Channel renumbering
 

I know that this has been discussed many times before (and that you can re-order the channels with the new STB software) but please can ntl consider renumbering the channels into some sort of logical order.

Re: Channel renumbering
 

I'm sure they have, and i'm sure there are lots of issues associated with it, otherwise it would have been done.

Re: Channel renumbering
 

I thought the issue was that they were waiting until Langley customers had received the CR3 update?

Re: Channel renumbering
 

I have said this many times and have even e-mailed NTL concerning this!

Re: Channel renumbering
 

The timing would have to be considered.

The day it's done, 400,000 customers will bombard the call centres with 'where's my channel gone?', followed by numerous threads on here and elsewhere bemoaning the huge queues when ringing ntl.

That, sadly, is the problem.

Re: Channel renumbering
 

What about changing the channel order rather than channel number?

Re: Channel renumbering
 

Are they not one and the same thing? :confused:

Re: Channel renumbering
 

when ntl have a fault in certain areas, before you get through to a cs rep, you hear a message telling you about the fault, when it'll be fixed, etc.
therefore, ntl simply have to put a message on the customer service line, telling dtv customer to switch to channel ntl to see the new channel listings.
i'm sure people can handle that! :)

Re: Channel renumbering
 

Or do a mass-mailing letting everyone know.

I know when I had NTL that was a major complaint of mine that the channels were all over the place.

Re: Channel renumbering
 

Good idea... but you would be surprised how many people will be repeatedly told that their is a known issue by an IVR (record message) only to hold on for however long for us to just tell them the same thing!

Re: Channel renumbering
 

well, it would reduce the load of customer services!
i think ntl, just need to renumber the channels, and any customers who want to whinge can lump it or cancel :D
(maybe i should run ntl :erm: )

Re: Channel renumbering
 

Ideally it'd be nice if NTL and Telewest could get together and agree on a channel order. It'd certainly be easier for channels to advertise as being on cable channel 100, for example.

Re: Channel renumbering
 

Well giving the amount of "junk" [1] mail I get from NTL, they could easily put the information in with the monthly bills and even print it on the "intro" page of the bills saying that "in December we're going to change the channel numbers to this..."

Although that would probably be *entirely* too sensible :rolleyes:

[1] Ok, it's not exactly junk, but stuff offering me packages and broadband that I already *HAVE*

Re: Channel renumbering
 

They would do...that's the point.

We'd be bombarded with calls from customers claiming they 'never got anything with their bill', this has happened so often with other things, people either don't read it or don't want to read it.

To be honest, I also get the impression that the current priority is to get the TV service working perfectly for EVERYONE, regardless of region...I suspect once that's done, more attention might be given to channel line ups. let's have it so everyone can GET the channels first!

Re: Channel renumbering
 

No because say if they renumbered the music channel so all the music channels would be together. e.g.

mtv 90
vh1 91
vh1 classic 92
mtv hits 93
mtv bass 94
etc
etc

People who watch say channel 100 at the moment will get the music channel instead of their current station and think there is a fault.

Whereas if they just changed the order of the channels it would be better.

Re: Channel renumbering
 

Another option would be to do something similar to how Sky deal with this issue and renumber just small chunks of the EPG at a time, onto a coherent numbering system that matches on both Bromley and Langley, with information going out on Channel 119, Interactive, mailshot and/or Email to inform customers too.

Information could say something along the lines of "from XX of .... ntl will begin a process of restructuring your EPG numbers..."

But then, would that be far too logical?:D

Re: Channel renumbering
 

If NTL moved a few channels per week they could slowly reorder the line-up without causing much inconvenience. There is plenty of free space available to make it easy.

For example they could move Sky1 from 140 to 150 and put a message on channel 140 informing of the move. That way people would not need to ring up as they would be presented with a simple message such as "Sky1 is now on channel number 150" on channel 140. It might take a while to reorder all of the channels but they would not need to do a mail-shot or anything.

Re: Channel renumbering
 

Especially if they did with with a period of "parallel running", ie not just switching it over, but having it duplicated for a week or two with messages saying "this channel is now available at X number, as of Y date the old one will be switched off".

Re: Channel renumbering
 

Problem with that is what happens if you want to move a channel to a space that is already occupied? And for quite a while, you'd end up with an even more confused numbering system. My opinion is that it's better to get it all over with in one hit, and send out LOTS of promo material for two months beforehand, maybe including a sticker to go on the back of the remote with the most popular channels on (Sky One, E4, etc.). Also have info on IVRs, myntlhome (Channel 119), the bills, the customer magazine, ntlworld.com, ntl.com, and a special free telephone number with recorded messages for people who can't find their required channel!

