THUNDER BAY – Tbaytel television customers will have to wait a little longer for a new, less expensive basic package.
Starting Tuesday, large television service providers across the country are required by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to provide a condensed, basic package at less than $25 per month.
But the municipally-owned telecommunications company received a small system exemption order which was made available to providers with less than 20,000 customers.
Katie Crowe, Tbaytel’s corporate brand manager, said the “skinny-basic” package that larger providers are required to offer will be made available in April at a price similar to the $25 per month.
Tbaytel’s current lowest priced package is $37.95 per month, according to their website.
In addition to the basic package, large providers must offer each channel individually or in small bundles. By December, each channel must be offered individually.
As part of the exemption, Tbaytel is not required to offer channels individually but Crowe said the company is exploring offering a pick and pay service that would be added onto packages.
