TELUS TV Feature Updates - Ongoing

[Optik-Kate]

Dear Neighbours, 

We’re experimenting with different formats to assure you we’re listening and working on improvements to the TELUS TV platforms. We have frequent releases designed to tackle the platform's immediate and long-term stability, and we’ll do our best to keep this thread up to date with each new release to celebrate our wins together.

Please note this is not an exhaustive list; minor customer-facing fixes and non-customer-facing backend work are not included. (Note: Previous updates removed due to character limits on post)

Q2 2025 (WIP):

• TELUS TV+ app is now available for download on Amazon Fire TV
• Sports channels upgraded to 1080P at 60 frames per second
• 40+ new Free Stream TV channels
• 4K HDR now available for On Demand content

Q1 2025:

• Firmware Update:
  • Dolby vision & HDR support that enhances video quality
  • Auto dynamic range adjustment to match the content frame
  • Picture-in-picture previews in guide
  • Find my remote by holding down the pairing button on the box  for >4 seconds
  • Advanced audio controls such as normalization of loudness for all content and disable/enable surround sound format
  • Privacy & accessibility:

• Customization of microphone and camera permissions
• Adjust text size on-screen with new text scaling options

Q4 2024: 

• Zoetrope Previews: See exactly where you're skipping on Live TV, recordings, and On-Demand. Enjoy fullscreen previews when fast-forwarding or rewinding, so you never lose your place. (Thumbnail preview coming soon)
• Fast Forward and Rewind Speeds: Control your scrolling speed with ease:
  • 1x: Scroll at 2x speed.
  • 2x: Scroll at 8x speed.
  • 3x: Scroll at 24x speed.
• Picture Quality Improvements: Most non-sports channels now stream in 1080p (high-definition) for sharper images, with a backup at 720p. Sports channels now uses 720p at 60 frames per second (fps) to keep fast-moving content smooth and prevent display issues—further picture quality improvements to come.
• Recovery After Internet Outage: Your digital box will now automatically resume live TV content as soon as the internet connection is restored.
• Improved Guide on Apple TV: Navigate your TV Guide effortlessly with enhanced performance and no freezing issues.
• Automatic Playback for Recordings: Binge-watch your recorded content with ease as the next recording in your playlist automatically starts playing—no need to press a button!
• Enhanced Restart and Lookback Logic: Enjoy seamless transitions between Restart and Lookback programs for uninterrupted viewing.

Q3 2024:

• Bulk Delete for Recordings: You can now delete multiple recorded episodes simultaneously, making managing your recordings easier.
• Episode List Access: When playing a recorded episode, you can see a list of all other episodes from the same series directly in the player.
• Binge-Watching Made Easy: Enjoy seamless binge-watching of recorded episodes, as they now play sequentially without any interruptions.
• Order Cloud PVR Directly: You can now order Cloud PVR service directly from your set-top box for added convenience.
• Start from the Beginning: Easily start recordings and VOD (Video on Demand) content from the beginning, even if you joined late!

Regards,

Your Friendly Neighbourhood TV Product Development Team.

[Rocky3]

@Optik-Kate 

Please change this to a month end report of what was accomplished of what is tops on the priority to be done.

I know you are the messenger. Did anything get done in January, and almost end of February now.

[Optik-Kate]

We have a more significant update at the end of this month, and then I'll update the list!

[MrSL]

Any update on when we can modify start and end times for recordings?

[Rocky3]

@MrSL Feb 2026 definitely maybe

[MrSL]

Anybody out there?

[Optik-Kate]

The architecture work required for this will take us to the end of the calendar year if no further delay! 

[Kwallz]

To be able to edit start and stop times ? All the previous boxes already had that feature.
What about being able to select the team you want to record vs having to record every single hockey game that comes on. I am getting tired of deleting 10 NHL games just to watch 1 Canucks game 🤣

[ExTelis]

Hey Optik-Kate,

You might know, why is the Telus TV app not available on my Roku Streaming Stick, and it's not available in the Roku Store ?  (I only have Pik-TV)

I keep searching, but it's not there..

Just wondering.

Thanks

Ex-Telis

[Optik-Kate]

Hi @ExTelis , the TELUS TV+ App is not on Roku because we do not currently support it. We're working on expanding the supported platforms. For example, Amazon Fire TV will be next, but the timeline for Roku is yet to be determined. 

[Optik-Kate]

The list has been updated with features from the past couple of updates (Jan & Feb). Thank you for everyone's patience. Please ensure you're on the latest box/BYOD version - 1.24.2.200

[broadcastguy]

This new TV product is, by far, the worst product TELUS has released. Endless disappointment—I was lucky I could switch back to the Arris equipment, for now at least.

