WHat packages are there

[Joe_Curry]

AS a longtime Family pack user(well 12 months+ cos of broadband), i just downgraded to the base pack, which is truly awful.... i dont mind paying the extra ten pounds for the family pack, but there has to be some special offers somewhere doesnt there?

[Graham F]

No not really there are some 'mid tier' packs but i can't find the info out abt them ie channel line up but they are £25 so it would be better IMO to pay £28 and have the family pack back

[seaneeboy]

*wistfully wishes there was a pick'n'mix system*

Sadly unlikely, I realise, cos the various subsidies some channels would make against some others...

[asdf]

It'd be loverly to pay for the channels *you* want, wouldn't it?

Guess no one would ever pick the shopping channels, though.

[abailey152]

I definitely think the old CWC system of packs was better than the current one. For example, with no kids in the house, no-one watches any of the kids channels, but we've got them anyway.

The current system seems to be Pack 1 = Very basic. Pack 2 = More channels, more expensive, and very close to the price of Pack 3 when adding either movies or sports (not both). Pack 3 = Everything. A system where we could choose areas of interest, such as Entertainment, News, Documentary Channels, Music, Kids Channels with the movies and sports still as add-ons would be preferable.

[MovedGoalPosts]

I have to agree, the current groupings of channels comprising each ntl TV pack do appear to be designed to maximise revenue through "forcing" subscriptions towards the entire digi TV pagages. It may have changed very recently, but I suspect it's no coincidence that Sky One was in one pack, The UK Gold (recently renamed to something obscure) was another pack, E4, yet another and so on. About the only thing you can subscribe to independently is the premium Adult channels

Anyone know if theres a better choice on Sky? For some reason both ntl and Sky seem to delight in obscuring the TV channel packaging groups on their web sites.

[asdf]

Nope, with Sky you have to get a decent sized package before getting any decent channels. Their basic tier is a waste of space just like ntl's base pack.

[Tristan]

Originally Posted by asdf

Nope, with Sky you have to get a decent sized package before getting any decent channels. Their basic tier is a waste of space just like ntl's base pack.

Sky One and E4 are a waste of space???

Originally Posted by asdf

Nope, with Sky you have to get a decent sized package before getting any decent channels. Their basic tier is a waste of space just like ntl's base pack.

I can't agree with this - ntl's base pack is a superb deal if you just want entry to the world of digital TV but you're not interested in multi-channel servings of tired old crahp. You get Sky One, Sky One Mix, E4 and E4+1 in the base pack, which IMHO are just about the only subscription channels worth having anyway. And if/when they get it right, the interactive has more potential than either Sky or Freeview as you have two-way communication in and out of your STB. i.e. no need to connect to a phone line.

[asdf]

Maybe it's just the channels I want to watch aren't in the base pack then :p

Sky One is good, but I've always found E4 to be a bit naff.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by towny

I can't agree with this - ntl's base pack is a superb deal if you just want entry to the world of digital TV but you're not interested in multi-channel servings of tired old crahp. You get Sky One, Sky One Mix, E4 and E4+1 in the base pack, which IMHO are just about the only subscription channels worth having anyway. And if/when they get it right, the interactive has more potential than either Sky or Freeview as you have two-way communication in and out of your STB. i.e. no need to connect to a phone line.

I've got the base pack, overall it suits me fine. The only channel I'd be interested in adding is discovery channel. I'm not paying £10 a month just for the discovery channel though. So, I would like to see some intermediate packages...

[Nikko]

Originally Posted by danielf

I've got the base pack, overall it suits me fine. The only channel I'd be interested in adding is discovery channel. I'm not paying £10 a month just for the discovery channel though. So, I would like to see some intermediate packages...

I think there are something like 7 Discovery variants - I take the view that £10 monthly enables about 80 extra channels, so for the price of a pint a week (ish) there is usually one daft 30 minute programme during 7 days to keep me out of the pub long enough to break even.

[MovedGoalPosts]

Originally Posted by danielf

I've got the base pack, overall it suits me fine. The only channel I'd be interested in adding is discovery channel. I'm not paying £10 a month just for the discovery channel though. So, I would like to see some intermediate packages...

And that's the problem. It costs so much to get the odd one or two "jewels" in the TV packages.

Do I really want all the shopping channels and their variants. Do I want umpteen cartoon, kids and music channels? Heck No. But because family pack didn't include some of the occasionally good gems like Discovery, History (even though they are very repetetive), even some of the UK whatsits, you end up needing the whole lot.

The whole point of Digi TV, is both to get better reception and picture quality (OK so ignore ntls' periodic freeze frame and pixellation), and vastly increase choice. But is it affordable for many, with the current packaging? I think not.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Nikko

I think there are something like 7 Discovery variants - I take the view that £10 monthly enables about 80 extra channels, so for the price of a pint a week (ish) there is usually one daft 30 minute programme during 7 days to keep me out of the pub long enough to break even.

I like your reasoning. However, I'm not coming home early from the pub for a must see programme on discovery that will be repeated 20 times over.

Besides, I don't want 80 extra channels full of cr*p. Just Discovery (and maybe Discovery Science which I've never seen) will do me just fine.

[Nikko]

Originally Posted by danielf

I like your reasoning. However, I'm not coming home early from the pub for a must see programme on discovery that will be repeated 20 times over.

Besides, I don't want 80 extra channels full of cr*p. Just Discovery (and maybe Discovery Science which I've never seen) will do me just fine.

No! No! The idea is not to come home early - the idea is that during one of the 20 repeats (which you have thus far avoided) you happen to become captivated and get to the pub a bit late whilst 79 channels may bore you, just maybe Discovery Science has sufficient content (on my value scale described) to justify the 50 bob? ( note to younger viewers 50 bob in Old Money is equivalent to £2.50 in post 1971 decimal dosh )