TV Channels
Available in Nova Scotia

from Star Choice
via digital direct-to-home satellite transmission

July 1998

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Star Choice
Direct To Home Satellite Television

Source: Star Choice website, 25 July 1998
http://www.starchoice.com/programming/east/listings/listings.html
1-888-554-STAR

Star Choice channels
available in Nova Scotia

July 1998

200 Pay-Per-View Preview
205 Pay-Per-View Events
305 CBC (from Toronto)
312 CTV (from Toronto)
315 CTV News 1
321 ABC (New York City)
322 CBS (Raleigh, NC)
323 NBC (Buffalo)
324 Fox (Buffalo)
325 PBS (Buffalo)
360 ASN (Halifax)
361 Citytv
362 Global (Toronto)
399 The Weather Channel
400 TSN
403 Headline Sports
406 Speedvision
409 The Golf Channel
420 MuchMusic
421 CMT
422 TNN
430 WTBS (Atlanta)
431 WGN (Chicago)
432 WPIX
433 KTLA (Los Angeles)
440 CNN (Atlanta)
442 CBC Newsworld
450 Discovery
451 Life
452 The Learning Channel
453 A & E (East)
454 Showcase (East)
456 Bravo!
457 Outdoor Life
462 WTN (The Women's Network)
470 Home & Garden TV
482 History Television
500 YTV (East)
502 Teletoon (East)
510 Family Channel (East)
520 Treehouse
556 Vision (East)
571 Comedy (East)
590 Space: The Imagination Station
601 TMN1 (East)
602 TMN2 (East)
603 TMN3 (East)
604 TMN4 (East)
620 MoviePix (East)
680 Playboy
700 Societe Radio - Canada (East)
711 RDI (East)
712 Le Canal Nouvelles TVA (East)
720 RDS (East)
730 TVA - Tele Metropole (East)
731 Canal D (East)
732 Canal Vie (East)
740 TQS (East)
745 Tele-Quebec (East)
750 TV5 - La Television Internationale
760 MusiquePlus (East)
770 Canal Famille (East)
771 Teletoon Francais (East)
780 Super Ecran1 (East)
781 Super Ecran2 (East)
795 MeteoMedia
801 CPAC
803 The Shopping Channel
850 Telelatino
851 Fairchild

ATV is not included, which means the viewer
does not have the option to see
the highest-rated (most viewers)
local Maritime Provinces newscast.
The Nova Scotia viewer using this service also
will not receive the local news on CBC or CTV.
These channels are fed from Toronto.
The only local (Nova Scotia) news supplied
by Star Choice is that shown on ASN.
The sales people do not volunteer this information,
and you will not find it in any advertising.

The above list is not wholly up to date (even though it was obtained directly from the company's website). The Star Choice website, at "Latest Programs" http://www.starchoice.com/home/press/programming/p_mid.html states CKVR (Toronto) is now "available nationally." Likewise, WSBK (Boston) is said to be now "available nationally." But there is no mention of CKVR or of WSBK in this list. I do not know what channel numbers they have been assigned to.

The Movie Network's TMN 1, TMN 2, TMN 3, and TMN 4 are four separate channels. TMN 1 carries programming 24 hours a day. TMN 2, TMN 3, and TMN 4 play the same movies as the main 24-hour channel (TMN 1) but on different days and times. Before 1 August 1998, TMN 2 began at 6:00pm, TMN 3 at 7:00pm, and TMN 4 at 8:00pm, and all three ceased operation at 3:00am. Beginning on 1 August, TMN 2, TMN 3, and TMN 4 all begin operating at 12:00 noon, and continue until 3:00am. [I assume these times are given for the Eastern Time Zone. The company's website does not mention what time zone is applicable.]

Fairchild Television is Canada's only national Chinese language television network.

Star Choice does not allow each customer to pick and choose individual channels. Instead, there are assorted programming packages, with contents chosen by the company, and the customer is required to choose from the available packages.

