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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →TELUS is bringing music-focused channels back to its TV ecosystem, but not necessarily as the conventional Optik TV cable channels longtime customers remember. The returning programming is being offered through free ad-supported streaming television (FAST), with channels such as Now Rock, Now 70s, and Now 80s available through the TELUS TV+ app for eligible customers.
That means the channels are delivered over the internet, include advertising, and may require a Stream+ subscription or another eligible TELUS-connected service. They are not universally free, account-free channels available to anyone with a television.
What TELUS actually changed
Some Stingray music channels were removed from the traditional cable side of TELUS’s television service. According to an October 3, 2025 report from MobileSyrup, music programming has now returned in a different form: as internet-delivered FAST channels rather than a simple restoration of the former cable lineup.
FAST stands for free ad-supported streaming television. The format resembles a conventional linear TV channel—you tune in and watch the scheduled stream—but the content arrives through an internet connection and is funded by advertising.
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TELUS’s own Stream+ materials describe a broader collection of free ad-supported channels, including the music-focused Now Rock, Now 70s, and Now 80s. The same lineup also contains non-music channels, so this is better understood as part of TELUS’s wider streaming-channel strategy than as a full relaunch of the old Stingray cable package.
Which music channels are available?
The clearest current TELUS listings identify:
- Now Rock
- Now 70s
- Now 80s
The earlier reporting connects the returning music programming with Stingray, but TELUS’s current pages do not label every music channel as a Stingray-branded service. It is therefore too broad to say that all Stingray channels have returned.
The safest description is that TELUS has restored music-oriented FAST programming, including channels associated with the reported Stingray return and the Now-branded channels currently shown in TELUS’s own listings.
This distinction matters because Stingray distributes several different kinds of services. Its provider-distributed music-video services have included names such as Stingray Juicebox, Stingray Loud, Stingray Vibe, and Stingray Retro. Stingray also separately identifies free ad-supported offerings, including Stingray Music audio channels and Qello Concerts by Stingray. Those services should not automatically be treated as identical to the music channels currently listed inside TELUS TV+.
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Why longtime Optik TV customers may see this as a comeback—but not a full restoration
Older TELUS channel documentation included commercial-free Stingray Music channels in traditional Optik TV packages. Recent customer reports and the 2025 news coverage describe the disappearance of some of those channels from the conventional lineup, followed by their return through streaming.
The difference produces several practical changes:
| Former cable-style experience | Current FAST approach |
|---|---|
| Delivered through the conventional TV service | Delivered over the internet through TELUS TV+ |
| Typically associated with a cable channel lineup | Found among streaming channels in the app |
| Older Stingray branding and package rules may apply | Current listings emphasize channels such as Now Rock, Now 70s, and Now 80s |
| Some older music services were commercial-free | FAST channels are supported by advertising |
| Access depended mainly on the television package and box | Access depends on TELUS TV+ eligibility, an account, the app, and a supported device |
In other words, “the music channels are back” is directionally correct, but “the old Stingray cable lineup has been restored” is not an accurate description of the change.
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How to watch the channels
TELUS says customers access its free featured and ad-supported channels through the TELUS TV+ app. Stream+ customers receive activation instructions and sign in using their My TELUS credentials.
Supported viewing options
TELUS’s ways-to-watch information lists the app for a range of devices, including:
- iPhone and Android smartphones
- Tablets
- Laptops
- Apple TV
- Chromecast with Google TV
- Nvidia Shield
- Selected Sony, Samsung, and LG smart TVs
- Fire TV devices running Fire OS 6 or later
If your television does not support the app, a Fire TV Stick may be a practical way to run TELUS TV+ on the TV, provided the specific device meets TELUS’s current compatibility requirements. It is an optional viewing device—not a substitute for TELUS service—and buying one does not include a TELUS TV+ or Stream+ subscription.
For a basic setup, connect the compatible streaming device to an HDMI port, connect it to Wi-Fi, install TELUS TV+, and sign in with the eligible account. Check TELUS’s current compatibility information before buying, since device support and app requirements can change.
Basic access checklist
- Confirm that your TELUS, Koodo, Altima, Start, or Mascon service qualifies for Stream+ or the relevant TELUS TV+ access.
- Install the TELUS TV+ app on a supported phone, computer, smart TV, streaming box, or Fire TV device.
