Bell ExpressVu considering FreeSat service for delivering OTA networks
Canada's own Bell ExpressVu is currently mulling an interesting plan that could bring "free" OTA networks to folks faraway from towers and terrified of paying a cable provider for TV service. Dubbed FreeSat, the proposed service would give Canadians "free access to a limited number of high-definition channels," all of which would be local OTA (read: not pay-TV) networks. It wasn't revealed how much the receiver itself would cost, nor was it clear if broadcasters would be kosher with the idea. Bell Canada argues that the plan would give the aforementioned networks a way to get their content to more customers without "huge investments" in new transmission towers, but of course, there is always more than one side to the story. Needless to say, we can't imagine this being the last time we hear of this endeavor.
Filed under: OTA, Satellite, New content
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
KC @ Apr 11th 2008 5:09PM
Perhaps they are just throwing the million or so folks around Canada with a free to air DVB box a bone.... I mean, Bell could still take a piece of the ad revenue and the installed user base is already there....
EQC @ Apr 11th 2008 5:19PM
That would make me so happy. As long as the start-up cost is much less than the cost of a TV ($300 at most), and there are no maintenance costs (ie: the dish on my roof doesn't need professional adjustment every now and then...they won't change things so I have to buy new decoder boxes, etc...), I could really go for this. I only watch OTA network TV now, but will be moving to a location where reception is awful pretty soon...I'd love to not have to pay $50 for cable/satellite every month just to get channels that should be free.