Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I thought NTL were not going to charge the £10 if you had Sports and Movies. :shrug:

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Maybe?? I personally hadn't read that!

I guess we shall find out in due course...

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

If its the case then it will make a big difference in costs and if the TVdrive is HD at that cost.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I forgot that seeing as I'm a loyal NTL customer I get charged an extra £75 for my loyalty as opposed to joe shmo getting it for free.

Hmm..

To reiterate:-

Sky+
£99 up front.
£0x36 = £0
£99+£0=Ãà ¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£99

NTL TV Drive
£75 up front.
£10x36=£360
£75+£360=ÃƒÆ ’‚£435

based on having all the channels obviously.

What is the monthly rate for a full package on Sky and NTL at the moment? I have them all and it's about £50 for NTL isn't it?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

£44 - £19.50 family pack and £24.50 sports and movies.

I'm guessing also that if you already have an additional stb then you will end up getting the main one swapped for the TVdrive and the cost of the second will reduce to £5 (£10 if not on family)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

If that is the case, then that's much fairer.

However, it might be prudent to wait for the official announcement and prices...

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

The pricing should be compared to the Sky HD service, rather than just Sky+. Sky HD is also £10/month on top of £299 for the box. So...

Sky HD
£299 up front.
£10x36 = £360
£299+£360=à ƒâ€šÃ‚£659

NTL TV Drive
£75 up front.
£10x36=£360
£75+£360=ÃƒÆ ’‚£435

The TV Drive is sold as a HD service. Sky+ doesn't have any HD capabilities.

A.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

So if you have the PVR do you have to pay any extra to receive the HD channels ??

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

You can't compare this announcement to Sky HD because NTL haven't announced any HD channel or content full stop have they?

Therefore we can't assume there won't be any additional charge once they do officially introduce it.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

theres loads of info as the tvdrive has been in use on the telewest part for ages (that being relative OC), the long thread http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ad.php?t=47732 gives some info and insight :angel: :p:

it seems clear that your NOT getting this http://www.scientificatlanta.com/cus...ce/7009100.pdf
anymore, but times moving on and a Euro-DOCSIS 2.0-compliant cable modem isnt going to be that good an investment for the future now that a Euro-DOCSIS 3.0-compliant cable modem is needed RSN, and its a good excuse to coverup the unwillingness of investers to finance this or another new STB for the time being, perhaps the next owners will put in the proverbial pot.

what DOCSIS does the tvDrive have again , i forget?.



its a shame NTL:tw dont let you or allow 3rd partys to sell you a DVB-C [HD]PVR and connect it to the NTL:tw Network as pace would love to sell you one im sure, they know a lot about the NTL:tw nework requirments and i assume they have now had enough insight to include the old Mpeg2 codec along side the latest industry backed AVC/H.264 codec so you could play any of the transport streams just as sky boxs can today
http://www.pacemicro.com/corporate/n...m.asp?id=10468
"
September 8 2006

http://www.pacemicro.com/imagelibrar...CCF080AB4D.JPGPace launches High Definition PVR for Cable & Satellite


Digiturk announced as first customer
IBC 2006, Amsterdam, Stand 1.221, 8 September 2006: The ultimate way to enjoy high definition television will be launched today by Pace Micro Technology plc (LSE:PIC), the leading independent developer of digital TV technologies for the global payTV industry, at IBC2006.
Pace is launching its cutting-edge high definition (HD) personal video recorder (PVR) platform, the TDx850, in both satellite (TDS850) and cable (TDC850) versions.
Satellite HD PVR
The TDS850 comes with H.264 decoding and triple tuners, as well as Dolby Digital Plus for the ultimate HD experience. Dual DVB-S2 tuners enable the user to watch one channel while recording another or record two channels while watching stored content. The third tuner is DVB-S compliant to enable a dedicated push-VOD service and enhanced electronic programming guide (EPG).
The TDS850 has recently been selected by Digiturk to launch its HD service in Turkey next year. The TDS850IDI comes with in-built Irdeto conditional access and OpenTV middleware."

just to top it off :rolleyes: "Content can then be securely distributed to other approved IP-enabled devices around the home, such as a PC, mobile unit or another IP set-top box" sounds interesting and wireless as standard no less(isnt [HD] encoded AVC over wireless great :Yikes: ), and everyones going to be doing it RSN, well, perhaps not everyone ;) .

http://www.pacemicro.com/corporate/n...m.asp?id=10471
"
September 8 2006

http://www.pacemicro.com/imagelibrar...968BD65ACC.JPGPace showcases new Hybrid Satellite IPTV platform and pure IPTV solution

* Satellite-IP hybrid set-top box unveiled
* Launch of Pace`s H.264 IPTV reference platform
IBC 2006, Amsterdam, Stand 1.221, 8 September 2006: Pace Micro Technology plc (LSE:PIC), the leading independent developer of digital TV technologies for the global payTV industry, is showcasing its most advanced IPTV developments to date at IBC2006.
The best of both worlds - going hybrid
For satellite operators looking to compete more effectively in the changing TV landscape, Pace has developed a satellite-IP hybrid set-top box. This hybrid set-top box can take both HD and standard definition (SD) content from satellite and IP sources, enabling a range of live broadcast and VOD options.
Content can then be securely distributed to other approved IP-enabled devices around the home, such as a PC, mobile unit or another IP set-top box, using both wired and wireless connections. With an embedded hard drive, stored content can also be securely accessed through the IP network."

