Is there an NTL PVR?

[dilli-theclaw]

Originally Posted by unlimited

Thats my point. You mention anything on this site about NTL and there products and out pops Neil bang on cue to slag them off. You can set your clocks by him

Indeed.

Originally Posted by skyblueheroes

Nice. So a Mod ends a thread which is in the middle of some good discussion.

Personally i will wait and look at the NTL product and compere it with the Sky product before i make sweeping statements about how good it will be.

I personally cannot see into the future "wish i could i would win on the lotto" and therefor cannot make the assumptions that some have about the NTL pvr.

[Tristan]

Blimey, there's quite some bickering going on here, isn't there? But let's see if we can establish some common ground.

NTL should have launched a PVR service years ago. I don't think anyone -- even NTL themselves -- would disagree with this.

But NTL *do* have a PVR available in former Telewest areas, and they want to get it launched in former NTL areas as soon as possible (current estimate being early 2007). The specs for this box are very good, directly comparable to Sky Plus HD (it uses MPEG2 rather than MPEG4, although if done correctly this shouldn't make any difference to the viewer).

Sky have a larger number of HD channels available at this moment. There is no technical reason why these couldn't be shown on TVDrive, but will require carriage agreements to be in place. It's highly unlikely that Sky will offer a reasonable price for Sky Sports HD until they feel they've used it to establish themselves as the number one HD provider. I'll leave you to discuss the merits (and legality) of this.

NTL/Telewest have VOD available, whereas Sky do not. VOD has huge potential, although it is not currently being used as such -- witness the number of people on this forum who think it's just for viewing BBC programmes you've missed over the past week. There is no reason NTL couldn't offer a vast library of HD films for example -- there are already some on Telewest's VOD service -- along with entire series of HD shows (such as Lost and Desperate housewives, which are already on there). This means that cable definitely has the potential to offer more HD content, subject of course to agreements being made with the content owners.

(It's technically possible for Sky to offer VOD via ADSL, but it would require equipment to be installed in every exchange in the country. As such, a link-up with BT is more likely, but it's not for certain that the regulator would allow two such powerful companies to work together.)

Does that about cover it?

Originally Posted by Tristan

Blimey, there's quite some bickering going on here, isn't there? But let's see if we can establish some common ground.

NTL should have launched a PVR service years ago. I don't think anyone -- even NTL themselves -- would disagree with this.

But NTL *do* have a PVR available in former Telewest areas, and they want to get it launched in former NTL areas as soon as possible (current estimate being early 2007). The specs for this box are very good, directly comparable to Sky Plus HD (it uses MPEG2 rather than MPEG4, although if done correctly this shouldn't make any difference to the viewer).

Sky have a larger number of HD channels available at this moment. There is no technical reason why these couldn't be shown on TVDrive, but will require carriage agreements to be in place. It's highly unlikely that Sky will offer a reasonable price for Sky Sports HD until they feel they've used it to establish themselves as the number one HD provider. I'll leave you to discuss the merits (and legality) of this.

NTL/Telewest have VOD available, whereas Sky do not. VOD has huge potential, although it is not currently being used as such -- witness the number of people on this forum who think it's just for viewing BBC programmes you've missed over the past week. There is no reason NTL couldn't offer a vast library of HD films for example -- there are already some on Telewest's VOD service -- along with entire series of HD shows (such as Lost and Desperate housewives, which are already on there). This means that cable definitely has the potential to offer more HD content, subject of course to agreements being made with the content owners.

(It's technically possible for Sky to offer VOD via ADSL, but it would require equipment to be installed in every exchange in the country. As such, a link-up with BT is more likely, but it's not for certain that the regulator would allow two such powerful companies to work together.)

Does that about cover it?

Excellent post.

[Sunglasses Ron]

Originally Posted by unlimited

Excellent post.

Here Here!

[Gareth]

Originally Posted by Neil

How can you be so positive about something that you have never seen or used?

See, the thing is that DarthYoda and others are not blindly being positive about something they've yet to try - they're being open minded. You, on the other hand, are yet again being negative about something - apparently because it's NTL who will be offering the product.

If you had said that, based on NTL's prior performance, you don't have any confidence in this product being any good, then fair enough... maybe then you'd find that people wouldn't be so quick to dismiss your comments. But this isn't what you've said - in this thread or others. You just seem content to slag off anything NTL do simply because it's NTL.

Why exactly do you have a vendetta against NTL? Lots of people, including myself, have been messed around by them in the past, others have even been made redundant by NTL, yet none of us come close to being as spiteful as you constantly do. In fact, it makes me wonder why you devote any time to a forum dedicated to the UK cable market, when you clearly despise the company so much.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Gareth

See, the thing is that DarthYoda and others are not blindly being positive about something they've yet to try - they're being open minded. You, on the other hand, are yet again being negative about something - apparently because it's NTL who will be offering the product.

If you had said that, based on NTL's prior performance, you don't have any confidence in this product being any good, then fair enough... maybe then you'd find that people wouldn't be so quick to dismiss your comments. But this isn't what you've said - in this thread or others. You just seem content to slag off anything NTL do simply because it's NTL.

