Today, the CanWest Global network channels in Canada, which include PRIME and DejaView, released their fall schedule. Much to my disappointment, there are very few changes but what little there are should be worth noting. First, have a look for yourself, then see what you think.


PRIME: http://www.falltvpreview.com/channelinfo.php?id=101

It looks like PRIME has taken on a 70s/80s look, which might be fine for some people, but not for me. Obviously, the biggest addition is that of Kotter at noon, followed by another new addition in "Newhart", but "Bewitched" is now toast, relegated to the weekend. "Danger Bay" is still around, along with those awful Friday night movies, for reasons known only by a select few, and so is "Frasier". I guess they figured they had a good thing going with "Seinfeld" so adding "Frasier" seemed like the next logical move, as if logic really means anything to them. Overall, the lineup is not very good. It looks like PRIME has taken one step forward and two steps back.


DejaView http://www.falltvpreview.com/channelinfo.php?id=56

Again, no changes to speak of except that "Green Acres" has now become a permanent part of the DejaView lineup, but that also means that "Petticoat Junction" is gone, which is sad since this would have been a great chance for DejaView to have at their disposal all 3 of Paul Henning's great shows on one channel at one time. If you're looking for "Bewitched" it's not there either, which is also a big shame. At least there's no "Seinfeld" and "Mash" around to ruin the schedule, but that's the only positive I can think of for now.

I like Welcome Back Kotter. :)

I've seen a couple of episodes recently on the U.S TV Land specials. So it will be nice to have it on daily for a change. I'll have to tape some episodes. :)

I was hoping Prime would air Diff'rent Strokes and Facts of Life this year, as there are rumors that they now own the rights to air both of those shows in Canada.

I would like to see All in The Family and M*A*S*H dropped altogether. Those shows are on TV way too long, and I'm also sick of their overblown M*A*S*H Marathons. pissed:

Green Acres can be seen at 11:00am and 11:30am every Sunday morning on Prime, by the way.

any chance that channell coming to satellite or the usa where more people can enjoy it as well.or is it just canada channell

any chance that channell coming to satellite or the usa where more people can enjoy it as well.or is it just canada channell

As of now, both channels are only available on Canadian cable and satellite TV. However, both Canadian satellites dish networks Starchoice and ExpressVu signals can be picked up on the "Free-To Air" satellite dishes. Along with the US Satellite dishes DirectTV and the Dish Network.

Technically this is not legal, but as of now, there are no laws being enforced to stop you from doing that. The satellite companies (Both American and Canadian) can only file lawsuits, or have you charged if you are caught stealing illegal signals using their satellite equiptment.

"Free-To Air" satellites are not owned by the big Canadian or American satellite dish companies. They are seperately owned by private companies, and are designed to recieve free open air TV stations (ABC, NBC, CBS, CBC & CTV) that your home TV antenna would normally recieve. But "Free-To Air" satellites are designed to recieve those channels all over North America.

They can also pick up the digital satellite signals as well--and many customers that do this, are using signal descramblers, and pointing their dishes up to these TV satellites, and can now have access to the big digital satellite companies, and they are not paying for any of the signals.

The Satellite companies are in the courts now, to try and stop this.

[QUOTE=Jenya]As of now, both channels are only available on Canadian cable and satellite TV. However, both Canadian satellites dish networks Starchoice and ExpressVu signals can be picked up on the "Free-To Air" satellite dishes. Along with the US Satellite dishes DirectTV and the Dish Network.

Technically this is not legal, but as of now, there are no laws being enforced to stop you from doing that. The satellite companies (Both American and Canadian) can only file lawsuits, or have you charged if you are caught stealing signals with their satellite equiptment.

"/QUOTE]

Actually, the smartcard for DirecTV has been "out" for quite a while now. Pirates switched over to DishNet because of this a couple of years ago. However, I've heard rumours that a hack has been successful and a card may be available again in a few months. Hard to say whether it'll work with the old receivers or new receivers will be required for it.
As for DishNet - channels are already being lost and its anticipated that the card will be useless by this Fall.
Just wanted to give you a heads up should you be considering it.
If you know someone living in the States who's willing to allow you to use their address and phone number, you still can get U.S. satellite "semi-legally" - just not free PPVs.

Actually, the smartcard for DirecTV has been "out" for quite a while now. Pirates switched over to DishNet because of this a couple of years ago. However, I've heard rumours that a hack has been successful and a card may be available again in a few months. Hard to say whether it'll work with the old receivers or new receivers will be required for it.
As for DishNet - channels are already being lost and its anticipated that the card will be useless by this Fall.
Just wanted to give you a heads up should you be considering it.
If you know someone living in the States who's willing to allow you to use their address and phone number, you still can get U.S. satellite "semi-legally" - just not free PPVs.

"Free-to Air" satellites do not need cards. You can have your dish pointed to a European satellite, and pick up MTV Germany or MTV Russia, or any other European channel for that matter.

Dish owners can buy a TV signal descrambler from the Internet, and if they know where the satellite is in space, they can recieve those signals. A satellite card is not really required.

Many satellite retailers have good hacking experience with this, and they can pretty much get any international channel you want.

But those still wouldn't get the U.S. channels the same as with the cards (or PPVs which most people want - I could care less really about PPV).

I've mentioned the free to air stuff to my husband but he's not interested in European television. (Although it would be fun to get some British t.v.).

Meanwhile, we've now got 4 satellite dishes on the property - I sometimes feel like we're the Canadian division of NASA!!! :lol:

But those still wouldn't get the U.S. channels the same as with the cards (or PPVs which most people want - I could care less really about PPV).

