IPTV St. Catharines

St. Catharines is the largest city in the Niagara Region, with 136,803 people in the 2021 census. Its internet map has a local twist. Alongside Cogeco cable and Bell fibre, a fibre network that grew out of Niagara’s schools and libraries is mapped in about two-thirds of the city’s zones. For streaming live TV, what counts is the line that reaches your home and how well your Wi-Fi carries it to the TV. Here’s how St. Catharines is wired, what Boom TV needs, and how to test it first.

Start your free 24-hour trial

Port Dalhousie, Merritton and Grantham joined in 1961

Today’s St. Catharines took shape in 1961, when the city annexed Grantham Township, Merritton and Port Dalhousie. It sits on Lake Ontario at the northern entrance of the Welland Canal, 51 km south of Toronto across the lake, and its official nickname is “The Garden City”.

Local government comes in two layers. The city has its own council, and residents also elect six regional councillors to Niagara Regional Council.

The city also lies on one of the main telecommunications backbones between Canada and the United States. That’s long-haul capacity, though, and what matters for your TV is the connection to your own home.

In St. Catharines, cable means Cogeco

An independent coverage map built from CRTC network-owner filings (the CRTC is Canada’s telecom regulator) splits St. Catharines into 12 zones:

• Cogeco is the only coaxial cable owner listed, mapped in about 83% of zones.
• Bell fibre-to-the-home is mapped in 75% of zones, and Bell’s DSL in about 92%.
• Cogeco fibre is mapped in half of the zones.
• Rogers appears only as a mobile and fixed-wireless network, not as a cable owner.

These are shares of mapped zones, not homes, so check your own address.

A fibre network that started with schools and libraries

The third fibre owner on that map is the Niagara Regional Broadband Network (NRBN), mapped in about two-thirds of St. Catharines’ zones. NRBN says it expanded its fibre-optic network from schools and libraries across the Niagara Region to homes and businesses.

It was locally owned for years: 75% through the City of Niagara Falls and 25% through the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Cogeco announced a deal to buy it in May 2022, and by February 2024 it had taken over the network. Both municipalities kept minority stakes.

How much speed you actually need

Boom TV’s recommended speeds, per stream:

That coverage map lists cable in St. Catharines at up to 1.5 Gbps and fibre at up to 8 Gbps. Bell DSL is listed at 5 to 100 Mbps, so on DSL, test before you rely on 4K. A 4K TV and two HD streams together need about 45 Mbps.

When a good plan still buffers

Look inside the house before you call your provider:

• Use the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band for the TV, not 2.4 GHz.
• Connect the main TV with Ethernet if the router is nearby.
• Raise the router off the floor and out of cupboards, or add a mesh point.
• Watch for other heavy users on the network, such as video calls or game downloads.
• Restart the streaming stick now and then. Small devices with limited memory run better after a fresh start.

Boom TV is an app, so nothing is installed on the line and nothing changes on your internet account.

Getting set up in St. Catharines

1. Start the free 24-hour trial. Test it in the evening, on the TV you actually use.
2. Install the app on your streaming stick, TV box, smart TV, phone, tablet or computer, and sign in with the details sent by email.
3. Connect over 5 GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet and watch a full evening. If it plays cleanly, choose a plan on the plans page.

Frequently asked questions

Does Boom TV work on Cogeco internet in St. Catharines?

Yes. Cogeco owns the cable network here, and Boom TV runs over Cogeco cable or fibre just as it does over Bell. Boom TV doesn’t change anything on your internet account.

What is NRBN?

The Niagara Regional Broadband Network, a fibre network that grew out of connections to Niagara schools and libraries. Cogeco took it over by 2024. Boom TV works on it like any other home connection.

Can I get Rogers cable in St. Catharines?

That coverage map doesn’t list Rogers as a cable owner in St. Catharines. Cable here is Cogeco.

What do I need for 4K?

About 25 Mbps per 4K stream, plus a TV or device that supports 4K.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. It lasts 24 hours and is free. Start the trial or see the plans.