c/p from FreeHD Canada :

FreeHD Canada Inc. is a new Canadian Direct-to-Home satellite
company that has developed a unique offering for the Canadian
marketplace. FreeHD Canada plans to offer a superior High
Definition TV offering (more HD channels, better quality, less price)
to consumers across Canada.

FreeHD Canada has applied to the CRTC for a licence, and is seeking
approval to launch its service in early 2011. By utilizing the latest
new technologies, FreeHD Canada is able to provide more than
200 channels of superior picture quality HD into consumer homes via
a small inexpensive satellite dish. We will be offering two packages
to consumers:

Free ‘Local Program Package’
For consumers that are used to receiving a few local channels ‘off-air’ from an antenna, FreeHD Canada will offer
a free ‘Local Program Package’ of 15-20 Canadian television channels from within their region – in HD as they
become available – and free to any consumer with a FreeHD Canada receive system (dish and set-top box).
‘All Access Package’
For consumers who want better TV (more HD channels – and with better picture quality) at a better price,
FreeHD Canada will offer up to 150 of the Canadian Pay and Specialty channels – available in HD as they
launch – in this package. FreeHD Canada will offer 2-3 times as many HD channels as its competitors.
The All Access Package will be very competitively priced – enough that we think many consumers will be very enticed.

end of c/p


There is talk of up to 250 channels all in HD @ 1080p, now that is very appealing! Maybe it will give Bell TV and Shaw Direct a wakeup call to get their act together on expanding their bandwidth sooner. One can only hope...

I wonder if they will utilize spot beams for the local program package. This is something many people in the northern tier of the US could take advantage of. I am willing to bet they would *wink wink* sell equipment to Americans buying in store.

Also, maybe shaw direct and Bell will stop these price hikes

This seems like good news, if it comes to fruition.

__________________
Don't you look at me!

I'd be shocked if it ever sees the light of day. Launching and operating satellites isn't cheap. Neither is the overhead of running a sat service or the amount of fees they need to pay to networks.

They'll need a ton of investment capital, and they're not likely to get that in the current economy.

Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.

The world are full of people that says it can't be done

Wheel!!!???.......it will never work

I think an all HD satellite company can work, take Voom for instance................oh, oh yeah

__________________
Dishnet-HD gives with one hand and takes away with the other

Exactly. His business model is a loser for sure. And since he is a satellite veteran, he knows that. It begats the question "What is his real business plan?"

One of the problems with Voom was they came out too early, so there were not enough people with HD and there was not enough HD programming available. What differentiates this possible venture is that in Canada, although consumers have HD equipment, there are only a handful of broadcast stations outside of the big cities (TO, Montreal, Vancouver) with OTA. I have a feeling they want to tap into CRTC's local TV fund to provide their "free" service, thereby allowing stations to greatly reduce their cash outlay for the Digital transition in 2011.

Here's my take. Too make it work, make it available to a wider audience.
If they sell to the Americans as well. It just might work.

I would gladly have more HD...24HRS of HD-Channels dediacted to only HD content.
Id sign up immediatley.

Voom had something going for it. Your right that they were ahead of thier time.
If they came out now-I think it would work.
Too bad they did not hold off on shutting down-Hd is taking off.

Well, granted a spot location beam would work in the northern US, but considering we're talking about Canadian content, how many Americans are likely to clamor for all that Canadian programming even if it is in HD. Yeah, I know, with no Voom many Americans would love the opportunity to buy into an all HD station but for it to work, they'd have to be showing the American HD versions of thinks like HBO and Showtime and various other HD channels we already have in the U.S. or people aren't going to take it seriously here. But, the moment they start carrying more American HD content the CRTC is gonna say "No" because of content rules. Thank goodness we in the U.S. don't have any restriction on what we watch or where it comes as long as we pay for it through proper channels. Not so in Canada where a certain percentage of all programming must be classified as Canadian content. Of course, all a Canadian broadcaster has to do is foot a portion of the production costs for some foreign production and >poof< the content is Canadian! Because Doctor Who is ever so Canadian!

Great Post!
I wonder why the CRTC is so strict? I would think if they openned up their system to their southern neibors it would mean more revenue? Right?

I, for one, have had shaw(Starchoice) I really dont mind a Candian slant. Its different. Its interesting to see a window of how the rest of the world sees us.
Sometimes not so flattering.

I have since discontinued shaw because not enough programming that I wanted.
I did try endlessly to have Bell but the signal was to spotty down here in South Florida.

I just dont get it. Bell simply ignores the US market. Maybe someone can explain why? To me it makes zero sense.

We have a large Canadian market down here. Im sure there are tons of transplanted Candians all over the states that would love to have Bell.

Why would Bell Ignor that??