Canceled channels

[1234561]

Telus is losing basically all the channels I watch (MTV, hgtv, cooking, bravo). This feels like a  breach of contract since I agreed to these specific channels in packages. What are my options for leaving Telus? I have a contract and have a long time til it expires. 

[Nighthawk]

None of the service providers have any control over what broadcasters decide to do with their channels and content. You can change what channels you subscribe to though.

Several months ago Rogers made an agreement with Warner Brothers and NBCUniversal for the Canadian distribution rights to several brands including Discovery, Food Network and HGTV.

From this agreement, Corus loses the rights to use HGTV and Food Network names, so they are rebranding them to Home Network and Flavour Network, which should simply replace the existing channels. Rogers retains the rights to the American content from those networks so only the Canadian content will make it on to the replacement networks. 

Bell is going to be rebranding several channels:

• Discovery will be rebranded to USA Network
• Investigation Discovery will rebrand as Oxygen True Crime
• Animal Planet becomes CTV Wild
• Discovery Science becomes CTV Nature
• Discovery Velocity becomes CTV Speed
• Bell Media will no longer be offering the MTV Canada channel after December 31, 2024.

Magnolia Network, and Cooking Channel Canada are scheduled to shut down at the end of this year. Rogers hasn't made any official announcements on whether or not any of the content from those channels  will be available on the other channels or platforms that they own.

[vimi78]

Last I checked Magnolia is being relaunched by Rogers alongside Food & HGTV. Telus needs to get the ball rolling and bring in all these channels from Rogers for their customers. 

[TELUS_Support]

Content acquisition is, in general, complex and the process confidential (even for TELUS employees outside of only a few) so we generally don't speculate or speak on the process until launch date. Do know we watch for content ideas and pass along the feedback for consideration, though 🙂

[Jenn-C]

TELUS has had time to “figure out” how to work with Rogers on program rights. If it doesn’t get resolved quickly they’ll lose a lot of customers 

[vimi78]

You guys have known for months about these changes and as pointed out have had plenty of time to figure it out. Complex? They give you a price and you accept it or don't and negotiate. 

[Tammy29]

Telus has claimed a rename or "now becomes"  however the comtent is very old,  shows from early 2000's, yet we still paying excessive pricing. We dont have access to current programming available to Shaw/Rogers. Telus should offer lower prices for dated programming, or negotiate  to get access to this. The CRTC needs to get involved to all access to all channels with all providers.

  channels 

[Nighthawk]

Telus has no control over the content that broadcasters air. Bell lost the contracts for the US content on those channels and the rights to several others.

Rogers has a history of making it hard for competitors to get access to channels they have. They usually overcharge for them so it makes the negotiations to get the channels much harder. They also like to delay other carriers from getting the channels so that they can try and pull customers away from the competitors before they finally allow them access to the channels for the remaining customers. Any complaints should include Rogers for sure as this is typical behaviour for them.

[Tvwatcher123]

This response doesn’t address the original concern. Regardless of the reason TELUS has changed the content of our packages unilaterally. I’m sure there are weasel words in our agreement that allows this but it is patently unfair. We deserve a rebate or allow us out of our agreements. Well at least I’m learning a lot about Australian real estate and 10 year old Canadian home values. 

[Jenn-C]

Frankly if TELUS doesn’t find a way to have the US content available under their new brand then it will LOSE CUSTOMERS. For the customers that decide to stay they EXPECT that pricing is lowered across the board. TELUS will definitely see customers cutting the content they’re subscribed to, to the bare minimum channels that they watch and remain unaffected by the changes followed by finding another source for the US programs that were cut. I will most definitely be looking strongly at leaving or cutting what I’m subscribed to.

[BrendaM]

I totally agree. This is bs.. I recently renewed my 2 yr contract and reviewed all my channels with a Telus rep and was never told that the channels with our favourite shows were going to be discontinued such as Gold Rush, Freddy Dodge and Naked & Afraid. Not Happy with Telus at all…

[FuzzyLogic]

There is some info here regarding the changes (December 1):

Optik TV service programming & rate updates | TELUS Support

[buckycat]

You asked how to cancel, here are the instructions.

https://www.telus.com/en/support/article/cancel-telus-home-services

[eomuahaha]

They are only losing magnolia and MTV. The other two channels are getting renamed

[PoCoGuy]

Discovery channel getting dumped is big.  USA network isn't even close.  Renaming the other channels and removing USA content is also a killer.   It's basically tv shrinkflation.

[vimi78]

Magnolia is apparently being relaunched 

[vimi78]

HGTV & Food will still exist under new names. 

[PoCoGuy]

Minus any content from outside Canada though

[Bush]

I agree totally agree. We were also following Gold Rush and Freddy Dodge

[Bush]

I totally agree.. We were following Gold Rush and Freddy Dodge.

[Floored]

Looks like i will be changing providers next week. Very poorly played TELUS, you are loosing not only myself but my whole family due to this poorly executed change. I am sure man will follow.