I agree with Escapee, a lot of Ntl's problems are due to empire builders. Having worked for Cabletel & CWC in the past, though it pains me to say it, CWC management (ex-Mercury) seemed to be more capable than Cabletel management. A lot of them stayed on with Cable & Wireless when the Consumer Co division was sold to Ntl. (except the bad ones who went with it!).
Management styles today are all about quantity not quality, it's all part of the dumbing down of Britain.