Helix will keep cord-cutters in Videotron ‘ecosystem,’ CEO says

MONTREAL — Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron unveiled its new Helix platform Tuesday, and the company is counting on the combined IPTV, WiFi management and smart home platform to position it for a post cord-cutting world, according to CEO Jean-François Pruneau. “If the system was only related to standard TV, it wouldn’t help us a lot,” Pruneau said in an interview following a media event to unveil Helix in Montreal. But the fact that it also integrates web content and over-the-top (OTT) services, with features like voice commands, and includes that in the same system as its WiFi and smart home controls, Pruneau said, is “the way we’re going to be able to mitigate the cord-cutting.” The company is also counting on the value of that combination of functions to keep customers with Videotron even if they get rid of their traditional linear TV service altogether. “I think that we’re going to be able to keep people in the Videotron ecosystem,” Pruneau said. The new platform, based on Comcast Corp.’s Xfinity X1, includes an IPTV set-top box and a WiFi router with an interface that allows subscribers to control access by various devices, with smart home functionality still to come. Company representatives outlined the various features to reporters Tuesday, including voice search for live and on-demand TV content, which the company said was able to recognize various Quebec French accents and expressions, including bilingual ones. Currently, the only streaming services included on the set-top box are Netflix Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube, though company representatives told media more would be included in the future. The set-top box includes a feature that allows users to quickly view sports information, including game results and statistics. The platform also enables users to access live and on demand content and control their DVR, while an app allows them to control the home WiFi network. The Helix Fi app gives users access to information including internet usage by various individuals and their devices and has options for parental controls, such as restricting when children can connect to the internet, blocking certain websites or disconnecting their devices entirely. The company said in a press release that the Helix Fi app will “soon” allow users to control the households’ smart devices as well. Pruneau said that smart home functionality is coming within “weeks.” Helix will also allow Videotron to collect data on customers and their usage of telecom services. Pruneau said the company currently only uses that information to improve the system, such as using anonymized data on viewing and what kind of content customers are interested in. He added the company would ask consumers for permission before using it for another purpose, such as targeted ads. “We need to have the approval from the consumer if we want to do that. And we will ask at some point the consumer approval,” he said, adding that the data would be anonymized. “We haven’t defined yet what’s going to be the purpose we’re going to use the data for,” he noted. Pruneau said Videotron’s court challenge of a CRTC order that it must share set-top data with a working group is unrelated to the launch of the new set-top boxes. The service is available as of Tuesday. The combined price of TV and internet service depends on the level of internet service and TV packages. For instance, the 12-month promo price for speeds up to 100 Mbps and basic cable plus a choice of 10 non-sports channels is $95 a month, and the regular price is $120 a month. Internet speeds of up 940 Mbps with that same TV option are $115 a month for the year-long promo, and $145 a month regular price. Videotron follows fellow cablecos Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. in adopting the Comcast platform. — With reporting by Anja Karadeglija at akarad@thewirereport.ca and editing by Ahmad Hathout at ahathout@thewirereport.ca

Helix will keep cord-cutters in Videotron ‘ecosystem,’ CEO says

News | August 27, 2019

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Helix will keep cord-cutters in Videotron ‘ecosystem,’ CEO says

News | August 27, 2019

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