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Yes, and that is why at least 15 people I know wont have it - because they dont have £100 to blow in one go.

Just because Sky choose to sell there products that way doesn't mean that everyone should follow their lead.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Errr... ? £75 quid !!!!

The one saving grace being I might be moving in Feb, so I might be able to cancel at my current house and be a "new customer" at the new one. That is assuming they actually deliver the service to my area by Feb. Fat chance of that I guess.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

If you keep you existing box and take the TV Drive as a second box then you don't have to pay the £75.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

i was looking at website with tv drive pics and photos
the more i look at it the intresting its gets cant wait for jan 16th.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

We don't know what NTL will charge for HD content yet so if it's free then your calculations will be right but if they charge (and show me something they don't) for it, then it'll be back in Sky's favour.

I wasn't actually on about HD but PVR v PVR comparison price wise on a full package (movies and sports).

---------- Post added at 18:13 ---------- Previous post was at 18:12 ----------

Would a phone call to retentions get a free PVR box i wonder?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I believe the HD content will be free - that includes some TVOD HD content, although of course other TVOD HD content will be chargable, but thats no different to the current TVOD service anyway. Thats the general gist as I understand it, although nothing has of course been 100% confirmed. It will pretty much take exactly the same charging model as it does for ex-TW (see http://www.telewest.co.uk/html/tvdrive/hdtv.html.

If your on family pack, and you decide to keep your second box for a fiver a month, then you won't have the install charge, only the £10 monthly PVR charge (£15 on base, select, free). Please don't go demanding a completely free box (ie no monthly charge if this is what you meant) just for the sake of it, it hardly seems fair for everyone else.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

true true.it should be worth the wait roll on 16th jan.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

If it is going to be a case of having to wait until Jan... wouldn't it be nice to have it in time for Christmas instead? ;)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

But what if you have two STB already?
The current price for an additional box is £15 per month.

Does that mean you can pay £10 per month extra for the PVR and £5 for the additional box - meaning no additional charge?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

i think they are testing nov/dec glasgow and teeside.were down in newcastle staffs for it on 16th jan.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Seems a bit unfair that new customers get free while existing customers have to pay £75

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

you dont have to pay £75 if you relocate your box to another room seems fair to me thats what we will do.;)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

It should be available in most areas by the end of the year on Langley at least. Bromley will have to wait till jan/feb.

Glasgow and Teeside should get it in Nov, then the rest of Langley by end of the year.

That is if there are no problems with the trails in Glasgow :)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

That makes me a happy bunny :D

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

This is still up in the air, its something that's been missed from many snippets of info and internal news releases at present. Although common sense would dicate that they'll probably offer it for £25 installation. Reasoning behind this is that they charge £25 installation for an additional box if taken out at a different time to the installation of the initial box. If they try to charge £75 to customers who already have two additional boxes I can see droves of customers cancelling their second boxes, waiting a month or so and then requesting installation of a TVDrive, keeping the master box as a second one... it just wouldn't make any sense.

Maybe I know something you don't then. ;) (EDIT: Damn, just read Darth's post - seems to have blown that little secret - Langley launch by end of year, wasn't too sure if I was able to say anything about it).

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Well its probably not that much of a secret, lol.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Well seeing as everyone was talking mid Jan until you mentioned end of year, lol! I really hope 'by end of year' actually translates as 'in time for Christmas'.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

It's the only reason we have Sky sports. We hardly watch it (bar England matches) but if we didn't we'd have to pay £10 a month for Sky+. Basically we get the sports channels for free as we have to pay the £10 one way or another.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Just noticed on my girlfriends Samsung box when go into engineer menu on boot up that PVR epg is there and more interesting is that BBC HD and ITV HD are there too but says not provisioned .
Do i take it then that the headend is now recieving these two HD feeds ? If so looks like to me providing no major faults found in testing regions full Langley rollout can happen fairly quickly I suspect NTL have a warehouse sitting full of Tv Drives just waiting for the ok from network to release.
I would expect a soft release around 24th Nov and then advirtise in bills and local adverts week begining 4th Dec to try and catch a generally slack time and get intalled for Christmas.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Must be if you're seeing them. I've had the pvr epg data on my samsung for a few months now. Just looked and no sign of ITV or BBC HD channels though.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

You assume I have a second box which i don't and never will. I meant that I, as a loyal customer will be charged £75 for the pleasure of NTL to install the new box, whereas a new customer gets it for free??????

I've paid NTL for years and years and given them my money yet some new guy gets new equipment for free?

