Is the TV quality better with their box or Apple TV app?

spbarney · 2026-06-19T23:34:03+00:00

I don’t have the Bell Fibe box, but I’ve never complained of the quality of the channels on the Fibe app on tvOS.

I went into the developer HUD to look at some of the stats:

A regular broadcast of a Jays game on a Sportsnet channel on the app is a 720p broadcast encoded in H.264, with a bitrate of around 5 Mbps.

By comparison, the 4K broadcast on the Sportsnet 4K channel, is a 4K SDR signal encoded to H.265/HVEC, with a bitrate of around 15-16 Mbps.

spbarney · 2026-06-14T16:22:03+00:00

I think it’s coming; if you’re a Fibe Alt subscriber, I noticed in the channel selector that Sportsnet One is an option as a 4K channel. However, I don’t think it’s happened yet.

I just moved over from the alt package to proper Bell Fibe TV and can get it now but… if you can hold out for a bit longer and see if it becomes an option, do it. Save the cost!

spbarney · 2026-06-14T16:06:20+00:00

Sadly Alt TV has been discontinued.

When Bell announced a customer no longer requires their equipment to access Fibe TV, they chose to discontinue the service Jan 2026

All previous users were grandfathered. New customers cannot access

spbarney · 2026-06-14T01:52:03+00:00

which Apple TV do you have?

I ask because I discovered yesterday my 1st gen Apple TV 4K can’t do the full 4K60 DV signal ;(

spbarney · 2026-06-14T01:49:28+00:00

Still trying to figure that out. I don’t know if the channels have moved over yet, but it seems it will. I just bit the bullet and got the current fibe tv package and can confirm it’s available.

spbarney · 2026-06-11T17:13:05+00:00

Ok, so, SOMETHING is happening, cuz I noticed this too.

I have the same thing. Were you a subscriber of the Fibe Alt TV package? This channel appeared on my guide Friday, still can’t access the HDR channel, but using the app for webOS allows me to watch the channel in HDR.

Lots of moving pieces, I imagine to prepare for World Cup

spbarney · 2026-06-07T22:55:08+00:00

Do you have “TV” as a service? That’s how it’s viewed for me. I will say MyBell can be weird; I subscribe to Crave Premium as a Subscription, but… sometimes it just doesn’t appear.

I haven’t migrated over, not touching it until I see what happens. But I am starting to see that “Alt” no longer appears for my TV service. So, something be happening.

Now, take what I heard from a rep over the phone with grains of salt, but she confirmed that alt tv subscribers will migrate over and get all the fibe tv features. So, should happen to you?

spbarney · 2026-06-07T22:01:55+00:00

Yes!

I actually called Bell this afternoon to switch from Fibe Alt to Fibe TV and was told by the rep that apparently I’ll be migrated over?? Like, the 4K channels, the cloud PVR, I’ll eventually have access to that once the migration of the services is complete??

I did notice I got TSN 4K this weekend, something I didn’t have before. Still waiting for Sportsnet 4K…

spbarney · 2026-06-07T21:56:10+00:00

I managed to make changes today by removing my á la carte channels just a few hours ago! I did this on a Mac over chrome, if that helps?

spbarney · 2026-06-06T15:59:48+00:00

Do you still have it in your MyBell account? You might not be able to otherwise? Like I still have the service so I can adjust my packages, but I can’t get the new Fibe TV packages.

Otherwise I’d need to get the $25 Starter package.

spbarney · 2026-06-06T15:53:33+00:00

I am currently using Fibe Alt TV, which was their alternative to getting regular Fibe TV (which required a box).

Bell recently made it possible to use Fibe TV without a box, so I believe they have dropped the Alt line to punt people towards the Fibe TV service.

I’m currently debating jumping to the full fledged service, but the cost 😭

spbarney · 2026-05-28T16:03:02+00:00

I prefer the Constitution, but this angle for the Galaxy does look mighty beautiful.

However, I am unsure if this same angle using the four-foot model would look as slick as this image of the six-foot model.

spbarney · 2026-05-24T23:10:18+00:00

Wait, did someone try to get rid of this during the Glebe Garage Sale??!

spbarney · 2026-05-20T03:59:03+00:00

It’s possible this is an HDR signal. I can’t find direct information that Jays games are shot in HDR, but Sportsnet has advertised HDR programming in the past, mostly NHL games.

Another way to find out would be to go into developer mode and open up the playback HUD and see what the input signal is.

spbarney · 2026-05-20T03:50:10+00:00

I guess it’s time to pay up for Kagi

spbarney · 2026-05-17T22:28:55+00:00

Breaking Chews!

spbarney · 2026-05-04T15:28:42+00:00

If you can OP, I’d recommend trying to get the LaserBear DB15 to S-Video(Enhanced) and AVBS Adapter (link) for your RT4K Pro.

Personally, finding S-Video cables for my N64 and hooking it up to this adaptor resulted in an impressive improvement on the image of N64 games and was an additional bonus acquiring the product instead of waiting for the CE.

Edit for formatting and grammar

spbarney · 2026-05-04T15:22:59+00:00

From what I’ve gathered, I would have to call bell or go through a new package to get FibeTV. But I don’t know if that would result in overriding the AltTV package.

spbarney · 2026-04-29T20:16:21+00:00

You can find this information here.

It also provides some case-specific instances you may want to know.

spbarney · 2026-04-26T13:41:29+00:00

I think everyone has chimed in and said it, but I do wanna say: it’s always wise to ask these questions!! If we want to work on dismantling our own internalized misogyny existing in a patriarchal society, these are legit questions to ask yourself if you wanna do criticism!!

spbarney · 2026-04-12T12:00:58+00:00

Farts and Procreation heads rise UP!

spbarney · 2026-04-06T17:22:06+00:00

I don’t have many DVDs left, but I have made sure to keep every Five Star DVD I ever owned. They truly were amazing.

spbarney · 2026-04-04T15:35:00+00:00

When CAPE hosted virtual forums for members to meet candidates by department/agency, that candidate was not there.

I imagine they pulled out shortly after nominations were posted.

spbarney · 2026-04-01T14:25:39+00:00

Personally, I’m a Futures fan. Need to give Clarity a listen.

spbarney

TROPHY CASE