[Carl J]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Read my post. I didn't distinguish between terrestrial and cable channels. Therefore my assertion was correct.

True, but then commenting on 'most watched channel on cable / satellite' does strongly imply discussion of non-terrestrial channels. As neither cable nor Sky get anything for showing the terrestrials, they are required to, they are a total non-issue in this.

While you may not be distinguishing between terrestrial and cable for the purposes of deciding who is and isn't scared of who terrestrial is completely irrelevant. Sky One is the second most watched channel not available down an analogue aerial.

OK. So maybe they weren't panicing about the recent name change. Maybe they were not comfortable with the fact that the then merged NTL:Telewest were already talking about a triple play?

ntl and Telewest have been offering triple play since spring 1999 for ntl and early 2000 for Telewest, so what?

All major players have been working on triple play for a while, it's the nature of the industry. Nothing to do with being 'scared' of anyone just convergence. Triple play can improve customer retention and loyalty, as can double play, which is why Pipex, Plusnet, Tiscali, etc, etc, have moved out of providing broadband only.

Think people are reading a lot where it isn't there. The two are sniping, trying to 'urinate' on one another's bonfires.

I think too many people here are sold on the hype of Virgin Media, the nice infinity logo and the pretty red fonts, Uma Thurman, etc. Has anyone actually stopped to think that VM are still pretty heavily indebted and are spending tens of millions of this ad campaign?

The financial people are still expecting Virgin Media Inc to post a loss of not far off a billion US dollars for the year. This is a company that financially isn't super healthy still, just ask the employees who've been going without bonuses and negligable pay rises.

Net loss was £104.2 million in the third quarter, up from £53.5 million in the same quarter last year due mainly to higher interest charges as a result of higher borrowings to finance the merger with Telewest and the acquisition of Virgin Mobile.

Total liabilities as of September 30, 2006 were £7,843 million.

Yes there's obviously spending on improving customer experience, however no-one can claim that this is due to Virgin media, and may I point out the numerous times in the past that ntl have claimed to be reinventing and investing in their customer service, none of which have been much of a success.

Don't believe the hype, wait and see. Yes there is potential there, but there always has been and for years it's been unfulfilled.

Who knows maybe now it actually will be, you'll forgive me for not holding my breath though.