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Video On Demand FAQ
General Questions
What is Video On Demand?
Video On Demand is a fully interactive service that allows you to choose movies for your next movie night from the comfort of your home with the convenience of no video store runs or late fees. You can order from the Video on Demand library and watch the the movie you choose as many times as you want within a 24-hour period.
Want help using your Video On Demand service?
What’s the difference between Video On Demand and Pay Per View?
Video On Demand gives you personalized viewing not possible with Pay Per View services. You can pause, play, fast forward, and rewind your entertainment selection. In other words, you have total control over what you watch and how you watch it. Most importantly, you also have complete control over when you watch. There is no need to wait for a set time to watch your movie, you just hit the play button when you are ready.
Where is Video On Demand available?
Video On Demand is available in Whitehorse and Yellowknife.
What can I watch with Video On Demand?
Video On Demand brings you a wide selection of movies, special events, and adult entertainment. The selection is updated weekly, so check out www.nwtel.ca often to see what’s new with Video On Demand.
Why is this better than renting a movie from the video store?
No VHS tapes, DVDs, VCRs, or DVD players required! You don’t even have to leave your house to get the movie you want for this week’s movie night. Northwestel’s Video On Demand lets you choose from a selection of great entertainment that plays seconds after ordering. You get 24 hours to watch your movie as many times as you want, and there’s no need to worry about late fees or warming up the truck.
What services do I need to order Video On Demand?
All you need to start using Video On Demand today is Northwestel Digital TV. Currently, Video On Demand is only available in Whitehorse. To sign up for Digital TV today, call 1-888-423-2333.
What is Digital TV?
Digital TV is delivered to customer televisions through a digital receiver that, in addition to providing access to Video On Demand, gives customers access to over 350 Digital TV and music channels.
How much do movies cost?
Paid selections start as low as $3.99 each, and the cost of most movies is comparable to video store costs, but without any of the video rental hassles and late fees. Northwestel Video On Demand also features several free selections.
Prices vary by selection, but in general prices are as follows:
- New releases: $5.99
- Library titles: $3.99
- Adult titles: $9.99
How am I invoiced for my Video On Demand movie purchases?
Your movie selections are billed directly to your monthly Digital TV invoice from Northwestel. Video On Demand movie rentals will appear as a PPV (Pay Per View) transaction with the title of the movie.
How often do the Video On Demand selections change?
New selections are added weekly. See “Coming Soon” to find out what Video On Demand movies you can expect to see available next, and “Last Chance” for titles that will expire soon.
I have two Digital TV receivers in my home. Can I play two different movies at the same time?
Yes, the movies you purchase are specific to the Digital TV receiver you purchase them on.
Can I play the same movie on two different Digital TV receivers at the same time?
Unfortunately, Video on Demand movies can only be viewed using the Digital TV receiver they were purchased on.
Can I view the movies on my computer?
No. The only way to view movies is through a Digital TV receiver connected to your TV.
How many times can I view my order?
You can view your order as many times as you like within the 24-hour rental time frame.
How come fast forward and rewind don’t work like they do on a VCR or DVD player?
With current Video On Demand technology it is difficult to control video as precisely as you can when using a VCR or DVD player in your home. To work around this, Northwestel Video On Demand uses a skip forward and skip back system. Pressing these buttons causes the movie to skip 2 minutes in the direction specified.
Can I control my movie with my Digital TV remote control?
Yes. You can control movie playback using your remote’s play, stop, pause, rewind, and fast-forward buttons. If you have any problems using your remote with Video On Demand, please contact our Customer Care Centre.
Where do the program descriptions and star ratings come from?
Descriptions are provided by the program’s distributor. A program’s star rating is an average of the stars given to it by a number of professional critics who publish reviews online. It is not Northwestel’s rating for the program; nor does a high star rating guarantee you’ll like it. As we all know, critics’ opinions often differ from our own.
Can I record Video On Demand selections with my Digital Video Recorder (DVR)?
At this time, you cannot record your Video On Demand selections to your DVR. However, you can re-watch your Video On Demand movie as many times as you like within the 24-hour time frame and you can re-order your movie at a later time.
Why can I not see Video On Demand selections in High Definition?
The format of Video On Demand movies is determined by the studios that send us the films, and, at this time, very few studios provide Video On Demand selections in High Definition format. As the demand increases and more people worldwide utilize the High Definition standard, more studios will begin supplying Video On Demand selections in High Definition programming.
Parental Control
How can I prevent my children from ordering shows that I feel are inappropriate?
Northwestel Video On Demand lets you prevent shows with certain content ratings from being ordered, and they will not be displayed when browsing the Video On Demand menus.
Follow these steps to manage your Video On Demand content ratings:
- Select the
MENU button on your Digital TV receiver’s remote control. - Use the
left or 
right arrows buttons to highlight the Parental Controls button. Press the 
OK button. - A pop-up window will appear requesting you to set and confirm a 4-digit PIN.
- The Locks Setup menu will appear. Select either Movie Rating Locks and/or Adult Titles.
Movie Rating Locks: will require your 4-digit PIN each time you attempt to order or view a program with a lock set.
Adult Titles: will simply show or hide any adult rated titles available. - Use the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through your options and hit the OK button to confirm your choice.
Can I setup a PIN/lock for the Video On Demand service if I do not wish to have open access to this service through my Digital Terminal?
Yes, follow these instructions to set-up a PIN/ lock for Video On Demand; anytime someone would like to use Video On Demand service, they will need to enter the 4 digit PIN first.
- Click the "menu" button on your remote and scroll over to the "parental controls" option - hit OK.
- Select the "service locks" option - hit OK.
- Highlight the "Video On Demand" option and hit OK to activate a lock for this service.
Technical Support
What do I do if I’m having troubles with my Video On Demand?
Call our Customer Care Centre anytime for help using your VOD service - 1-888-423-2333
