Does the Better and Best package include the same Time-Shift channels as older packages?

[Daniel_B_65]

EDIT: I do see the little clock icon on these networks in the Better and Best packages that indicates multiple time zones are available, but they don't actually list which.

I am in BC. I currently have an old channel subscription with package add-ons that are no longer available. It includes the major networks (CTV, CBC, CityTV, Global) for all across Canada, from Halifax to Vancouver, even NTV from Newfoundland. Great for time-shifting programs on a busy evening. Looking at the "Better" and "Best" packages offered now, only Vancouver stations are listed. CityTV from Toronto and Saskatchewan are there too, but none of the other network channels from across the country. If I "upgrade" my package to the "Better" or "Best" to get some Sportsnet and TSN, will I lose all of the other network channels I use for time-shifting? I'd hate to do so and find that happen. If so, I'd keep my current old line-up and just add some sports to it.

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

Good Day & Welcome.

Thank you @Daniel_B_65 thank you for contacting the Bell Community Forum.

Bell Canada offers television services in British Columbia (BC) primarily through Bell Satellite TV and Bell Fibe TV app / streaming services.

If you login to your MyBell account and select your TV service, you can view your channels by selecting > View channel line-up on the right side of the page. To make changes to your TV package and to view what is included in each package, you can do so by selecting > Modify TV channels.

I have included the following channel listing for Bell Satellite TV. Keep in mind, asterisk (*) Channels are available only in select regions. Please visit Bell's Channel Tool Site to see what channels are available in your region.

Scroll down the Program Channel Guide to view the channels included in the Better, Best & Time-Shift.

5-Program_Channel_DTH_ON_E.pdf

Take care.

[BellNick · Accepted solution]

Hi @Daniel_B_65 
Thank you for your post and welcome to the Community.

For accurate results, packages and pricing, it's best to check via MyBell as @WelshTerrier has advised, as it may vary depending on your current programming package. Although generally, sports channels can be added on to your current programming as an add-on.

The Better package does include some sports channels such as some TSN and Sportsnet, but does not include Timeshift, although Timeshift can be selected as an add-on for about $5.00/month.

The Best package includes the TSN and Sportsnet channels as well as Timeshift.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Community.

[Daniel_B_65]

Thank you for those two links. I have a spreadsheet listing my current channels. I have duplicated that spreadsheet and highlighted the Starter channels to see what I would retain and what I would lose. I have done the same for Starter+Good, Starter+Good+Better, and Starter+Good+Better+Best. So I have something to work with. The one issue I have is with the Bell's Channel Tool Site link you provided. I put in my postal code, or allow the site to know my location, and the list of channels it says are available to me does not include a whole lot of channels that I currently have. For example, the tool shows the networks start at 1150 CBC Vancouver and go through to 1154 CTV2 Vancouver, only 5 channels, AND none of them are listed in the Starter, Good, Better or Best packages. So what? no network channels are available? or are the packages not available to West Coast subscribers? I don't get it. I currently have the across Canada networks Halifax, Sydney, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton, Calgary, but the tool doesn't list them as available to me. 31 CBC-CTV-CTV2-Global-City channels in total are missing. Maybe I'm not understanding the tool and the timeshift list you provided in the other link, but pretty much every channel listed on the timeshift has an asterisk beside it which means only available in select regions, and the tool says no timeshifts are available to me. Can you please provide more insight? It seems that any change I make from my current package to a new package would be a downgrade.

[Daniel_B_65]

Thanks BellNick. WelshTerrier just opened up a whole lot more questions. See my response to them. Maybe since I'm "grandfathered" (IE about 28 year subscriber) it may be best to just add/subtract to my current package rather than a reset to make it "simple" (which it is NOT! I have discovered)

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

Thank you @Daniel_B_65 for the follow up information.

I am a long-term Bell TV customer as well. I started with Bell ExpressVu > Bell Satellite TV & I now have Fibe TV.

My subscription was "grandfathered" as I suspect yours is today. I eventually changed my Bell TV package to the Better & added Time-shift.

The channel information I provided to you earlier is for the Bell TV Satellite packages that offered today.

A "grandfathered" TV package may not necessarily include all of the same TV channels. The channels listed in this document are current as of February 2026.

•  5-Program_Channel_DTH_ON_E.pdf

For accurate results, packages and pricing, it's best for you to login to your MyBell account.

To change from a "grandfathered" package to what is being offered today is a decision only you can make.

Take care.