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.

[TELUS_Support]

Additionally, on the new Optik platform live sporting events are auto extended already (60 minutes for all live sports events, 90 minutes for tennis).

[Optikal_Speak]

 Unfortunately, one minute pre/post recording will not cut it for a lot of programs. 

[Optikal_Speak]

Here's another recording one to ponder. 

I have a series recording for Pardon The Interruption on TSN. 902. It's a 30 minute program.

Interestingly, it commences 2 and 1/2 mins prior to and ends 1 hr after program is over. Total recorded time is 1h 32m.

Not complaining, just saying, as I can't set any start/end parameters as you know.

Pointing out as an example, as it appears programmable start/end parameters are not a difficult, upgradable function. Worth checking into, as to,  the how/why it's automatic for this particular program, channel and/or timeslot?

Have not noticed on any other scheduled recordings.

[KHR]

All recordings have 2 mins added pre and post, live sports have 60 mins added past the scheduled end time (90 minutes for tennis). It looks like PTI is flagged as a live sports event by our guide data provider, so 1h32 tracks.

Programmable start and end times at a global level are relatively easier; at the individual user level they are somewhat more complicated. As such, the team does try to proactively identify shows that historically run long (Golden Globes, Oscars etc.) and add post-time. We also retroactively add post-padding to unforeseen overruns (SNL 50th anniversary special).

[Optikal_Speak]

Thanks for the reply and insight on that score. 

Re your comment: "Programmable start and end times at a global level are relatively easier; at the individual user level they are somewhat more complicated."

Is there any development consideration, either in play or future contemplation of, for user customization of programmable start and end times, à la the Legacy PVR functionality?

If so, any ETA on update of same?

[Optikal_Speak]

Another pet peeve:

The channel (ch) up/dn remote button does not track with My Favorites. The only way, currently, is to scroll through My Favorites with the Guide wheel. 

Old habits (conveniences) die hard. It's always been the default for channel changing and other family members share the frustration of defaulting to the ch button, and then having to choose Guide, scroll, hit enter, etc. 

Interestingly, the ch button will scroll through All Subscribed Channels. So given it's married up to that group it seems reasonable that it wouldn't be a stretch to marry it up to My Favorites, no?

Otherwise, the ch button is redundant. Dare I say, it's essentially useless. Just taking up space!

Is there any dev consideration to marry up the ch remote button to My Favorites? 

[RIch97]

This is an HBO issue. The program does not always start at the correct time listed in the guide.

[Optikal_Speak]

No disagreement on that score. 

That being known, Telus' gear/platform should accomodate for such occurrences. Pre/post set recording options for early start and late finish alà the Legacy PVR functionality should be built into the development.

[stefhelm]

Regarding the 21-T box:  the HDMI CEC behaviour changed at some point.  For a long time, it would immediately turn my tv back on after I turned it off.  I had to disable the feature.  After quite some time,  I tried again this week.  The above issue is now gone, but now the Telus box now seems to wake up and turn everything on around 7 in the morning.  For fun, I swapped out the box with one from another room, and it behaves the same.  The CEC function is super nice and makes my tv, stereo and Telus box play nice together.  I'd like to use it.  But this turning itself on in the morning is not ideal.  Any chance this has been seen or is known about?  HDMI CEC is a pain at the best of times, but it's so close to working!

[PaulB_]

Has the TELUS STB that doesn't work with our Sony soundbar work yet?  Haven't tried it in a bit because that is my wife's TV.

Recently they wanted to watch the Grammys and I said they have to use the TELUS TV+ app on the Google TV, daughter said the picture looks like really pixilated. 

I am also afraid to ever switch to one of these Android STBs because I heard the picture looks awful.

Has TELUS gotten rid of so many employees that the contractors do not care about doing a good job?  The Android boxes are a failure.

[Optikal_Speak]

Any thing new to report?

I see a new App Version 1.25.1.500 and Config timestamp 2025-02-13T18:53:39 yet nothing notable as far as function changes?

Still lots of frustration wrt ongoing documented issues. 

[broadcastguy]

You’re all so kind to continue beta testing this product for TELUS. It’s a bonus for them because you’re all paying to test their inferior product.

