My STARZ has gone away too (unless I subscribe... WTF!)....

[QV]

My STARZ has gone away too (unless I subscribe... WTF!).
I'm roughly midway through my 2-year "Ignite Total TV" agreement which explicitly lists STARZ as part of the package in the agreement PDF.

In addition, my last bill says:

On November 7, some of your products have been updated to the Rogers Xfinity platform and
you will see the names changed to Rogers Xfinity. As an existing customer, you don't need to do
anything, and this will not impact any of your current services, pricing, or terms.

Later the bill contradicts itself:
UPDATES TO OUR TV CHANNEL LINEUP: We are making changes to our TV channel lineup. As a
result, starting December 27, 2024, HLN will no longer be included in your TV package and STARZ
will no longer be included as of January 1, 2025. If you wish to continue watching these channels,
contact us to subscribe to them as add-on channels or as part of a theme package. The rest of
your Rogers TV package remains the same.

So, Shaw/Rogers has clearly (and unilaterally) reduced my service, without compensation, despite that service being clearly included in the contract and the bill saying services won't be impacted by the transition to Rogers.

I guess my next step will be to contact customer service and if I get resistance, I'll submit a complaint to the CCTS (https://www.ccts-cprst.ca/).

[rstra]

@QV @Dudette I believe that this all stems from the dispute over distribution rights  between Rogers and Bell. Occasionally, channels will discontinue service and shut down, but this is different. Rogers is being petty and trying to cut the number of Starz subscribers, without hurting their bottom line. 

I will be taking serious look at our viewing habits when our contract is up for renewal. We really are just watching about 6 different channels regularly. Might be time to go with Limited TV with a few add-on channels and no boxes, just FireTV sticks. 

[Dudette]

Thanks for that link. I have already talked to Shaw so-called customer service, and they are, so far, unwilling to fix anything. Maybe filing a complaint is an option.

[RandyMarsh]

Another CCTS  complaint.  This is ridiculous.  Try this move south of the boarder.

[Canuck_fan]

Thank you for the link, I am definitely going to use it to complain.  With Rogers it's more money and less service.  Contracts don't mean anything to them.  I'm looking at other options for when it's renewal time with Rogers.

[mdk]

@Dudette wrote I don't have any extra streaming stuff - no Netflix, Prime,Crave, Peacock, Apple etc. - just regular TV. 

My newest two-year Value Plan includes "DisneyPlus with (very few) ads". The previous V.P. did not include it for free.

[Malaspina]

Thanks for the CCTS link. Once my contract expires, I am leaving Rogers/Shaw. Had no problems with Shaw but Rogers/Shaw is terrible.

[rstra]

@Malaspina I can understand if the channel is shutting down, but to remove STARZ from a TV plan and make it stand-alone is just not fair.

[QV]

Result:

For what it's worth, I contacted customer service and ended up paying for the STARZ subscription (increasing my monthly bill) but my account got a lump-sum credit representing the monthly cost of STARZ to the end of my 2-year contract so everything should balance out in the end. To their credit, Shaw made things right but it's disappointing that this even happened in the first place. When my contract ends, I'll have to re-examine my options.

[arob99]

Stop replying to messages when you don't know what you are talking about. Canuck fan is correct. 2 Starz channels have been on our blue sky (now ignite) total tv package for like 4 years now. They have always been there. Now they are suddenly gone. It has nothing to do with Crave or anything else. I was always in the total tv package which has been around for years. You don't help anyone with actual problems when you don't even know the actual facts. Do your homework before you decide to answer questions without all the facts. Its sad that I know more than you do and this isn't even my job.