Canada Rolls Out $25 “Skinny Bundles”

Under new rules adopted a year ago by the country’s broadcast regulator, cable and satellite TV companies must include a basic service package for $25 or less as part of their packaging options.

If you’re looking to trim down your cable T-V or satellite package, today’s your lucky day.

Channel lineups must include at least 10 local or regional stations, as well as education programming and legislative channels where available.

Consumers will be able to add individual channels, or bundles, if they desire more variety.

Peter Miller, a consultant, said that market research conducted by Nordicity at the end of 2015 had indicated a small percentage of Canadian viewers will opt for basic services in the coming years.

The CRTC mandated all cable providers must offer one of those choices by March 1, and must offer both options to consumers by December.

“[We] will certainly be following through on ensuring that they promote this package and these opportunities as well as they promote their other packages”, said Scott Hutton, the CRTC’s executive director of broadcasting.

Bell TV has already taken heat this week for reportedly telling staff to downplay the new package, and to refrain from mentioning it unless customers asked about it first. Consumers can top their plan up with channels that are not included in their skinny package.

The new CRTC rules also include a provision requiring all extra channels be offered individually by December.

Now they are required to offer channels either individually or in small packages of up to 10 channels.

But new customers selecting that plan must pay another $7 monthly for an HD receiver, or $15 monthly for an HD PVR rental, or $499 to purchase the unit.

“In a pick-and-pay environment, some channels may be more expensive on an individual basis because they will no longer be cross-subsidized with others in large packages”, the regulator said in a statement Monday.

However, last month, the CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais warned the regulatory body will be on the lookout for anti-consumer behaviour. Service providers can add access to channels in the USA, such as NBC, FOX, ABC and PBS.

“I urge them to make the products they sell even better for Canadians, and put viewers – their customers – back in control of their televisions”, he said.

The CRTC says they heard from more than 13,000 people during consultations that led to the changes, but whether or not this will stem the flow of cord-cutters remains to be seen.