Bell Mobile TV

Early versions of Bell Mobile TV used the slower CDMA network.

The Bell Mobile TV was launched for Bell smartphones on October 18, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://mobilesyrup.com/2010/10/18/bell-launches-3-mobile-tv-theme-packages-sports-variety-and-hbo/ |title=Bell launches 3 Mobile TV theme packages: Sports, Variety and HBO |publisher=Mobile Syrup |date= |accessdate=2012-05-15}} Support for tablet computer and Virgin Mobile Canada customers was later added.

Version 5.0 was launched on Android devices in December 2014 and on iOS in January 2015. The new app introduced new usage metering to allow users to track their viewing time. The application added support for the newer operating systems such as iOS 8 and Lollipop.

The video on demand section of the app had an overhaul to allow better navigation of content. Crave TV content was included as a section of Bell Satellite TV app.

Early iterations of Bell Mobile TV only supported CDMA handsets with the Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) technology. In the 2010s, support for these older devices was discontinued in favor of faster HSPA+ handsets and technology.

Devices capable of Bell Mobile TV include iOS hardware such as the iPhone and iPad, but not the iPod Touch or the Apple TV. Newer Android and BlackBerry handsets and tablets sold by Bell or Virgin

Service plans for Mobile TV cost $5 per month and include 5 hours (formerly 10) of access to all live and on demand channels, with additional hours costing $3 each.{{cite news|title=Bell denied right to keep Mobile TV pricing in place during appeal|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/bell-denied-right-to-exempt-mobile-tv-customers-from-data-cap/article23581892/|accessdate=23 April 2015|work=The Globe and Mail}} If any hours are unused, they cannot be rolled over to the next month.

As of April 29, 2015, Bell Mobile TV usage is counted as part of subscribers' overall mobile data usage. As compensation, subscribers will also receive 5 hours of Mobile TV access over Wi-Fi.{{cite web|title=Mobile TV updates|url=http://support.bell.ca/Mobility/Smartphones_and_mobile_internet/Mobile_TV_updates|publisher=Bell|accessdate=23 April 2015}}

Bell divides its Mobile TV channels into several themes. Although each previously incurred separate charges, Bell's current rates include access to all channels without having to choose specific themes:

• HBO: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Sex and the City and True Blood
• Sports: TSN, TSN2, RDS, RDS2, NFL, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and CBN
• English entertainment: CBC, CTV, CTV 2, Stingray Juicebox, MTV, Treehouse TV, YTV, bpm:tv, B4U Music, CTV Comedy Channel, A.Side TV and Makeful
• French entertainment: Radio-Canada, TVA and V
• News: BNN, CBC News Network, CTV News Channel, CP24 (Ontario only), CNN, NDTV 24x7

Channels and programming in italics are On Demand. These channels are also available Live, with the exception of Aux, Bite, Comedy, and all HBO offerings.

In 2011, the CRTC ruled in a complaint by Telus that Bell could not use the Mobile TV service to tie exclusive mobile rights to television content (specifically, NHL and NFL games) to its own services without offering them to competing providers.{{cite web|title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-765|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-765.htm|publisher=CRTC|accessdate=18 December 2013}}{{cite news|last=Kelly|first=Brendan|title=Hockey team sale changes game in Canada|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118047663|publisher=Variety|accessdate=December 30, 2011|date=December 17, 2011}}

In December 2013, the CRTC received a complaint alleging that Bell's original pricing structure for Mobile TV was a violation of the undue preference rules in the Telecommunications Act; as the service charged by hours viewed, counting separately from overall mobile data use, it was considered to be an effective subsidy on Bell-owned content transmitted over the mobile network that does not apply to any other competing video services.{{cite web|title=Bell's discounting of mobile TV against the rules, complaint claims|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/bell-s-discounting-of-mobile-tv-against-the-rules-complaint-claims-1.2445059?cmp=rss|work=CBC News|accessdate=18 December 2013}}

On January 29, 2015, the CRTC ruled that Bell had violated the undue preference rules with its mobile TV offerings, and ordered the company to change its pricing structure by April 29, 2015.{{cite news|title=Net neutrality: CRTC bans Bell from subsidizing data usage for mobile TV app|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/net-neutrality-crtc-bans-bell-from-subsidizing-data-usage-for-mobile-tv-app/article22696253/|accessdate=29 January 2015|work=The Globe and Mail|date=January 29, 2015}} Effective April 29, 2015, Bell Mobile TV usage counts towards subscribers' overall data usage.

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.bell.ca/Business/Mobility/Rate-Plans Bell Small Business Mobility Solutions]

{{Bell Canada}}

Category:Mobile television

Category:Bell Canada