A new medium

TV viewers have a new option.

More than two years after receiving CRTC approval, TBayTel launched its much-talked-about digital television platform over the weekend.

"It’s a product we’re all excited about," said company president and CEO Don Campbell on Monday. "It’s a product based on a very high quality media room software. It’s going to provide a very unique television viewing experience to the customers."

Subscribers will have access to features such as whole home personal video recording and the ability to record four shows at once, instant channel changing and tailor-made programming choices and more, Campbell said.

"Of course the sky’s the limit in terms of how this will involve, through accessing video and video-on-demand and other widgets or Internet-based tools that will flow through the TV system," Campbell said.

Though he wouldn't talk specifics about the amount the city-owned utility invested in bringing its customers digital TV service, Campbell said it was extensive.

"It’s a significant investment by TBayTel, in not only the TV product but into the access network into the community," he said. "About 60 per cent of all the households in Thunder Bay will have access to this product now. That number will expand over the next year or two to more than 80 per cent. We will continue to expand that until we get full coverage."

Campbell explained it was a service customers were clamouring for, despite the crowded marketplace. He’s convinced they’ll gain their fair share of the customer base once the public has a chance to see what they’re offering.

"We’re counting on the fact that this a new and very advanced technology, that’s being marketed all over Canada and the United States, particularly by the telcos. It’s a level of quality – quality of picture, quality of tools that the TV viewer can use to access what he or she needs to access," Campbell said.

"But it’s definitely a competitive marketplace. But everything TBayTel is involved in is in a competitive marketplace."

Other services they’ll be offering include enhanced basic programming, with timeshifting capabilities, high definition and digital theme packs, specialty channels, video on demand and parental controls.

The system will also store certain program for up to a week, so viewers can go back and watch shows they missed, including local TV news.