Why exactly do you have a vendetta against NTL? Lots of people, including myself, have been messed around by them in the past, others have even been made redundant by NTL, yet none of us come close to being as spiteful as you constantly do. In fact, it makes me wonder why you devote any time to a forum dedicated to the UK cable market, when you clearly despise the company so much.

If you'd read my previous posts in this thread, you would know that I have made the point several times that ntl have never launched a DTV product that comes close to Sky/Sky+/Sky HD, so what faith should I have exactly that they are about to do it?

[lostandconfused]

VOD?

[Neil]

Originally Posted by lostandconfused

VOD?

A few questions...

1) How long since VOD was launched?

2) Is VOD available to every ntl customer (in the same way that all of Sky's products are available for upgrade to Sky customers?

3) What is shown on VOD that can't be watched/recorded by Sky customers?

Originally Posted by Neil

A few questions...

1) How long since VOD was launched?

Don't know.

2) Is VOD available to every ntl customer (in the same way that all of Sky's products are available for upgrade to Sky customers?

No, but this is like comparing apples and pears. Sky broadcasts from a single satellite to digiboxes that are all of the same technical specification.

NTL:Telewest broadcasts in dozens of different franchises, over infrastructure of varying quality, adhering to at least three distinct technical specifications.

It could be said that this is NTL's fault for expanding too fast or not investing enough in upgrades, but that's a little spurious - if the Cable industry had not consolidated, there still would be no common standard, and so no universally available PVR.

Under the circumstances, and given NTL:Telewest's still none-too-rosy finances, I think it's a miracle they have a PVR out at all.

3) What is shown on VOD that can't be watched/recorded by Sky customers?

Anything that the sky customer has forgotten to watch and forgotten to record, or has not recorded due to a STB crash or power failure. It does happen!

[lostandconfused]

the on demand films?

anyway does it matter that ntl dont launch its products first?
that way they get the benefit of skys advertising. everyone knows what sky+ is.
they can learn from skys mistakes,
and save a hell of a lot of money too

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Neil

2) Is VOD available to every ntl customer (in the same way that all of Sky's products are available for upgrade to Sky customers?

I am pretty sure that the full speed Sky Broadband ISN'T available to every Sky customer.

Originally Posted by Stuart C

I am pretty sure that the full speed Sky Broadband ISN'T available to every Sky customer.

I'm pretty sure it isn't available to the overwhelming majority of Sky customers - only those on exchanges that are already LLU'd and that Sky have installed their gear in.

For most of us Sky slaves, the best we can hope for is to get conned into putting our names on their marketing lists or signing up for the rather less attractive option of taking their services over a BT line, which is both slower and, needless to say, not free.

These 'free broadband*' ads really are driving a horse and cart through the rules on accurate advertising at the moment. I wish the ASA could do something to force companies like Sky to qualify more clearly exactly how few people can actually get what's being advertised.

[gazzae]

Originally Posted by Chris T

Anything that the sky customer has forgotten to watch and forgotten to record, or has not recorded due to a STB crash or power failure. It does happen!

Yeah it would have been handy for me at the weekend.

Not enough to make me consider moving back to NTL for though.

Originally Posted by Chris T

I'm pretty sure it isn't available to the overwhelming majority of Sky customers - only those on exchanges that are already LLU'd and that Sky have installed their gear in.

For most of us Sky slaves, the best we can hope for is to get conned into putting our names on their marketing lists or signing up for the rather less attractive option of taking their services over a BT line, which is both slower and, needless to say, not free.

These 'free broadband*' ads really are driving a horse and cart through the rules on accurate advertising at the moment. I wish the ASA could do something to force companies like Sky to qualify more clearly exactly how few people can actually get what's being advertised.

Don't forget Sky is forward thinking and invents everything first. Should NTL follow Sky on this as well

On another point i cannot wait for Sky's telephone service, how many will not be able to get that as well. Very forward thinking of Sky .



Sky should stick to what they do best TV.


Here is a example of a COMING SOON email from SKY after they messed up the first one

Important information about Sky Broadband

We recently sent you an email with news about Sky Broadband. Unfortunately there was a bit of a mix up and you may have received incorrect information about what's available in your area. You will find the correct information in the table below. We would like to apologise for any confusion our earlier email may have caused.

If you have registered for Sky Broadband, you will already have been given the correct information about what is available in your area as part of the registration process.

If you haven't already registered, your area is planned to go live on our Sky Broadband network within the next six months. This means you'll be able to choose from a range of products including our Base product with Free subscription through to our top of the range Unlimited* Max product. In the meantime, you can register for Sky Broadband Connect now, which costs less than the equivalent BT package. We'll then switch you over to Sky Broadband Mid when our network reaches you.

Please see below for confirmation of our products:

[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

With all Sky Broadband products, you will receive:
- Free wireless Sky Broadband Box (router) worth over £50
- Free 12 months' McAfee Internet Security Suite worth £49.98 **
- Easy self-installation pack or we can come and install it for you

Once again, we are sorry for any confusion caused by our original email. If you haven't already registered for Sky Broadband, and would like to do so, please click here

Thank you.

3 times they have phoned me now to say i can have upto 16 meg and then 3 times they have had to retract it.

My son wants the 16 meg and is willing to have our crappy BT line enabled to get it, But Sky keep messing it up.


Me i am staying on 10 meg broadband at least i can get that now.