Videotron CEO Robert Depatie introduces the new Illico Club Unlimited
They sent us an invitation, even had English versions of their press release printed out, but they might as well not have. Videotron’s “Illico Club Unlimited” is about as interesting to an anglophone audience as a free dinner with Guy A. Lepage.
The Netflix-like service, which was shown off to the media on Thursday at Quebecor headquarters, will have almost a thousand movies (I couldn’t get an exact number, but around 800-900), about 20 television series, plus children’s programming and concerts. But it’s all in French. Any English titles are actually bilingual ones, and even then represent only about 10% of the initial offering.
The plan to focus on the French market makes sense. According to a recent monitoring report, about 21% of anglophones in Canada had a Netflix subscription, versus only 5% of francophones. With Netflix Canada’s French offering very poor, now’s the time to launch such a service, before Netflix has a chance to catch up.
But for anglophone Videotron users, it probably won’t be worth it. Instead, an $8 Netflix subscription makes more sense than a $10 subscription to Videotron’s service on top of everything you’re already paying them.
You can sign up for a free trial month of Illico Club Unlimited here.
Seems Most of The West Island is already on BELL, Strange, who is the Franco competition in Montreal? You’d think that a serious business want’s to grow? When Videotron adds TSN-Habs Regional? we;ll talk…. maybe? Till then then! Videotron caters to Franco’s, always has!
Hi from a happy Videotron client in the West Island. Bilingual household. Former Bell client – never again.
The latest stuff we watch is streaming online. No need for their $10 service
I would add $10 onto Internet consumption.
I dumped Videotron two years ago. Had the whole bundle with them. Horrible. No more TV in the house. Don’t miss it a bit and have the best ISP TekSavvy and VOIP for phone. Never have to worry about going over and the speed is fantastic.The times are changing, these companies know it and are grasping at straws to make a last ditch attempt at saving themselves. Well screw me once shame on you, screw me twice shame on me. No longer getting screwed.
I am also a Videotron subscriber for many years.
The Illico Club Unlimited is of no use to me since I subscribe to Netflix.
I would rather spring for the $10 unlimited internet instead.
However, I am not sure about bandwidth. With all the extra traffic created by unlimited internet and video on demand is the Videotron network robust to handle it.
Something for Fagstein to investigate and report on a future blog.
Illico video on demand doesn’t use the same bandwidth as the Internet, so that’s two different issues. As for whether the network is robust enough to handle the lifting of caps, I don’t see why it wouldn’t. All telecom companies are upgrading their networks constantly, and Videotron is already offering 200-megabit service in some areas, more than enough for HD video. That’s not to say that networks can’t get congested (particularly at the neighbourhood level), but then traffic will just be a bit slower.
A fine example of the English content available. I guess I wont be signing up anytime soon.
Bitch Slap
French version : Garces en furie
When a down-on-her-luck stripper, a drug-running killer and a ball-busting businesswoman try to retrieve stolen jewels from a ruthless gangster’s hideout, they find themselves competing against an assortment of bizarre criminals and each other. It’s an adrenaline-fueled cocktail of bodacious bad girls, sex, violence and cleavage that’ll leave you intoxicated for days!
English version
Duration: 106 min
Year: 2009
Rating: Rated 13+
Starring: Erin Cummings , America Olivo , Julia Voth
Directed by: Rick Jacobson
Available until: 2014-09-05
Did this replace the free content on illico-on-demand (900)? I’m a newbie to the illico world and the wife & I were searching the menus on 900 for the free content and found nothing. However, in my illico handbook I see this: “Exclusive access to illico On Demand which offers up to thousands of titles – including 2000 for free.”
I guess that’s already dated?
No. This system is separate from video-on-demand, though its content is available through the Illico VOD system.
You can find it from the “Free Titles – Top 25” menu (though there isn’t much English-language content there). There’s also “On-Demand Channels” that provides on-demand content for channels you’re subscribed to.
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Personally I ditched Videotron to go to a cheaper and smaller company. Not only is it cheaper ($46.95) but I also get unlimited internet use with Bravo Telecom. The good thing is that the bills’ numbers NEVER change. With Videotron I had horrible amounts changing month to month + horrible service and if I would’ve wanted to have unlimited service with them I would have had to pay $60.95. So like Mortimer said, I’d rather pay less for unlimited and add $8 to Netflix online, sweet deal ;)
Videotron has been charging me a N ANGLO FEE ON MY CABLE SERVICE FOR OVER 10 YEARS NOW.
BASIC DIGITAL SERVICE IS $23.99
ANGLO IS $26.05 PLUS MY PACKAGE COMES TO 81 PLUS TAXES.
SOMETHING SEEMS OFF ABOUT THIS.
SHOULD I SEEK LEGAL COUNCIL TO SIFT THROUGH THE CRTC REGULATION?
Anglo is the name of a channel package you subscribe to on top of the basic package. It is not a charge for being an anglophone.