ICS Comment, written 25 July 1998:
On 11 July 1998, The Globe and Mail page B6, gave the answer "God only knows" to the question "What does the company offer?" This comment was directed toward the rate structures of telephone companies, notorious for their sheer complexity and incomprehensibility.

But a similar comment could properly be made about these satellite television programming packages, a confusing mish-mash that would make any telephone company rate manager proud.

Yesterday, a satellite television salesman called at my home, to persuade me to abandon my existing cable television service and buy a home satellite receiving dish. I was inclined to make the change to the satellite system, until I tried to figure out just what it would cost, per month, for me to get the channels I wanted. Eventually, I gave up. It was not possible for me to get a clear idea of how much it would cost, per month, for the channels I wanted. None of the packages offered were really attractive, for me. Diabolically, each package included just one channel I wanted.

For a comparison with my existing service, from what was available I worked out the satellite channel arrangement that was, as far as I could tell, the closest possible to what I now have. The best I could do would be this: I would have one additional channel (Bravo) which I want but do not now receive, and would lose one channel (ATV) which I now get, and want, but Star Choice does not carry. I would lose all Nova Scotia newscasts except ASN. This arrangement would cost about double what the local analog coaxial company charges. Double the monthly cost, and about $1149 up front to buy the equipment.

According to the hype, one of the more important advantages of digital television, compared to the old analog coaxial systems, is the ability of a digital system to offer customers individual channel choices. But, when it came time to buy, it was a different story. I asked the salesman if I could choose individual channels (because none of the advertised packages was even close to what I wanted) and was told no. Individual channel choices was not an option. I had to choose one or more of the pre-arranged packages.

I have decided to stay with my existing coaxial analog cable company. The fact that it would cost me about $1149 up front, to buy the receiving equipment, had something to do with it, but the deciding factor was the unattractive but compulsory channel groupings.

Below is a summary of the programming packages now (July 1998) available in Nova Scotia from Star Choice satellite television. It is as accurate as I can make it, but there is no guarantee that this really is what the company was offering. This summary for Nova Scotia was extracted from the company's website, and from a single page circular which described the complicated array of Star Choice's programming packages all across Canada. (The most complex offering, by far, for any single province was for Manitoba.) All of these prices were before tax -- to get the actual cost to the customer add 15% sales tax. The circular says effective January 31, 1998.

Package Prices

Package Contents

Note the absurdly misnamed "Your Choice" packages. The company has named these "Your Choice", meaning you, the customer. But the whole point of these packages is to narrowly restrict the customer's choices. These packages really are The Company's choice, not Your Choice.

More Choices

With the purchase of TMN & MoviePix, you get WGN, WPIX, and KTLA free of charge.

The Fine Print

"Your Choice and More Choice programming must accompany a Total Choice Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum package ... All prices, packages, and programming are subject to change without notice ... Star Choice reserves the right to change or remove channels without notice or without an abatement in the programming packages."

Promotional Offer

From http://www.starchoice.com/home/press/promos.html:

Starting July 1st, 1998, you can receive up to $200 in free programming with the purchase of a Star Choice 411 or 411 Deluxe satellite system, depending on your choice of programming package*:

Credit will be applied to your account at the time of activation based on programming package chosen; initial programming package chosen must be used for duration of credit. Credit cannot be combined with any of Star Choice trade-in offers. Credit not applied to taxes. Offer valid until August 31st, or while quantities last.
* Offer valid on all English, French and Bilingual Packages.
** Commercial Choice programming packages are available in public viewing areas. Public viewing areas include bars, restaurants, doctor's offices, car dealerships, etc. They do not include apartment or hotel systems. For more information on Commercial Choice programming, contact your local Star Choice dealer.

The "Diamond" and "Nickel" packages are a mystery to me.
Nowhere else have I seen any mention of these.

Star Choice's attention to detail is illustrated in their "Retailers Nearest You" webpage at http://www.starchoice.com/retailers/c_ns.html which includes the following 'cities' in Nova Scotia which have Star Choice retailers:
  • Borwick
  • Buddeek
  • Lockport
  • Sidney
  • Sweet Harbour
  • Timberley

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Latest revision: 1998 July 27