As part of a short term trial, some Rogers Cable customers will have a greater degree of choice in their TV channels and specialty services channel options.
Rogers Communications is launching what it calls the Digital Starter Pack in London, ON next week. The trial runs through March 2012.
It's a form of 'skinny basic', and a way to offer 'a la carte' or 'pick-and-play' channel choice options to service subscribers.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has said Canada's vertically integrated media companies, like Rogers, must submit a report examining flexible TV packaging and the degree of customer choice offered in channel selection and TV services, by April 1, 2012.
Rogers' new package offers subscribers a fixed set of 86 core TV channels, including government mandated channels, for about $20. Customers can order the Digital Starter Pack and then choose any additional 15, 20 or 30 channels from among 100 available, for about $25 per month.
"This trial gives us the chance to hear from our customers about the packages that work for them," John Boynton, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Rogers Communications Inc., said in a release. "We look forward to working with our content providers to measure the results of this trial to ensure it works for everyone."
The trial will be used by Rogers to demonstrate to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission the demand (or lack thereof) for more "skinny basic" and à la carte (or pick-and-pay) cable packages.
Other cable and satellite providers in Canada have some sort of a la carte options, most offering package choices, not individual channels on a per customer basis.