Bell ExpressVu

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Bell ExpressVu is the division of Bell Canada that sells digital television services in Canada. Launched on September 10, 1997, ExpressVu has traditionally offered satellite TV services, and as of summer 2004 began offering digital TV via VDSL to select condos and MDUs (Multiple Dwelling Units) in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Bell ExpressVu provides over 300 digital video and audio channels to over 1.5 million subscribers. Its major competitors include Rogers Digital Cable and Star Choice.

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Satellites

ExpressVu broadcasts from three geosynchronous satellites: Nimiq 1, 2 and 3. All follow an equatorial path, giving coverage to most of North America. "Nimiq" is an Inuit word for "that which unifies", and was chosen from a nationwide naming contest in 1998. The three satellites are owned and operated by Telesat Canada (a BCE corporation), and are based on Lockheed Martin's A2100 model.

Nimiq 1 was launched on May 20, 1999 and contains 32 Ku-band transponders at 91°W. Nimiq 2, launched in December 29, 2002, also includes 2 K-band transponders. Nimiq 2 provides additional bandwidth for HDTV and interactive television applications. It occupies the 82°W slot.

Nimiq 3 went online on August 23, 2004. Originally called DirecTV3, it is an old DirecTV satellite moved to a new orbital slot near Nimiq 1 to offload some of the transmitting work from the original satellite.

From the time of service launch in 1997 to the switch to Nimiq in 1999, ExpressVu used the already crowded Anik E2.

Dish Equipment

The standard ExpressVu dish is a circular 20 inches (51cm) in diameter and supports two LNBs. The 20" dish is skew-adjustable and identical to the Dish Network 500. The size was increased from the original 18" in late 2002 to provide better reception to HDTV channels.

ExpressVu also provide a variety of satellite receiver sets, including models with dual-tuner, HDTV and PVR capabilities. The receivers are built by EchoStar Communications Corporation.

Canadians living in the Arctic region have the option to purchase larger 60cm and 120cm dishes to compensate for the weaker satellite signal.

VDSL Equipment

VDSL service is delivered to the customer using broadband equipment provided by the "NextLevel Communications" division of Motorola. As of June 2005 ExpressVu supported 10,000 active VDSL subscribers.

Etymology

Bell Canada constructed the name ExpressVu for its universal recognition by both English and French speakers. Anglophones often pronounce the name as "express view", while francophones understand "vu" as from the French verb meaning "to look" or "to watch".

External links


List of cable and satellite television providers
Cable television: Adelphia | Cablevision | Cablevision (Canada) | Charter Communications | Cogeco | Comcast | Cox | Eastlink | Foxtel | Mediacom | Optus | Persona | Rogers | Shaw | Saturn | Time Warner | Vidéotron
Satellite television: Austar | Bell ExpressVu | DirecTV | Dish Network | Foxtel | GlobeCast World TV | Sky Digital | Sky TV (NZ) | StarChoice
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