Sorry to see it’s still plagued with issues.

[Rocky3]

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@Optikal_Speak wrote:

Any thing new to report?

I see a new App Version 1.25.1.500 and Config timestamp 2025-02-13T18:53:39 yet nothing notable as far as function changes?

Still lots of frustration wrt ongoing documented issues. 

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Thanks for the update, now I have an expectation. Mine still shows 1.24.11.100 Time stamp 2024-10-23T19:50:08 but Android changed to 12,API:31

[Optikal_Speak]

Never took notice of the Android version previously. Mine shows 12,API:31 as well.

[TELUS_Support]

Our dev team would like your account info to investigate the recording issues. We'll send you a private message to discuss.

[Rocky3]

Respectfully, the ability to set pre and end times to a scheduled time has been available for 20 years on the individual level. What I am noticing is the new tech appears to be driven by the new tech generation.

Banking is another pet peeve. I until a few months ago was able to view my online bank statement in the long tradition of oldest at the top progressing to the newest at the bottom. I bank at two places and both have adopted this newest at the top. WHY are the new generation of programmers messing with what we all grew up with?

[Optikal_Speak]

Because they are 20 somethings. A mentor of mine used to say "hire 'em young cause they know it all"! 😉

[BD17]

What are the 2025 feature updates?

[Flash54321]

So nothing recent?  

[TELUS_Support]

Our team is constantly working on improving the service and implementing releases to address specific issues. While we have nothing to share publicly at this time, rest assured our team is working as we speak on improvements and we'll share what we can when we can.

[Optikal_Speak]

Totally disagree with that statement. There have been a few updates mostly bandaids really for "ongoing issues" for 2 yrs running. 

If there is a dev team there should be consistent improvements so far in 2025 absolutely nothing. 

Missing all the F1 season due to recording issues, then again I get 30-40 Wall Street Week duplicates. 

BRUTAL!!!

No sense repeating the plethora of issues. You can just check your history folder, if indeed you have a to-do-list created. 

[broadcastguy]

Appreciate the reply, but that’s been the same line for quite a while now. I don’t doubt that the team is working behind the scenes, but from a customer perspective, the pace and visibility of progress are minimal — especially compared to what TELUS was once known for.

The shift from a dedicated carrier-grade solution to an Android-based app experience might make sense from a cost and infrastructure standpoint, but it’s come at the expense of reliability and overall quality. Many of us were hoping TELUS would lead in this space, leveraging fibre to deliver something truly next-gen — not just chase the low-cost model.

Hope the improvements coming down the pipeline are meaningful, because a lot of long-time customers are losing patience. Looking forward to seeing some real progress soon.

[Optikal_Speak]

Precisely...

It's been the same line for quite a while now as it fits the definition of insanity...doing ( in Telus' case) 'viewing' the same thing over and over again expecting a different results!

[KHR]

@Flash54321 @Optikal_Speak @broadcastguy @BD17 

In general, while the team has slowed down on communicating updates in this forum, it does not mean they are not doing anything. One notable item that the team has delivered is an application for the Fire TV ecosystem. Launching an app for a brand new platform isn't simple, and the team worked hard to deliver this. While not everyone may have a Fire TV or Fire TV stick, it is a consistently requested item from our customers. 

In addition, the team has delivered zoetropes for On Demand programming, improvements to app start time and playback start time, automatic login to Netflix on your set-top box if you subscribe to Netflix through TELUS, improved guide navigation (change dates using skip ahead/skip back), support for game controllers, enhanced bookmarks for recordings on Apple TV, iOS and telustvplus.com, a new player for Android mobile and many bug fixes and performance improvements.

[Optikal_Speak]

Your checklist above, albeit a list,  does not address the repeated concerns noted in this forum. 

I have a Fire TV stick yet deemed it to be redundant (sits in a drawer) since getting onto Telus Android boxes re: majority of the apps exist on both platforms. Not sure if that's what you're referring to. Who wants to be hosltering various remotes? 

Nevertheless I don't see the apps, etc as being overly onerous w/r/t issues. It's the TV side with recordings, favorites, and remote form and function that garners the bulk of the frustration. Why is the "TV" stuff so difficult to replicate?