Shaw Direct Programming in French

[DJdish]

Guys, Does anyone remember what channel airs "Section de Recherches" ?

And is it possible to add a French programming bundle if I already have my English essentials base ? or do I have to first sub to French essentials and add then the French bundle (considering for starters I would only be interested in TV 5 and maybe a couple of channels airing original series from France ?

 

[joshuals]

I watch almost exclusively French programming, and I have never heard of this program on Shaw. I did a little research and found it is a program originating from France on a channel called RF1. I must admint I never watch anything originating from France, so I suppose it could be on RFO or TV5 on Shaw.

According to the Shaw site, there is a new bundle called "Populaire Francais" for 29.99$, but as to whether it could be added to and exisiting English package is not made clear.

It's been my understanding that you are very limited in your ability to add just one or two channels to your program. You have to add a group of channels that contains the one you want.

Being as you're located outside Canada, you could try an e-mail to "Ask Jim" to get your question answered.....

 

[Frenchophile]

I can tell you that program is not on SRC, TVA, or V. I checked TV5.ca and stpierremiquelon.rfo.fr , and did not find this show.

I am pretty sure you can subscribe to French bundles with English programming package.

 

[DJdish]

Yes it´s 100% French and I used to watch it on one of France networks.
I saw it one time glancing thru the guide but I failed to note the SD channel.

Thanks for the feedback, I will look into your suggestions,

 

[Mr Tony]

a quick wiki shows its on Series+
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The only way to get a French specialty channel (other than RDS & RIS) is to subscribe to a French basic package

My French is very limited but joshuals mentions a package for $30 that does include Series +. You can add English bundles to French basic packages but not the other way around

They also had a package called "Parfait Bilingue" (the spelling may be off) that was English and French basics + a few French specialty channels but I cant find it on the site (again my French is very limited)

 

[Mr Tony]

Downloaded the pdf in French and figuring out my basic french you can get Parfait Bilingue for 49 bucks and it includes
-English essentials
-French essentials
-a mix of french and english add-on channels

or the plus for 52 bucks and it has more channels

 

[DJdish]

Thanks for the info Iceberg, I´ll check it out :up

 

[joshuals]

They also had a package called "Parfait Bilingue"

Right on with the spelling, Iceberg !!! :up

Problem is, the way I read it on the French side of the Shaw Website, it's "Disponibles seulement au Québec", (available only in Quebec ), and you have to telephone Shaw to get it (no switching to it via the web). I have no idea why this is, or exactly how it's enforced. I suppose they check to see whether your service address is in Quebec.

For Southern Subs, I suppose the location of your broker, and hence the address they have provided to Shaw for your account would have some bearing on whether you could get it or not......

 

[Mr Tony]

Interesting....the pdf I posted above does not say anything about Quebec only but if you go on the shaw site and select "programming" (then I flip it to French) if you select any province other than Quebec it shows the French only packages (9 of them)

Quebec it adds Parfait Bilingue Extra as the only Bilingual option....weird

 

[Mr Tony]

Problem is, the way I read it on the French side of the Shaw Website, it's "Disponibles seulement au Québec", (available only in Quebec ), and you have to telephone Shaw to get it (no switching to it via the web). I have no idea why this is, or exactly how it's enforced. I suppose they check to see whether your service address is in Quebec.

I know both Bell and Shaw are going after Videotron which is the main cable company in Quebec and they have some really good deals so maybe some of that pricing is only for Quebec.

But I know from my previous job (we called Canada a lot) it seemed like only Montreal and the towns around it were truly bilingual. Most of the rest is French only which always made it interesting when you have someone who spoke very little French calling an office that nobody spoke English (or the bare bare minimums like Hello and "you speak French" ) There are some towns in Ontario that probably would benefit from the Bilingual packaging.

me...I have RDS for hockey...and you dont need to know much of the language to watch hockey

 

[joshuals]

But I know from my previous job (we called Canada a lot) it seemed like only Montreal and the towns around it were truly bilingual

Yep...ain't it the truth! My summer home is in Rimouski, which is on the south shore of the St-Lawrence River about 600km northeast of Montreal. There is no English spoken here. I am there now.....haven't spoken a word of English since leaving the states earlier this summer.....except on this forum, that is!

But ya gotta remember, Quebec was settled by the French in the 1500's, so they ain't no newcomers here. In fact, about 1970 the Province passed laws stating that Quebec is a unilingual province....French, unlike the rest of Canada which is officially bilingual. If you call (or visit) a business in Quebec, by law the person on the other end of the line (or behind the counter) is supposed to initiate the conversation in French. If you respond in English, then the language of the discussion can change. In fact, there are a whole host of laws governing things like making sure signs on businesses have at least the French version. The English can be also included, but the size of the letters for the English must be smaller than the size of the letters for the French. When the laws were first passed, there were government employees who went around with rulers to make sure this law was followed or, if not, the signs were brought into compliance. It goes on and on.......

And, you're right....Eastern Onatrio is very bilingual, so I, too, am surprised that the Parfait-Bilingue package is not available there.....

 

[Mr Tony]

Yep...ain't it the truth! My summer home is in Rimouski, which is on the south shore of the St-Lawrence River about 600km northeast of Montreal. There is no English spoken here.

Yep I remember calling Rimouski a few times and usually passing the call on to one of our Bilingual reps

If you call (or visit) a business in Quebec, by law the person on the other end of the line (or behind the counter) is supposed to initiate the conversation in French. If you respond in English, then the language of the discussion can change.

that is very interesting. And now that I think about it you're right. Other than Montreal which usually was a 50/50 shot, the reps always did the intro in French then ends with "Hello"

Sorry for getting the thread off topic

 

[DJdish]

I keep on learning with you guys,

Thanks for sharing, joshuals and Iceberg.
I´m looking into the info you have provided to decide on my French programming.

 

[Mr Tony]

sorry for getting off topic DJDish
If you use a broker I know that one of the brokers is based in Montreal so they probably have you set up with a Quebec address (they are the broker that sells equipment too)

But if you do it a different way then you might have to call Shaw (if you are setup on your own)

 

[DJdish]

sorry for getting off topic DJDish
If you use a broker I know that one of the brokers is based in Montreal so they probably have you set up with a Quebec address (they are the broker that sells equipment too)

But if you do it a different way then you might have to call Shaw (if you are setup on your own)

No worries Iceberg, thread has been very illustrative.

Yep, Quebec address is a given, so I just need to decide on what to get.

BTW, thanks again for your continous support with me and the guys down here south of the border.

 

[Mr Tony]

Yep, Quebec address is a given, so I just need to decide on what to get.

ok cool. as joshuals noted with the Quebec address then you shouldnt have any issues getting Bilingual programming.

BTW, thanks again for your continous support with me and the guys down here south of the border.

no problem. most of us in the section are "south of the (Canadian) border" to begin with