Why ntl and not sky?

[narbin]

I currently have the full ntl package - broadband, phone, TV. I am considering switching to Sky TV as it appears to be much better than ntl for more or less the same cost. Am I missing some major advantage of keeping ntl?

- The cost for each package is similar

- I don't live in a conservation area, so I can have a minidish

- Sky offers more channels

- Sky offers new channels first

- Sky's interactive service works

- Normal teletext is available on many channels on Sky

- Sky has multistart movies and an interactive movie guide

- Sky's customer service is better than ntl's

- Sky's digibox doesn't crash several times a week

- Sky's digibox allows you to watch analogue whilst recording digital

Will someone warn me of the drawbacks of changing service before I pull the plug?

Cheers

[MovedGoalPosts]

narbin

If you get rid of the ntl digi TV, you will have to pay for phone rental whcih is currently bundled in the digi TV price.

[narbin]

Thanks for your reply. Rather quick! The phone rental isn't a major concern and might go altogether if mobile calls get any cheaper.....

[eoin.miskell]

But to have sky you need some kind of phone line to use PPV and most of there interactive services.

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by eoin.miskell

But to have sky you need some kind of phone line to use PPV and most of there interactive services.

you need an active phone line for the first year of your contract

[narbin]

Good point. All of the interactive services that I am interested in work without the phone line (BBCi, etc) but I definitely take your point on the PPV.

[Chris W]

- The cost for each package is similar
- I don't live in a conservation area, so I can have a minidish
- Sky offers more channels

are their any channels offered by sky that you don't get with ntl that you would want?

- Sky offers new channels first

true, but as they say in the guiness advert... good things come to those who wait

sky's interactive service works

can't argue with that one!

- Normal teletext is available on many channels on Sky

why use teletext when you have the internet? i see teletext as the most outdated technology we have, with no signs of it ever being updated!

- Sky has multistart movies and an interactive movie guide

isn't this the same as on demand? or have i misunderstood

- Sky's customer service is better than ntl's

no comment :pp

- Sky's digibox doesn't crash several times a week

but is affected by adverse weather

- Sky's digibox allows you to watch analogue whilst recording digital

you can do this on ntl as well... infact i do quite regularly

Personally, i stick with the philosophy, if it ain't broke; don't fix it. Unless you have a good reason to leave ntl, i would stick with it as you might find that swapping over is more hassle than it is worth, and you will then be stuck in a 12month contract with sky; i assume your contract with ntl has now passed the 12month mark. As MGP said, if you get rid of ntl tv, you will have to pay for the phone line rental.

and lastly.... to the site

[MikeyB]

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

<snip>but is affected by adverse weather</snip>

I can't really see how you can use that as a valid thing against Sky.

My parents had analogue Sky, and you would get some "sparklies" as they were knownm on the screen in very bad weather.
My parents went straight over to Sky digital, and I've had it for 4 years myself, and never once has the picture been affected by the weather.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

you can do this on ntl as well... infact i do quite regularly

Not all ntl boxes have that facility though MB-it seems that if you get your box swapped out due to a fault, the one you get given will not allow that facility.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by narbin

- Sky offers more channels

Mostly shopping etc. Fair enough there are a couple of (IMHO) decent channels such as FX289, VH-2 but I reckon they'll end up on NTL before long.

Originally Posted by narbin

- Sky offers new channels first

See Above.

Originally Posted by narbin

- Sky's interactive service works

Ok i'll give you that. You would need a connected phoneline for a return path though.

Originally Posted by narbin

- Sky's customer service is better than ntl's

Can't agree with that. I've not had any personal dealings with Sky but from conversations with people I'd put the two on a par. Certainly I've heard some absolute horror stories from both companies.

Originally Posted by narbin

- Sky's digibox allows you to watch analogue whilst recording digital

So does Ntl Digital. If your box doesn't have this CS can send out a combiner which (with an outside aerial) will allow you to do this. This may be a Langley only thing though.

[narbin]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am still looking into it, but I will definitely take on board the comments about the need for a phone line.

New channels / Lack of channels - I am primarily interested in Digital TV for the choice of Music Channels and Sky seriously outdoes ntl in this area. As regards waiting, it would be more acceptable if ntl told us how long we might be waiting. I remember it taking a good 18 months to get the newer MTV channels up and running.

Customer Service / Picture - My parents have never had any trouble with Sky digital since they had it installed several years ago. ntl have serious customer service issues (probably the worst company I have EVER dealt with) which need to be sorted out.

Multistart Movies - As far as I know, Sky have multistart movies on some of their non PPV channels now. Considering that I always miss the first 5 mins, this would be great.

Analogue feed - When my set top box was fixed, the engineer told me that I couldn't get terrestrial TV any more and that there was no way that I could. He also disconnected my audio leads and didn't tell me that there were no sockets on the back of the replacement box. Thanks....

Teletext - You shouldn't knock teletext. Although I am a bit of a technojunkie, I still think that it is the quickest, simplest way to get local information - no need to boot up the PC or go to the study, it's there on the TV in front of you. Interactive can take several minutes to get to the right page (wait for it to start, choose an option, watch an advert, choose an option, choose an option, reboot the box, etc.) but, with Teletext, key page "XXX" and it's there within a few seconds. Try to find local travel news (invaluable in my job) in a few seconds on ntl interactive.

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by MovedGoalPosts

narbin

If you get rid of the ntl digi TV, you will have to pay for phone rental whcih is currently bundled in the digi TV price.

The price of Sky and BT phoneline is roughly the same as the equivalent NTL DTV package.

BT phoneline allows you to use many providers for phone calls, most of which are cheaper than NTL. ADSL may be available depending on your BT exchange and your distance from it.

Whilst the Sky contract does say that you have to have the digibox connected to the phoneline for the first 12 months, many customers do not keep it connected and Sky never contact them. Some only connect it occasionaly to pay for PPV movies and events.

Sky DTV doesn't get affected much by the weather, at least mine and my friends and relatives doesn't. Weather affected my NTL DTV pictures more.

Sky offers you Sky+ but a similar offering is unlikely to be offered by cable companies in the foreseeable future.

Sky interactive works as does its seven day EPG (3 days on NTL).

[paulyoung666]

personally if you can get sky then i would go for it

[paul11974]

happy with ntl internet tv and phone all ok no major major pronlems plus i don t like rupert murdoch

[mdean]

I would definitely stick with NTL.
There are extra channels on Sky - but none which you would waste the bandwidth on.

Most importantly THERE IS NO RED DOT ON NTL

The 'interactive services' are mainly cr@p to seperate fools from their money- and the red dot ruins the picture --- yes I know you can press back up --- not when its a video you can't. If you have not had Sky you cannot estimate how irritating it is. See http://dvdfever.co.uk/pressrel/pressred.shtml for more details

Similarly Sky+ is overhyped junk designed to lock you into Rupert cos you have bought kit which only works on sky (by another PVR)

NTL is a little cheaper if you have all 3 services CF sky. Customer service is way better and did I mention NO RED DOT