- Follow TELUS’s activation instructions.
- Sign in with your My TELUS credentials.
- Look for the free featured or ad-supported channel section and search for the available music channels.
Is the music service really free?
Free describes the channels themselves, not necessarily the entire access arrangement. TELUS presents these as free or included ad-supported channels, with no separate charge for each music channel. However, TELUS’s terms say that a Stream+ subscription is required for the relevant free featured-channel access, and Stream+ is available only to customers with an eligible TELUS, Koodo, Altima, Start, or Mascon service.
So the practical answer depends on your existing services:
- Eligible customer: You may be able to watch the channels without paying an additional per-channel fee, after activating the applicable TELUS TV+ or Stream+ access.
- Non-customer: You should not assume that the channels are available as a free, account-free public streaming service.
- Existing Optik TV customer: Your regular television package does not necessarily mean the channels will appear as the same cable channel numbers or in exactly the same form as before.
TELUS uses different channel-count claims across its pages and update cycles—one page has referred to 40-plus free featured channels, another to 50-plus free streaming channels, and a product page to more than 75. Those numbers may reflect different plans, regions, page updates, or changing lineups. Treat the number shown in your account and TELUS’s current channel list as authoritative rather than relying on one universal total.
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Important limitations before you try it
It is Canada-only
TELUS’s terms state that its mobile app can be used only in Canada. The service cannot be accessed through a VPN. A viewer travelling outside Canada should not expect the app or its channels to work normally.
It uses internet data
Because these are streaming channels, viewing can count against an internet or mobile data allowance. This is especially relevant when watching over cellular data or a home connection with a monthly usage limit.
Advertising is part of the trade-off
These channels are ad-supported. They should not be confused with the older commercial-free music experience some Optik TV customers may remember.
Availability can change
Channel names, counts, eligibility rules, supported devices, and programming availability are subject to change. A channel shown in a TELUS promotional page may not be available under every plan or in every location. Check the current TELUS TV+ channel list and device-support information when setting up the service.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What viewers should expect from the programming
The Now-branded channels are music-focused linear streams rather than an on-demand music library. You generally watch whatever is currently scheduled on the channel, much as you would with a traditional music television station.
That makes the service useful for background viewing, music-video discovery, and recreating some of the lean-back experience associated with older music channels. It does not necessarily provide the same catalogue, controls, audio-only options, commercial policy, or channel selection as a paid Stingray package or a dedicated music-streaming service.
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Bottom line for Optik TV customers
TELUS has brought free music-oriented viewing back to its television ecosystem, but the return is happening through FAST streaming. The most clearly supported current examples are Now Rock, Now 70s, and Now 80s, available through TELUS TV+ for eligible customers.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallExpect internet delivery, advertising, app-based access, account and service eligibility, and a lineup that may differ from the former cable channel package. If you want the old commercial-free Stingray experience on a familiar Optik TV channel number, this change should be viewed as a related replacement or expansion—not a guaranteed restoration of everything that was previously available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all Stingray music channels back on TELUS?
No. The evidence supports a return of music-oriented programming through TELUS’s FAST streaming lineup, but it does not establish that every former Stingray channel has returned to the conventional Optik TV lineup. TELUS currently lists Now Rock, Now 70s, and Now 80s among its music-focused channels.
Can anyone watch TELUS’s free music channels?
Not necessarily. “Free” means there is no separate charge for the ad-supported channels themselves, but access is tied to TELUS TV+ or Stream+ eligibility and an eligible TELUS, Koodo, Altima, Start, or Mascon service.
Can I watch TELUS TV+ without a TELUS TV box?
Yes, TELUS lists smartphones, tablets, laptops, selected smart TVs, Apple TV, Chromecast with Google TV, Nvidia Shield, and compatible Fire TV devices as viewing options. Fire TV support should be checked against TELUS’s current requirements, including the Fire OS 6-or-later qualification.
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Do TELUS music channels work outside Canada or through a VPN?
TELUS’s terms state that the mobile app is available only in Canada and cannot be accessed through a VPN.
The Bottom Line
The short version: TELUS’s music channels are back as ad-supported internet streams, not as a guaranteed restoration of the old cable lineup. Eligible customers can access channels such as Now Rock, Now 70s, and Now 80s through TELUS TV+, subject to account, device, location, data, advertising, and lineup limitations.
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