Bell TV first in Canada to offer 100 High Definition TV channels

    
           Significant milestone enhances Canada's best HD service
    

MONTREAL , Nov. 2 /CNW Telbec/ - In an address to The Canadian Club today in Montréal, Bell and BCE President and CEO George Cope announced that Bell has reaffirmed its TV leadership in Québec and across Canada by becoming the first television provider in the country to offer 100 High Definition channels.

"Bell TV offers more High Definition TV channels than anyone else in Canada - more hit shows, more movies, more sports and more family programming in HD than any cable or satellite provider," said Mr. Cope . "Reaching 100 HD channels is a significant milestone that both enhances our lead in the industry and supports our strategic imperative to leverage our wireline momentum here at Bell. It's another step on the journey to achieving our goal: For Bell to be recognized by customers as Canada's leading communications company."

Said Kevin Crull , President of Bell Residential Services: "Bell TV customers have let us know they love High Definition, and we are delivering with the most HD channels in the country. Offering 100 HD channels reflects the hard work and investment we have put into Bell TV since launching HD just eight years ago. With Bell TV's stunning HD picture quality and Canada's best HD PVR, watching TV just got better."

Bell TV offers the best picture quality, the most free HD channels and bonuses like the Bell TV Online portal that lets subscribers take their TV with them, with online content that can be watched anywhere in Canada .

The new channels added today reflect Bell TV's commitment to bring Canadians the HD programming that keeps them entertained and informed about their communities, the country and the world. Bell TV's HD selection includes the best variety from Canadian and foreign broadcasting services such as local TV from CTV, CBC, Global, CITY, CBS, FOX, ABC, NBC and PBS; top specialty and pay TV services such as TSN, TMN, Movie Central, National Geographic, Showcase, A&E, as well as premium sporting and movies featuring the NHL, NFL and MLB. The most recent additions to the Bell TV roster are Los Angeles ' KTLA HD, New York's WPIX and Boston's WSBK.

Today's announcement follows a series of initiatives that have placed Bell at the forefront of broadcasting distribution. Last month, the company launched TMN Online - the first service in North America where authentication and access are linked to the subscriber, rather than to the home Internet connection. TMN Online is offered through the Bell TV Online portal at no extra cost to TMN subscribers and enables them to view movies and premium content from any computer in Canada . The Bell TV Online portal offers the best online quality and the convenience of allowing the subscriber to use the same log in information as used for managing their Bell account. Bell TV online can be accessed at bell.ca/TVonline.

Today, Bell also announced that on November 11 it will enhance Bell TV Online with the launch of Family Channel Online and Playhouse Disney Online. Bell also announced it would begin offering AMC in standard definition and High Definition on November 11 .

Bell TV is Canada's leader in digital home entertainment with more than 1.9 million customers and broadcasting more than 500 digital video and audio channels. Bell TV was launched in September 1997 and since then has become the largest direct-to-home satellite company in Canada and the fastest growing in North America . Bell TV's stunning HD picture quality is 10 times better than cable.

For more information on Bell TV and Canada's best HD service, including a full list of channel offerings, please visit bell.ca/TV.

About Bell

Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and business with solutions to all their communications needs, including Bell Mobility wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell TV direct-to-home satellite television, Bell Home phone local and long distance, and IP-broadband and information and communications technology (ICT) services. Bell is proud to be a Premier National Partner and the exclusive Telecommunications Partner to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For information on Bell's products and services, please visit www.bell.ca. For corporate information on BCE, please visit www.bce.ca.

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For further information: Julie Smithers, Bell Media Relations, [phone], [email protected]