[Kwallz]

I wonder if they offer a revert to the old boxes for new customers ? Have not been impressed at all with how many features and basic functions the new boxes are missing over the old technology.

[broadcastguy]

It never hurts to ask. The picture quality is so soft on the Android boxes compared to the Arris equipment, too. As a former broadcaster, quality is important, but I realize in the age of streaming on smaller devices it’s less of an issue for most.

[Kwallz]

How do we update to the latest version?

[KHR]

Updates should be pushed to your devices automatically over the next week, but you can always check for system updates in Settings > Device settings > Device Preferences > About > System update.

The latest App version is 1.24.2.200 (found in Settings > System information).

[Rocky3]

I confirm the update 1.24.2.200 was automatically made.

I also thank all involved for letting favorites stick when guide is chosen

[Kwallz]

Thanks for the directions.
It has not automatically updated, and when I follow your directions it tells me my system is up to date and there are no available updates.
Currently showing app version 1.23.11.400_release

[Montell]

My telus tv box is also showing no update so far.

So are you developing the android tv app in tandem with the official telus box? Can I expect my shield tv telus tv app to also be updated? Last update was November 21st which was getting a bit lengthy after 3 months....

I am pretty happy with the android tv app on my shield, obviously some bugs with recordings need to be sorted out, and in general I think everyone would like to see a bump in picture quality so it looks like the old optik tv system when I had fibre with the old system it was very impressive picture. I think thats probably the number 1 wish everyone has.

I dont use the telus tv box and convinced my friend to switch from shaw for this reason this week. He also uses sony android tv telus app. He was done with additional telecom boxes and remotes being required. So I really hope the android tv app will also receive this update soon.

The only other big glaring feature for me personally missing from the android tv telus app is ppv purchases. I still have the cheap telus tv android box for this reason only.

[KHR]

Yes, there is an update to Android TV as well.

Google and Apple have different policies and best practice guidelines on app update rollouts. For example, as soon as a new app is published to the Apple App Store, it can be manually updated by anyone. If you have automatic updates turned on, you will get the app pushed to your device according to a set rollout schedule over a few days to a week. For Android, you have to wait your turn; you can't manually update until the end of the rollout schedule for automatic updates.    

[Kwallz]

Ok, so what does that mean for my situation ?
The Telus box says it's up to date and I can't manually update it. It's still got the old number.

@KHR
Side note, Do you happen to know if I am able to return these new Telus tv app box things and get the old better previous system ?

[KHR]

Hi @Kwallz it likely means that you're in the queue for an update per Google's schedule and should get it shortly. If you don't have it by Monday, try rebooting your system (sometimes that can help), and failing that, check back in here and someone can look into for you.

I don't know the exact process, or even if it's possible to revert to legacy equipment and plans etc. but you'd need to get in touch with our loyalty team. They would probably need to cancel your existing services and send a technician to install things (which may come with a bill). A couple of things worth noting: 1. some features (cloud recordings, access to Disney+ and Apple TV+ etc.) are not available on the legacy system and 2. the plan is to eventually move folks over from the legacy system as that hardware is reaching obsolescence. 

[Rocky3]

I started this thread on "Auto update apps" 

I was told a while ago how to manually update. That seems to be awol now so if you do not get the push update how do you do a manual update.

[Kwallz]

Hi, are there any plans to update the recording options ?
I want to record canucks games, but if i setup a series recording it records every NHL game that comes on so I constantly have to deleted so many recordings
I would like to be able to setup series recording for Canucks only like I used to on my old system.

Also when would this 90 day recoding expire setting go away ?
I want to save certain shows or recordings, I don't want them to delete . . . Please remove this automatic 90 day expire.

[Rocky3]

You can record locally in real time while watching/playing a show whether live or from cloud recording using a HDMI splitter. While the cloud recording is a file just like the previous PVR I have not found a way to just copy the file.

[KHR]

We are looking at a number of improvements to recordings, including more start/end time modifications (either manual or automatic), sports team recordings and a longer storage duration. As usual, we can't promise any timeline on these items, since development times can vary and anything that requires multiple parties to participate gets complicated. TELUS uses a 3rd party service for guide data, and having sports team recordings requires codevelopment.

I will say that is extremely unlikely that TELUS will ever have unlimited forever storage on the cloud PVR service...not only would server space become ridiculous pretty quick but there are copyright law implications that didn't exist with a hard-drive solution. That said, we are evaluating options for download and/or 'keep for longer'.