From: brewnoserii@gmail.com   
      
   The profiteering corporations don't want to lose a dime, do they?   
   Here's the 'skinny' on them . . . .   
   _________________________________________   
   CBC News Posted: Feb 26, 2016   
      
   Bell tells staff to downplay new $25 basic TV package ordered by CRTC   
   Company is trying to make new, cheap TV package unattractive, Bell employee   
   believes   
      
      
   Bell Canada is directing sales staff not to promote its new basic $24.95   
   "Starter" TV package, according to a recent internal training document   
   obtained by CBC News.   
      
   The "Starter" pack will be unveiled Sunday, the document indicates.  By March   
   1, to comply with new CRTC rules, all TV service providers must offer a   
   "skinny" basic package costing no more than $25 a month, plus additional   
   pick-and-pay channel options.   
      
   The Bell document also shows that add-ons to the basic "Starter" pack can   
   become so costly that what was supposed to be a good deal for Canadians could   
   wind up, in some cases, costing more than their current cable bill.   
      
      
   Bell Canada   
      
   Bell is telling employees not to promote its new, cheap basic TV package,   
   according to an internal company document obtained by CBC News. (Galit   
   Rodan/Canadian Press)   
      
   One Bell employee who has seen the document told CBC News he believes that   
   Bell's aim is to make the basic "Starter" package as unattractive as possible.   
   He claims that's because the company wants customers investing in pricier   
   deals.   
      
   "They're making the skinny basic package simply unbuyable," he said. "What's   
   been explained to me is that maybe one per cent of people would be interested   
   in getting it."   
      
   The Bell worker asked to remain anonymous, because he fears retribution from   
   the company.   
      
      
   Downplay the 'Starter' pack   
      
   The Bell training document states: "Do not promote the Starter TV package.    
   There will be no advertising, and this package should only be discussed if the   
   customer initiates the conversation."   
      
   It also shows that costs for the Fibe TV "Starter" pack can go much higher   
   than the initial $24.95 monthly fee.  The plan comes with about 20 mandatory   
   Canadian channels. Customers can then add individual pick-and-pay channels   
   priced at either $4 or $7.   
      
   As with other packages, people will also have to shell out extra monthly fees   
   for the TV receiver or box rental and high definition programming.  In   
   addition, according to the document, to get Fibe TV, customers must subscribe   
   to a Bell internet package.   
      
   On top of that, according to another apparent Bell training document posted   
   online, the company will not offer any deals to "Starter" customers.   
      
   The document said there will be no bundle discounts, no hardware or PVR deals,   
   and "no TV sweetener offers" with the package.   
      
   Fibe is Bell's high-speed fibre optic network. It also offers separate plans   
   for satellite TV.   
      
   The Bell document obtained by CBC News lays out the pricing for the Fibe   
   "Starter" with some add-ons.   
      
   Combined with ultra-high-speed internet, a couple of $7 pick-and-pay channels   
   and the TV box rental, according to Bell's own calculations, a customer would   
   pay a total of $130.35.   
      
   That's more than five times the initial price of the basic package.   
      
   CBC News reached out to the CRTC and asked if Bell could require customers to   
   buy Bell internet when signing up for the "Starter" basic pack, as indicated   
   in the company document.   
      
   Soon after, we heard from a Bell employee who told us that "Starter TV no   
   longer has to be linked with internet.  [Bell] just backed off."   
      
   CBC News asked the company for a response to this story.  "Sorry I wouldn't   
   comment on anonymous claims or documents you are finding," Bell spokeswoman   
   Jacqueline Michelis said in an email.   
      
   She also wouldn't confirm any details about the "Starter" pack.  "We wouldn't   
   pre-announce pricing," she said.  "It's a competitive business."   
      
   Michelis added:  "We will follow all CRTC rules, we always do."   
      
      
   Keep it on the down low?   
      
   The CRTC regulations mandating a $25 basic "skinny" TV pack and added   
   pick-and-pay channels were designed to give viewers more choice.  The rules   
   were created in response to customer complaints that they were paying too much   
   for big bundles of channels    
   just to get the ones they want.   
      
       $25 basic cable package must be in place by March 1   
      
       Cord-cutting ramps up, while cable providers ready for pick-and-pay TV   
      
   Industry analysts have speculated that providers are not eager to promote the   
   basic package, because it could inspire customers to pare down their TV plans.   
      
   "They`re not making any profit off of this package and what they`re doing is,   
   they`re downplaying the idea of this being a benefit to customers," said   
   Daniel Bader, senior editor with the tech site Mobile Nations.   
      
   Just days before the final March 1 deadline, major TV providers Bell, Telus   
   and Rogers have yet to publicly release the details of their new offerings.   
      
   Like the Bell employee, a Rogers worker has also told CBC News that the cable   
   provider had instructed staff to downplay its $24.99 "Starter" pack that will   
   be unveiled March 1.   
      
   Rogers denied this, claiming the company instead told employees to make it   
   clear to customers that the downsized deal wouldn't be the right fit for   
   everyone.   
      
      
   Obligated to advertise   
      
   The CRTC has told CBC News that TV providers are obligated to advertise the   
   new "skinny" basic pack and pick-and-pay options.   
      
   "[We] will certainly be following through on ensuring that they promote this   
   package and these opportunities as well as they promote their other packages,"   
   Scott Hutton, the CRTC's executive director of broadcasting, said several days   
   ago.   
      
   But that doesn't mean much, journalist Greg O'Brien, who closely covers the   
   Canadian TV industry, told CBC News.  He writes for the online publication   
   Cartt.ca.   
      
   He predicts TV providers will give the new cheap package some obligatory   
   attention, but that it will be limited.   
      
   "No one sells basic cable.  So, skinny basic will be there, but it's not going   
   to be on top," says O'Brien.   
   ___________________________________   
      
      
       Cable firms slow to share details about 'skinny' package   
       Cable companies mum on pick-and-pay   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)