Ok, if you read my "little" points on here, then this is not news. But (unsurprising to me) ntl will launch HDTV this summer
At the financial presentation today (available on ntl's website) ntl's bosses said HDTV will launch this summer "around" the World Cup launch. They did not say, or were asked (the prats) whether the World Cup will be available in HDTV. If I were a betting man and I am...I would say that it will be. But I think (the webcast was not clear) for the time being HDTV will be via VOD only, the same as Telewest areas.
One analyst did ask whether Sky's premium sports and films would be available in HDTV on ntl and the answer was that ntl did not have access to those services under existing agreements. No mention was made of "normal" HDTV channels on ntl.
I think the same questioner also asked, that if analogue is switched off, shouldn't this allow more HDTV services. The unclear answer was that 74% of ntl's network (I think they meant customers) take digital only services. I'm guessing here (but it was inferred by ntl), that in areas where most customers take digital, analogue could be switched off quicker and HDTV services, amongst overs, could be launched.