I've mentioned the free to air stuff to my husband but he's not interested in European television. (Although it would be fun to get some British t.v.).

Meanwhile, we've now got 4 satellite dishes on the property - I sometimes feel like we're the Canadian division of NASA!!! :lol:

You can still get PPV channels (both US and Canadian), but you just can't order the programming yourself- like a regular subscriber can, if that's what you mean.

The newer "Free-to-Air" dishes are now capable of recieving Hi-defination TV channels.

Dish Network great i got Dish 500 gues i try upgrade r something but i really hope i get this channell soon canada gets everything no fair lol

Dish Network great i got Dish 500 gues i try upgrade r something but i really hope i get this channell soon canada gets everything no fair lol

I don't think the Dish Network carries that channel. But if you know a satellite retailer, he can show you how to get the Starchoice or ExpressVu signal from a "Free-to-Air" satellite dish.

You could also use TripperFan's suggestion, and purchase a Starchoice or ExpressVu digital satellite dish system from a Canadian retailer (Best Buy or Future Shop). But these systems are only available and sold in Canada, and you will need a Canadian address to access the satellite service. If you have any friends living in Canada, you could arrange your monthly payments through them.

But you can't order Pay-Per View programming yourself, because your telephone area code can be traced by the satellite company, and they can cut off your service if they find out you're not living in Canada.

The same thing works for Canadians who purchase American digital satellite systems.

You can still get PPV channels (both US and Canadian), but you just can't order the programming yourself- like a regular subscriber can, if that's what you mean.

The newer "Free-to-Air" dishes are now capable of recieving Hi-defination TV channels.


I had never heard of these Free-to-Air dishes before you mentioned them yesterday (my husband's the satellite expert at our house). He said that they are new, but we'd have to add a 5th dish and receiver. With what's going on with DirecTV and Dishnet, this might be a viable option in the next few months.

Do you know where I'd find more info on it? We're looking for more hi-def channels (since they all seem to promise more than they deliver ;) )

Would this system work more like the old 'BUD' Dishes that moved (i.e. - you turn to get different satellites rather than the stationary ones like ExpressVu and Starchoice)? I wonder if we could even upgrade our L&B horn on the old BUD dish and not have to buy a new dish?

I had never heard of these Free-to-Air dishes before you mentioned them yesterday (my husband's the satellite expert at our house). He said that they are new, but we'd have to add a 5th dish and receiver. With what's going on with DirecTV and Dishnet, this might be a viable option in the next few months.

Do you know where I'd find more info on it? We're looking for more hi-def channels (since they all seem to promise more than they deliver ;) )

Would this system work more like the old 'BUD' Dishes that moved (i.e. - you turn to get different satellites rather than the stationary ones like ExpressVu and Starchoice)? I wonder if we could even upgrade our L&B horn on the old BUD dish and not have to buy a new dish?

Tripperfan:

I know these systems are not being sold in the major retailers.

It's mostly small stores that sell them. Here in Montreal, many Arab immigrants sell them, because they can access their Arabic news channels.

I don't much about them, myself, but we do have a reciever that can get up to 3000 channels. Our system has DirectTV, ExpressVU, and Eurostar--which is an Austrian digital satellite service. I was born in Russia, and Eurostar gets several channels from Russia and Ukraine.

We have 3 seperate dishes for each satellite service, but all three services are on one reciver.

I don't where you live, but I believe you can buy them on the Internet. Your husband can also just go on the satellite companies website, and he can get the proper direction where your dish is supposed to be pointed.

You can also get a rotating dish that can point to the satellites, but I haven't seen them sold up here. I'm sure you can order them on the Internet

Try Freeway Support Systems (http://www.freewaysupport.com/). They can probably tell you more about accessing both systems. :)

Good stuff! Thanks a bunch Jenya!

We're in the Toronto area so finding a place won't be a problem at all. We can probably even go to the "underground" place we've been using all along - I'm sure they'll have them.

Glad to hear you only need one receiver for all of it too - you ought to see the "graveyard" of old receivers we're building up!! :lol: That's where the expense has been - seems they nail you for a receiver then a hi-def receiver for each service. ugh

The last hi-def receiver for DishNet came from eBay from the States. We've even been considering taking a drive down to buy our plasma t.v. in the States so we could get whatever else we need while down there.
(plasma's are less than half price in the States - big ripoff up here - they say there just isn't the market for them the same, so that's why they price them so high - meanwhile, there might be MORE of a market if they didn't cost an arm and a leg)! :rolleyes:

Good stuff! Thanks a bunch Jenya!

The last hi-def receiver for DishNet came from eBay from the States. We've even been considering taking a drive down to buy our plasma t.v. in the States so we could get whatever else we need while down there.
(plasma's are less than half price in the States - big ripoff up here - they say there just isn't the market for them the same, so that's why they price them so high - meanwhile, there might be MORE of a market if they didn't cost an arm and a leg)! :rolleyes:

We have a hi-defination reciver as well. :)

Here's a tip for you. Hi-Defination recivers can also convert PAL and NTSC signals if you happen to have a European VHS VCR or DVD player. Just make sure the European PAL VCR or DVD player is hooked up directly to the reciever, and have a seperate RCA connection from your reciver to your Hi-defination TV.

Also, if you buy a European VCR or DVD player, you need to make sure the switch on the back of the unit is on 220 volts. You'll also need to get a North American power cord. :)