How is this new or different?

[jonyblazecda]

Oh VMedia, since cutting my cable chord 3-4 months ago I've been doing a ton of research on alternate options here in Canada. I had high hopes for you folks when I read about you. I told many folks to keep my eye on your launch and now here it is and I'm so let down.

I had hoped that I would see the following:
- True a la carte options
- ISP agnostic
- Aggressive pricing
- Cloud based PVR options

Instead what you have launched with is the polar opposite. First in order to join, users must switch to you as an ISP. I asked support why and their answer was because you are an iptv service. That answer makes zero sense. You are simply a re-seller of Bell and Rogers ISP offering so why do I need to switch from my current Rogers or Bell re-seller to you? Next up is your channel line up. Great job, but the fundamental complaint of all Canadians in this space is that we want to pick and choose what channels we want and pay for them. We don't want anyone else deciding what channels we want packaged up. Even the press you did leading up to your launch mentioned this and yet what did you end up doing? You offer packages. Lastly, I'm not sure why you made such an effort to have a whole app section. Especially when it's all the same apps I already get on my Apple TV, Xbox, Roku, iPad etc. I don't want another device that has the same stuff, I want something new.

I really did have high hopes for you guys and want to see a Canadian company succeed in offering something that will truly change the landscape of the tv market here and really push the boundaries but you have some work to do and I hope you can get on track. When you do I'll be here ready to sign up and spend my money with you and support you. In the meantime best of luck.

[GeorgeBurger]

Hi Jony, you have the honour of being the very first post on our forum, welcome!

Let me try to respond to your comments as best I can.

1. Regarding a la carte and choice, we have a box at the top of our TV section which was intended to clearly state that our UChoose pick a pack and standalone options are not fully assembled yet, but we are close to lighting them up with about 40 UChoose channels and close to 60 standalones. When lit they will make us one of if not the most flexible services in Ontario. If you missed the box let me know, otherwise we will take a look at making the messaging better.

2. We are ISP agnostic, to the extent we can assure that we stay on side with our channel suppliers' expectations. We have agency deals with a half dozen ISPs, including CIKTel, ***********, Coextro and others, with more in the works. Best to check with your ISP to see if they make us available to their subscribers. If they do you would be able to skip the internet section of our site on your way to checkout. If they don't tell, them to call us and make a deal.

3. I am not sure how we fell short on aggressive pricing. We beat all other Basics by nearly 40%, and in the case of many people in our target market, that is a hurdle they have to overcome to get to what they want. No choice, regulations. We have made it the most painless in the English-language markets as far as we know. The packages are also very competitive.

4. We are chomping at the bit to provide NPVR but current channel supply agreements don't allow it. We will work on it believe me, because the NPVR we have developed for our OTT multicultural services is state of the art and we are dying to roll it out.

As for the apps, not sure what you mean by a device offering something new. We don't create apps, we provide access to them. And we do so better than any other BDU or MSO in North America. The point you make about XBox and Roku and Apple only speaks to the unique features of our VBox. With our VBox, you don't need other appliances for most of your online interests. That was central to our purpose in developing it, and central to our value proposition.

Sorry if we let you down, but stay tuned, and thanks for your best wishes.

[jonyblazecda]

Thanks George for getting back to me.

1) That's great news about the flexibility to come with the a la carte options. I'll wait to see how that plays out.

2) I'm still not sure I understand your answer here. What does who or how I connect to the web with have to do with your service? As you are an IPTV service isn't it simply dependent on my connection speed and ultimately if I have unlimited access to prevent any overages? I'd like to understand why you need to do deals with specific ISP's and where is that full list?

3) My point here was that if all you are doing is offering packages then you are doing the same as the vendors that as a consumer we are trying to get away from. Sure you may offer different packages at different prices, but it's still a package and I don't want to swallow any channels I don't want.

4) I look forward to you rolling out the NPVR product.

5) You made my point here. Most consumers have at least one of the other devices for apps (iPad, Roku, PS, XBox, AppleTV etc) so in my mind you providing that is not a unique selling feature. I'd rather see you focus on doing one thing great and that is provide full choice to the consumer on a way to get what TV channels they want via an alternate source at a decent price.

As I said before, hit that nail on the head and I'll be the first to sign up! Thanks.

[magic]

2. We are ISP agnostic, to the extent we can assure that we stay on side with our channel suppliers' expectations. We have agency deals with a half dozen ISPs, including CIKTel, ***********, Coextro and others, with more in the works. Best to check with your ISP to see if they make us available to their subscribers. If they do you would be able to skip the internet section of our site on your way to checkout. If they don't tell, them to call us and make a deal.
.

Hi George Burger,

Is this true or not? I have CIKTel internet and I can't skip the internet section of the site, even if I select CIKTel as my current internet provider. Before I bought a VBOX from Canada Computers I read this post, and I even confirmed that VMedia TV will work with CIKTel internet with your on-line chat support. Plus they are still listed in the "Transmission Agents" section of the website. But when I try to sign up on-line and skip the internet section as you indicated, I can't. If I call VMedia phone support I'm told that VMedia TV will not work with any other internet provider.

What's the true story?