Sky or NTL?

mr_baz · 08-08-2005, 13:48

Hi all,

Need some assistance from one of you peoples in the know please!

Currently have Sky TV ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£19.50 package, NTL 2Mb BB and NTL Phone Line. Obviously seen the free Sky Sports offer and (apparently I might be able to get it as an existing customer if I threaten to cancel etc) am thinking about switching... I have a couple of questions really, 1) How does NTL cable compare to Sky (pic qual, channels, interactive doesn't work does it etc?) 2) Is it any good? Has anyone out there made this switch and regretted it?!!

You see, I know noone with cable TV, all got Sky. So I cant even see what the user interface is like, as I like the sky epg and autoview features etc etc...

So, umm, help, please, anyone?!!

Thanks in advance.

Baz

akane1984 · 08-08-2005, 14:08

I am thinking of getting sky/ntl i have ntl analog at moment. thing is though i ve read Sky block rte games on saturday and all football. Don't think NTL do, which would be selling point for me as i want to get rte to watch man utd matches.

gazzae · 08-08-2005, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by akane1984

I am thinking of getting sky/ntl i have ntl analog at moment. thing is though i ve read Sky block rte games on saturday and all football. Don't think NTL do, which would be selling point for me as i want to get rte to watch man utd matches.

I'm pretty sure NTL block them too.

Man Utd matches aren't on RTE that often as Utd don't kick off at 3pm on a saturday that often.

ian@huth · 08-08-2005, 14:38

In my experience having had both NTL and Sky at the same time for a couple of years, Sky had a more stable picture than NTL. NTL did several box swaps but could never solve the problem. Sky has always had the better interactive football coverage but who knows, NTL may improve in time. To me the NTL EPG was a joke with its 3 day coverage and slow as a tortoise. Having had Sky+ for over a year it would take an absolutely massive improvement in NTLs DTV service to tempt me back to them.

mr_baz · 08-08-2005, 14:42

That bad is it? Thats was one of my pet peeves of my old digibox was the fact the epg was so slow. I have a fast box now and the thought of going back to a tortoise EPG is a deal breaker to be honest. Is that still the case nowadays then? No good or bad STB?

Cheers,

Baz

akane1984 · 08-08-2005, 14:43

ah didnt know that. damn was gonna go for NTL cause they wouldnt block. prob just get sky plus now!

SMHarman · 08-08-2005, 14:47

If you are thinking of moving toward Sky+, then move that way.

The new OnDemand EPG seems a lot quicker than the old software and I personally don't have any picture issues.

Sky interactive stuff on the Sports channels is being kept as proprietary to them so you woun't see it on NTL for the time being.

mr_baz · 08-08-2005, 15:02

Nah, I'm too tight to pay for Sky+ I only have the family pack and resent having to have extra channels or pay a tenner a month....!

SMHarman · 08-08-2005, 15:08

Then you might like this new ondemand stuff, Master H enjoyed onDemand Balamory on Sunday AM one episode for free and another for 20p!, though if you are a sports fan the interactive content is Sky only (AFAIK).

Picture quality is as good IMHO.

The_real_dj · 09-08-2005, 00:01

I used to have NTL tele and in all honesty thought it was compleate crap. Unuseable interactive and TV guide fewquent box lock ups and less channels than Sky. Things might be inproving now video on demand is coming but in all honesty if youve had sky with their fast epg and flashy interactive and move to NTL i think youll regret it

By the way, Sky + is the mutts nutts!! defo worth the extra money!!!

setch · 09-08-2005, 07:21

I switched to Sky+ a couple of weeks back and IMHO the picture quality is about the same. I believe that PQ on the football was better on NTL, but that could just be my imagination. EPG is absolutely brill, the number of times that it did not work on NTL was a joke. The clincher is SKY+, being able to record channels at the press of a button is a boon in my house. Me and kids no longer fight over clashes of programs anymore. If I want to watch the footy, they record what they want to watch. The Channels are better organized also, so all in all I would say that Sky is far better than NTL. And HDef is on the way soon, how long before NTL will be able catch up with that one.

Setch

kev121ward · 09-08-2005, 07:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_baz

Hi all,

Need some assistance from one of you peoples in the know please!

Currently have Sky TV ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£19.50 package, NTL 2Mb BB and NTL Phone Line. Obviously seen the free Sky Sports offer and (apparently I might be able to get it as an existing customer if I threaten to cancel etc) am thinking about switching... I have a couple of questions really, 1) How does NTL cable compare to Sky (pic qual, channels, interactive doesn't work does it etc?) 2) Is it any good? Has anyone out there made this switch and regretted it?!!

You see, I know noone with cable TV, all got Sky. So I cant even see what the user interface is like, as I like the sky epg and autoview features etc etc...

So, umm, help, please, anyone?!!

Thanks in advance.

Baz

Hey ho,

I used to be with SKY before moving to NTL last year for the whole package. Personally with a little hindsight in mind I feel that SKY is much better in all respects, and with that in mind I've just cancelled my NTL TV package and am now opting for SKY+. I will be keeping the phone and BB package with NTL though as I can't really fault them on those issues. Hope it helps mate.

andygrif · 09-08-2005, 12:06

It's all good advice...I'm living in a listed building right now, so a dish outside is a no-go - but I will be moving in the next six months - so this opens my choice...for the first time I will be able to have Sky, which after ten years of nt-hell is looking very attractive right now.

Actually, if you'd asked me a few months back I would probably have elected to keep ntl, but things seem to be on the downward again at ntl-towers....

1) The VOD system upgrade seems to have created numerous regular TV viewing problems.

2) The upgrades to 2mb were fine, but browsing in the last few weeks is erratic again, and we're back to the proxy-dance.

3) The on-going email farce of delting my mails (incorrectly)

4) The service levels appear to be slipping again.

So, maybe things will improve over the next few months - but if things stay as they are then Sky will have another customer, or maybe I'll just stick my fingers up at both of them and buy a Freeview Box and get drunk on the extra ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£30 a month!