Re: Channel renumbering
 

What happens then when VH1 release a new channel onto the network, where does it go?

Langley had a reasonable structure to the line up when I first switched to digital.

101-110 expected stuff
110-130 News
200 PPV
300 - Entertainment
400 - Comedy entertainment
700 - Movies
900 - Adult

However new chanels are going in the same place on both platforms so they get stuffed into the 900s as they are free on both platforms leading to the mishmash that now exists.

Re: Channel renumbering
 

Sorry I dont rate renumbering as a high priority issue, and I doubt we would all agree what the ordering or logical structure should be.

It would be interesting to compare the ordering that people have made up using the change channel order option.

I would much rather the resources were spent on improving the software and fixing bugs.

Re: Channel renumbering
 

I don't think you're alone there, Mark - and I would guess that's why it's not been done yet. Better to have stable software and a slightly dodgy channel numbering system than buggy, crashing software and a perfectly logical numbering system.

*awaits comments about buggy software and dodgy channel numbering* ;)

Re: Channel renumbering
 

People are doing that :Yikes: Very slowly then i guess

Re: Channel renumbering
 

Can't everyone do this now anyway, by going into favourites, then pressing red to edit channel order. Bromley users have been able to do this for ages, and I thought Langley customers could do this since CR3 ?

Its a pain in the bum to do mind, takes ages, as you've got to move 1 channel at a time...

Re: Channel renumbering
 

Nor I. After years of knowing that, e.g. Sky Sports 1 is on 721, I'd be displeased to have to memorise it on a different number.Tried that; got told to put it back the way it was. :( Agreed, plenty of work there for someone.

Re: Channel renumbering
 

I know, this is totally off topic.Proppin' makes regular appearances on another site. Either he has gone off this forum, or his bosses have.

Re: Channel renumbering
 

have i not saw proppin' on this forum too?

Re: Channel renumbering
 

i have organised my channels to just how i want them and on top of that i buy the daily mail on a saturday that has by far the best tv guide for the whole week with all the channel numbers . I would like more RED button features from ntl 1st

Re: Channel renumbering
 

Yes, he used to be on here.
He did explain his decision to leave a while back, but then stayed a little longer after that. He has obviously chosen to follow through with what he said.

Browneggsandham :(

Re: Channel renumbering
 

bring back proppin!!

Re: Channel renumbering
 

No no no no no no no no no no no

NO RED BUTTON

It is what makes NTL better than sky

We do need renumbering and (shock) I think all platforms should adopt the sky numbering

Then we would not have this rubbish of channel such and such on sky, something else on ntl, different on telewest etc

Re: Channel renumbering
 

nah i like the idea of having Telwest and ntl: the same channel numbers....and sky's the way it is, cus sky's sucks and is only based on who pays the most money for a number...so for example all cable having one number....all satallite having another

Re: Channel renumbering
 

Whichever way we look at this subject, the fact still remains that at some point in time ntl: are going to have to bite the bullet and start the process of reorganising the channels, and realistically the longer the DTV people put off the job, then the worse it will get for them and the CS teams as more channels are added on the existing "mix and match" EPG numbering system.

Indeed, the last batch of channels added filled up gaps iin the already existing 400 series on both platforms, and with channel M going onto 26 in the manchester area it perpetutates the hotch potch numbering of channels.:td:

To add to the discussion here's my take on how a "joint" EPG lineup could work out:

• 0 - PPV Films/Events/Sports/VOD
• 1 - 99 Terrestrials and FTA channels
• 100 - 199 Entertainment/Lifestyle/Documentary channels
• 200 - 299 Music Channels
• 300 - 399 Sky Movies/Sports Channels/Eurosport etc.
• 400 - 499 News/Business channels
• 500 - 599 Shopping channels
• 600 - 699 International channels
• 700 - 799 Local/Community and "charity" channels
• 800 - 899 Radio Channels
• 900 - 930 Adult Channels
• 990 - 999 ntl information/promotional channels

:D I have a feeling though that what's above is a bit too big to do in one go, so it would be spaced out over a 12 to 18 month period to create less confusion as one section of the current EPG transfers to new numbers!