Pick of the week / Vod Channels

tucker61 · 03-08-2005, 19:26

Who decides what programmes get to go on the Vod Channels, Is it NTL or BBC. Some programmes make it to the BBC Series category i.e. Coast, Balamory, But others don't, Top Gear, Little Britain. Cannot seem to make any sense of it.

On Sunday started watching Desperate Midwives, Watching 1 every night. By Tuesday when I came to watch the 3rd in the series it had been removed??? Could someone give a time span of how long programmes will be available? And what programmes will be available, I am sorry but if only Eastenders, Casualty and Holby city are the main programmes for BBC then the trial will not be very successful...

Helix · 03-08-2005, 21:35

Why is top gear not on there this week? I have been relying on this as I used it the past two weeks. Plus this week I was meant to tape it for a friend who is on holiday but now I will have to tell him that I was unable to as ntl mucked up as usual.

Whats the point of making people think some thing will be on there each week and the suddenly stop the only thing you can seem to be able to rely on being there is eastenders.

huxleypiguk · 04-08-2005, 09:13

I think the progs that BBC make go on the list but the ones they commision don't. May be wrong.

SMHarman · 04-08-2005, 09:36

The point is that it is inconsistent, Top Gear on there for 3 weeks, then not for the 4th week then back for the 5th week, like the person who was meant to put it there was on holiday that day.

spike7451 · 04-08-2005, 16:25

As far as i'm aware,it's the BBC who select the programmes,not us (NTL)

Helix · 04-08-2005, 16:34

Its strange if it is BBC who provide them as surely they wouldn't need to be recorded when they are broadcast as the BBC would already have a copy recorded.

spike7451 · 04-08-2005, 17:46

As i understand it,the programmes are recorded on large 'hard drives' in each of NTL's hubsites & headends & at the moment,the upgrades are ongoing,thats why content is limeted at the moment.But it's the programme providers who decide what we show.

Spike

andygrif · 10-08-2005, 13:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by spike7451

As i understand it,the programmes are recorded on large 'hard drives' in each of NTL's hubsites & headends & at the moment,the upgrades are ongoing,thats why content is limeted at the moment.But it's the programme providers who decide what we show.

Spike

Good info, thanks.

It's a little typical of ntl however that the week the glossy brochure drops through the letterbox telling me how great the system is and citing Top Gear and Eastenders as programmes I can find on there...when it comes to watch last week's TG on Sunday afternoon it's missing and when the GF wants to watch Monday's EE yesterday, that's missing too.

Another ntl-white elephant?

spike7451 · 10-08-2005, 16:19

No,I dont think so.It's new technology so it's gonna be a bit 'iffy' until it's all up & running.Dont forget,some areas have'nt got it yet.WE only got it about 1 1/2 months ago!

andygrif · 10-08-2005, 16:28

I understand that Spike, but at the point where they are advertising it as a 'feature' they really should have stopped testing it. If a product is unreliable (which it is right now) people won't use it. And if people don't use it, then they won't buy movies et al from it either.

SMHarman · 10-08-2005, 16:46

All EEs were showing on my VOD at the weekend.

spike7451 · 10-08-2005, 17:15

Part of the problem as well is that NTL is split into 4 or 5 franchise areas,which use 3 or 4 different billing systems & some areas are only now getting the VOD updates,Some areas are even still in the old version 2 (i think) software version so they dont have VOD at all.While we still use the old Analog boxes bandwidth as well is limeted to a extent as well.From what i have seen of it,it will be good when it finally comes on,but as we have little or no control over what we show off BBC ect, it's well,no use blaming us!It's the programme providers!
Spike

andygrif · 10-08-2005, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by spike7451

From what i have seen of it,it will be good when it finally comes on,but as we have little or no control over what we show off BBC ect, it's well,no use blaming us!It's the programme providers!
Spike

Blimey, that old chestnut again! It's not us, it's the BBC.....

Actually, ntl are doing the 'taping' of the programmes correct? The BBC has cleared rights issues for those two programmes mentioned (as well as the others in their little section) so it's ntl that hasn't done the work this time. I don't think it's good to blame the largest broadcaster in the world this time.

I'm not having a go at you Spike, but sometimes it's easier to admit the problem rather than try and blame everyone else - ntl would get a lot more respect from me if they did that once in a while.

And as I said, this is being marketed as a product, complete with expensive brochure. If it's not finished, then the marketing bods should not have been allowed anywhere near it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

All EEs were showing on my VOD at the weekend.

Yes, it was Monday's that was (and is still) missing. Top Gear from Sunday has now appeared today, but Top Gear from last week was not there on Sunday afternoon (confused?!?!?!)

---------------------------------

Actually, as an aside, I noticed that today appeared a new category called "TV Hits" - which is a very good selection of quality comedies, dramas and factual progs. This is all an excellent, but a good deal of these are BBC programmes.

Knowing what I do about BBC Worldwide (the sales arm of the BBC) I bet they have done a deal with ntl to provide a lot of these series - but I am wondering if that is legal under the BBC Charter - under which ensures the legal right of a TV License Fee payer to receive programmes without further charge. So why would I have to pay for an ep of Spooks (which is rights owned by the BBC AFAIK)?

Could be interesting. But the additional series look pretty well spread, although it is cheaper to buy the complete series DVDs than pay 50p for every episode - but a welcome move all the same.

Sam B · 10-08-2005, 18:04

Hiya

I did raise this issue with the product manager, after seeing this thread. He is looking at it to make sure that in future we are consistent. The programmes are chosen by the broadcaster though, not ntl, so Spike is correct in what he said.

Sam

andygrif · 10-08-2005, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam B

Hiya

I did raise this issue with the product manager, after seeing this thread. He is looking at it to make sure that in future we are consistent. The programmes are chosen by the broadcaster though, not ntl, so Spike is correct in what he said.

Sam

I think you misunderstood what I said....I know that ntl don't chose the programmes - but that's not the issue, the issue is that programmes that should be there are not.

The programmes have to have the rights cleared by the copyright owner (in the case of Eastenders, it's the BBC) - so yes they choose the programme.

However, I think I am right in saying that ntl are responsible for 'taping' the programmes that the BBC have chosen - but they obviously were not taped in these two cases (either that or something else is going wrong).

I'm not complaining about the range of choice (although that could be better too), but it's a bit rich in the week that ntl post me the glossy brochure saying how I can watch Top Gear and Eastenders for those very two programmes to be completely absent.

Saying that, thanks very much for raising it. I am sure that your colleague understands that the future sucess or failiure of his system depends on consistency and providing what is promised, so I'm sure he'll take this issue seriously.