Now that's why I'll be ringing retentions. And it won't be an idle threat to go to Sky. Free install or f off.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

No what he meant is if you keep your existing box that will become a secondary box and the PVR would be the main box. That would get you free install.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Exactly, thats why i won't be getting it. I don't mind a one off fee, but i'm not paying £10 a month indeffinitely considering i pay a lot for my current TV package, just to record some TV. I can do that with a DVD recorder and save a fortune.

The alternative is to jump ship to Sky, who don't charge the £10 extra if you already pay a lot!

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

So I get a free install and the other box would also be free? (pointless otherwise). also, i have absolutely no need whatsoever for a second box at all. ever.

One box. Full package. NTL currently have just under £100 a month off me every month. Do they want to lose that over a £75 box? Doubt it.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I'm confused, on two counts.

Firstly, why are people getting so het-up about pricing that hasn't even been confirmed yet?

And secondly, the new box is a very sophisticated bit of electronics that costs NTL a lot to buy, and has (we imagine!) taken umpteen hours of engineers' time to get working. It provides you with a significantly upgraded TV service. While like everyone else, I want to pay as little as possible, I find it difficult to argue with the principle of NTL charging more for an upgraded service.

(And it's no good comparing this to vanilla Sky Plus -- remember that you're getting a box that's the equivalent of Sky Plus HD. For that, Sky charge £200 for the box, plus a tenner a month extra no matter what other package you have.)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I'm personally not het-up and will await an official announcement. I complain because i hope someone might read it that will take note.

You like another person on this thread have made an incorrect comparison. Whilst this box might support HD, we won't be getting it. The £10 a month you are talking about is for HD channels, not Sky+. Are we getting any HD channels? No is the answer as far as i am aware. Have NTL said they won't be charging extra when they release HD? No is the answer again. Now, they might not charge anything for HD, in which case it could be a good deal, which is why wait and see. But the current price structure compared to Sky is £10 more expensive if you have Sport and/or Movies (according to the internal memo).

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Assuming it's the same as Telewest (and there's not really any reason to assume it won't be), the HD content that will be available will be BBC HD and ITV HD, together with some HD programmes on VOD (Lost for example) and some HD Filmflex options. These will be available to anyone with a TVDrive.

In fact just today some people in have confirmed that the two HD channels are already being broadcast on the Langley network.

I agree that it's possible that NTL could do a two-tiered pricing structure, with one price for the regular TVDrive, and a "top-up fee" if you want to activate the HD features. But there's no reason to assume this is the case, and all the evidence suggests that it won't be.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Having a look at the Telewest TVDrive information it appears that the NTL pricing will be exactly the same as Telewest (as you would expect now they are the same company). We can therefore, assume that these prices are more official than the internal information we are currently discussing.

There is a good price comparison against all the different Sky+ boxes:
http://www.telewest.co.uk/html/tvdrive/how.html

There are also some pertinent FAQs to the current discussion:
http://www.telewest.co.uk/html/tvdrive/faqs.html

So anybody wanting the avoid the £75 installation fee by getting their current box installed as a second box (for £5 per month) will have to pay at least £60 - they would still save £15 though!

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Sounds a good deal to me - I can justify to my financial manager (my darling wife) showing that in fact we are getting a second box (for in the bedroom) foc for 15 months. ;)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I all ready have 2 boxes so I would have to pay the £75 if I wanted this :(

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Get onto retentions and threaten to cancel if they don't waive the £75. They shouldn't penalise a loyal customer like that. If they call your bluff, go ahead and cancel, then re-order, at which point you'll get it free anyway, and NTL will have failed to reduce the customer churn figure they claim to care so much about. Result - 1-0 to Jules. :D

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Lol thanks Chris I might just do that :)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

You would not need to cancel everything, just cancel the second box for a month!

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Deja Vu.

---------- Post added at 16:05 ---------- Previous post was at 16:02 ----------

How much is the standard up-front cost of the box? No charge

Err, that's not true is it. Not a very good comparison then. Maybe I should quote this article when they ask me for £75 and see if they say 'well ok, if it's on a website it must be true'.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

But you aren't paying upfront for the box. You are paying for the tech to come out and install the box.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

and the most interesting bit being if you add a service to your current package you get locked into another 12 months T&C (unless they chance the general price at some point, at which point you can cancel after that 30 days)

---------- Post added at 17:11 ---------- Previous post was at 17:08 ----------

in which case shouldnt that be the standard £25 charge as per all other callouts (£10 if your not in at the pre-arranged time)?.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

The normal charge for a new install is £75. So maybe they count the TV Drive as a new install rather than just a callout.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

But why do established customers have to pay when new customers do not? That seems the unfair part :(

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

sky do exactly the same treat new customers better than the old ones.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

and that's my point exactly.

I'm guessing it won't be just me onto retentions?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Unfortunately and unfairly, this seems to be the norm for most companies lately, mortgages, insurance, etc. :td::(

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

new customers dont pay any less than u