Industry Telecommunications Area served OntarioQuebec | Founded September 13, 2010 | |
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Bell Fibe TV is an IP-based television service offered by Bell Canada in Ontario and Quebec. It is bundled with a FTTN or FTTH Bell Internet service, and uses the Ericsson Mediaroom platform. Bell Fibe TV officially launched on September 13, 2010. It is also available in Atlantic Canada, where Fibe TV is re-packaged, being offered by Bell Aliant with similar services and integrated with Bell Fibe TV.
Contents
History
Bell began researching for a new television solution in 2004 in order to penetrate into urban markets where building owners restricted the installation of satellite dishes. The launch of Bell ExpressVu for Condos (VDSL service) proved to be ineffective since that service did not allow for customers to benefit from HD programming and PVR options. In 2006, after much research was done, Bell started testing a new technology called IPTV in Toronto, Quebec City and Montreal with Bell employees using the ADSL platform. In October 2007, Bell finally launched a pilot project of IPTV branded as Bell Entertainment Service in select areas and buildings of Toronto. Most of the features that are now available with Fibe TV were offered with Bell Entertainment Service. Some key traits of Bell Entertainment Service were internet and TV charges being billed as one service, "White Glove" customer service and media sharing. After finalizing testing for the new IPTV service in the following years, Bell finally rolled out a contained launch in Toronto and Montreal under the "Bell Fibe TV" brand name in June 2010 followed by an official launch later that year in September.
On July 19, 2016 Bell Canada stated that its FibreOP TV service available in Atlantic Canada would be integrating with Bell Fibe TV in Ontario and Québec.
On September 6, 2016, Bell announced a change to their Fibe TV service. Beginning in 2017, Bell Fibe TV customers will no longer be required to also sign up for Fibe Internet service in order to access their Fibe TV service.
Availability
Bell Fibe TV is currently available in select areas of Ontario and Quebec. It is also available in Atlantic Canada, where Fibe TV is re-packaged, being offered by Bell Aliant with similar services and integrated with Bell Fibe TV. FibreOP has been rebranded as Fibe. There is constant ongoing expansion in provinces. Those noted being offered by Bell in Ontario and Quebec include:
1Fibe TV in Almonte and Carleton Place is only available in areas that are served by FTTH.
Hardware
Bell Fibe TV receivers are manufactured by Arris formerly Motorola. The three models that are currently being offered to subscribers are the whole home PVR (VIP 2262), wired HD Receiver (VIP 2202) and wireless HD Receiver (VIP 2502). The HD Receiver can only view programming and does not contain a hard drive, however it is able to record and access recorded programs through the networked whole home PVR.
The PVR includes an internal 500GB and 1TB hard disk drive for recording programs. The PVR and wired HD receivers can be connected to the network through either a coaxial cable or Category 5 cable and the wireless HD receiver connects using 5 GHz 802.11n.
Features
Features of Bell Fibe TV include the following:
Channels
Bell Fibe TV provides up to 500 channels (fewer in Atlantic Canada, about half the number available in Ontario) including all major Canadian and US networks, popular specialty services, PPV, sports packages, over 85 international services and over 115 high-definition channels. Key services include:
Internet service
Bell Fibe TV requires a Bell Internet subscription. The speed listed for the Internet connection remains unused for the television service.
With the 25 Mbit/s dedicated bandwidth, it is possible to watch or record up to four channels simultaneously but only up to three in HD. So to view four channels one of them must be in SD.