uses onto the higher tiers to get Netflix at a discounted price. |
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 mlernerPremium
join:2000-11-25
Nepean, ON
kudos:5 | I agree with the netflix idea. I know they are always looking for more promotion and opportunities so some kind of partnership or discount deal might be attractive for both companies.
I tend to agree with you Marc, the TV system may not survive much longer and so stepping in with both feet in a muddy pool might not be the best option.
Not to say that Netflix couldn't fold and someone else could be the next big internet content company but I don't see Bell, Rogers or any TV provider sticking out in the long run. |
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TheMGPremium
join:2007-09-04
Canada
kudos:1 | reply to graniterock
said by graniterock:Would be curious to see what a IPTV / Netflix / Hulu like service created by TSI would look like. Lots of potential as the Canadian market is wide open. Netflix needs some encouragement (read: competition) to get it's Canadian library improved.
The main problem would be getting licensing for the content. Creating the service itself is not difficult (relatively speaking), it's acquiring the content which is extremely difficult.
Licensing issues are the main reason why Netflix Canada's library is so limited compared to the US. Licensing is also the reason why some video and music streaming services such as Hulu and Pandora are not available here. |
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