Cable Forum - View Single Post - [BIG MERGE] Ntl/TW merger

SMHarman · 13-05-2004, 08:16

My general knowledge on the area.

One of the NTL networks (the e CW) is built on the same underlying structure as TW. This is why many thought TW would have been the better buyer for CW as they would have been able to integrate the networks. The NTL (Cabletel) network is being migrated toward this infrastracture, but a migration of that much hardware and software takes time.

Most mergers fail to work as they are for the wrong reasons. I cannot see wrong reasons in this merger. Would it make sense to have BT operating in parts of the country and say Mercury (remember that) operating in others. The country is small enough that a single cable operator will not be a competitive threat with sky and freeview as competition.

Of the names NTL makes more sense from a corporate level than Telewest. National Television (transmissions whatever it was) Ltd or Telewest, but the operate in the North, South and East too! Cabletel is an interesting thought as pointed out above, the tel being television or telephone, but it does not have any broadband indications.

Ground, nice thought, but Sky has that "blue sky" thinking about it, a sense of freedom etc, ground, well you can see the financial headlines. Grounds expansion plans grounded. Grounds share price comes plummiting back to earth.

Post merger it will initially be buisiness as usuall for a good while. NTL and CW merged a long time ago and for the DTV transmission teams I imagine little has changed.

First will be integration and centralisation of call centres, billing etc This is now happening at NTL. I imagine that this structure will be used in the brave new world of Telenet ((c) SMHarman) See Telephone, Television and Network (BB). Harmony was probably designed to be scaled up to nationwide use.

Next the network integration will commence - probably at least 18 months post merger, and of course when all possible (not all) TV broadcast is using the same end user software.

That would be my strategy. But for 6-9 months you will see nothing as it will be planning phase. 9-18 months nothing but your bill might look different and behind the scenes you will be routed to different call centres etc. 18+ months strategic network changes.

13-05-2004, 08:16	#51
SMHarman Inactive Join Date: Jun 2003 Services: Cablevision Posts: 8,305	Re: Ntl/TW merger - what if...? My general knowledge on the area. One of the NTL networks (the e CW) is built on the same underlying structure as TW. This is why many thought TW would have been the better buyer for CW as they would have been able to integrate the networks. The NTL (Cabletel) network is being migrated toward this infrastracture, but a migration of that much hardware and software takes time. Most mergers fail to work as they are for the wrong reasons. I cannot see wrong reasons in this merger. Would it make sense to have BT operating in parts of the country and say Mercury (remember that) operating in others. The country is small enough that a single cable operator will not be a competitive threat with sky and freeview as competition. Of the names NTL makes more sense from a corporate level than Telewest. National Television (transmissions whatever it was) Ltd or Telewest, but the operate in the North, South and East too! Cabletel is an interesting thought as pointed out above, the tel being television or telephone, but it does not have any broadband indications. Ground, nice thought, but Sky has that "blue sky" thinking about it, a sense of freedom etc, ground, well you can see the financial headlines. Grounds expansion plans grounded. Grounds share price comes plummiting back to earth. Post merger it will initially be buisiness as usuall for a good while. NTL and CW merged a long time ago and for the DTV transmission teams I imagine little has changed. First will be integration and centralisation of call centres, billing etc This is now happening at NTL. I imagine that this structure will be used in the brave new world of Telenet ((c) SMHarman) See Telephone, Television and Network (BB). Harmony was probably designed to be scaled up to nationwide use. Next the network integration will commence - probably at least 18 months post merger, and of course when all possible (not all) TV broadcast is using the same end user software. That would be my strategy. But for 6-9 months you will see nothing as it will be planning phase. 9-18 months nothing but your bill might look different and behind the scenes you will be routed to different call centres etc. 18+ months strategic network changes.