Drop by the Bell MTS Box at Winnipeg's Interstellar Rodeo to experience the evolution of TV, Internet and Media innovation

Aug 11, 2016

  • MTS and Bell sponsoring second annual music festival at the Forks August 12-14
  • Visitors can learn more about Fibe TV and Gigabit Fibe, try out Virtual Reality
  • Bell MTS to invest $1 billion over 5 years to deliver the latest broadband network and service innovations to Manitobans in communities large and small

WINNIPEG, Aug. 11, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell and MTS welcome Manitobans to the Bell MTS Box at this weekend's Interstellar Rodeo at the Forks in downtown Winnipeg. Drop by for a hands-on look at the future of broadband entertainment and innovation with Fibe TV and Gigabit Fibe Internet, a Virtual Reality experience and more.

"MTS is a very big part of the community here and we jumped at the chance to join the team in meeting Manitobans at The Forks this coming weekend. We invite you to visit the innovation-packed Bell MTS Box for a hands-on look at the next-generation broadband services that will fuel the future of connectivity and media in Manitoba," said Mirko Bibic, Chief Corporate Development Officer for Bell.

Bell and MTS are festival partners of Interstellar Rodeo Winnipeg. Bell Media radio stations 103.1 Virgin Radio and 99.9 BOB FM will do live broadcasts and contests, and Bell MTS charging stations for mobile devices will be available at the festival.

"Bell MTS will deliver state-of-the-art broadband communications to Manitobans in communities across our province, and our teams are eager to show and tell you what's in store," said Paul Norris, Vice-President, Residential Services for MTS. "Interstellar Rodeo is a great music event in the heart of Winnipeg, the perfect place to invite Manitobans to experience the evolution of broadband access and entertainment innovations that Bell MTS will deliver."

Innovations on display at the Bell MTS Box include:

  • The stunning picture quality of Bell Fibe TV and its amazing range of exclusive innovations like Restart, which lets you restart and watch TV shows up to 30 hours after they started, and Trending, listing the most-watched shows on Fibe TV in Canada at any given time.
  • The Fibe TV app, which brings the Fibe experience to smartphones and tablets with access to more than 450 live and on-demand channels and full control of your TV through mobile devices including the Apple Watch.
  • Wireless TV receivers that let you put your TVs where they want without worrying about extra cables – including the not-yet-released Fibe 4K Wireless Whole Home PVR, the first of its kind in the world.
  • Gigabit Fibe's blazing access speeds and cutting edge Internet products including the not-yet-released Home Hub 3000 modem, featuring throughput capability of 1 gigabit per second and the fastest and most powerful home Wi-Fi coverage available.
  • An immersive Virtual Reality video experience powered by Samsung that puts participants in the centre of Cirque du Soleil's iconic production "O."

Bell MTS: Better together, better for Manitobans
On May 2, BCE Inc. (Bell) announced the acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (MTS) in a transaction valued at approximately $3.9 billion and a 5-year, $1 billion commitment to expand broadband communications services in Manitoba following the closing of the transaction, expected in late 2016 or early 2017. The companies' combined Manitoba operations will be known as Bell MTS and Winnipeg becomes headquarters for Bell's Western Canada operations.

Bell and MTS have already announced plans for continuous broadband wireless coverage along Highway 75 in southern Manitoba, and the expansion of mobile and wireline broadband networks in northern Manitoba, including along Highway 6 to Thompson, in Flin Flon and in 5 small indigenous communities.

Caution concerning forward-looking statements
Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements relating to the proposed acquisition by BCE Inc. ("BCE") of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. ("MTS"), the expected timing of, and certain benefits expected to result from, the proposed transaction, our network deployment and capital investment plans in Manitoba, our business outlook, objectives, plans and strategic priorities, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words assumption, goal, guidance, objective, outlook, project, strategy, target and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as aim, anticipate, believe, could, expect, intend, may, plan, seek, should, strive and will. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release describe our expectations at the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as may be required by Canadian securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are provided herein for the purpose of giving information about the proposed transaction referred to above and its expected impact, including our network deployment and capital investment plans in Manitoba. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

The completion and timing of the proposed transaction are subject to customary closing conditions, termination rights and other risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, regulatory approvals. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the proposed transaction will occur, or that it will occur on the terms and conditions, or at the time, contemplated in this news release. The proposed transaction could be modified, restructured or terminated. There can also be no assurance that the benefits expected to result from the proposed transaction, as well as our network deployment and capital investment plans in Manitoba, will be realized.

For additional information on assumptions and risks underlying certain forward-looking statements made in this news release, please consult BCE's 2015 Annual MD&A dated March 3, 2016 (included in the BCE 2015 Annual Report), BCE's 2016 First Quarter MD&A dated April 27, 2016 and BCE's 2016 Second Quarter MD&A dated August 3, 2016, filed by BCE with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities (available at Sedar.com) and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (available at SEC.gov). These documents are also available at BCE.ca.

About MTS
At MTS, we're proud to be Manitoba's leading information and communications technology provider. We're dedicated to delivering a full suite of services for Manitobans – Internet, Wireless, TV, Phone Service and Security Systems plus a full suite of Information Solutions, including Unified Cloud and Managed Services.

We live where we work and actively give back to organizations that strengthen our communities. Through MTS Future First, we provide sponsorships, grants and scholarships, value-in-kind support and volunteer commitment in Manitoba.

MTS Inc. is wholly owned by Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (TSX: MBT). For more on MTS' products and services, visit mts.ca. For investor information, visit mts.ca/aboutus.

About Bell
Canada's largest communications company and leading investor in communication infrastructure and services since 1880, Bell delivers innovative broadband wireless, TV and Internet, home phone, media and other communications services to Canadian consumers and business customers. Bell is wholly owned by Montréal's BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). To learn more, please visit Bell.ca.

The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes mental health in Canada with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns, like Bell Let's Talk Day, and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research, and workplace initiatives. To learn more, please visit bell.ca/letstalk

Media inquiries

Bell
Caroline Audet
514 391-5263
caroline.audet@bell.ca
@Bell_News

MTS
Jeremy Sawatzky
204-958-3230
media.relations@mts.ca

 

SOURCE Bell Canada