Tens of thousands of Canadians have either signed up for the first time or switched to the recently mandated skinny-basic TV packages.

Bell, Rogers, Shaw and Cogeco and other service providers were required to offer them as of March 1, under new rules that cap the cost of service at $25-per-month.

They’re required to offer either individual ”pick and pay” channels or small bundles of no more than 10 channels.

The country’s broadcast regulator says more than 66,000 have signed up to the new basic packages in the past five weeks.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission also says more than one in three TV subscribers have opted to buy individual channels, small packages or both.

Some consumers have complained about the new basic packages, even characterizing them as a ”ripoff,” because providers take away bundling and other discounts and charge connection and other fees on top of the $25-monthly charge.