Is there an NTL PVR?

[ian@huth]

When you look at PVR's being marketed by BSkyB and NTL:Telewest three things spring to mind

1. BSkyB have over 4 years experience of marketing PVR's but still have had several issues during this time with software updates not performing as anticipated.

2. Telewest have only had a PVR on the market for a few months and some issues have been found with their service.

3 NTL have not as yet marketed a PVR in areas which were not under Telewest control.

When NTL eventually get round to supplying PVR's across their whole customer base what issues will there be? The spec of the NTL PVR may be superior to the spec of the Sky+ boxes but that doesn't mean that NTL customers will get a PVR that does everything that it is supposed to do and have no quality of service issues. Remember that NTL STB's have had a red button service available for years but what happened when you pressed that button?

What I am saying is that we will have to wait and see how NTL's PVR performs when they eventually get it on the market in large volumes.

[Jonathan David]

And another thing with VOD. It is available to everybody who can receive it for free, no matter what package you are on. Is this possible with Sky+???

[popper]

Originally Posted by orangebird

OK then.

I think you're foolish to write it off as inferior/sub standard etc etc etc.

I have Sky+ at home. It's handy. Not super, or raging technology, or a mindblowing addition to my life, just handy. And even then, it buggers up. Stopped recording for no reason whatsoever half way through a film I wanted to watch. At least with VOD I'd have been able to watch it again.

it sounds like theres a few problems there just like the poor chap with his ntl:TW TVDrive Blog here http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...9#post34107709 and many other places.

---------- Post added at 18:49 ---------- Previous post was at 18:43 ----------

Originally Posted by AntiSilence

I'm in an NTL area and have already got PVR... It's called the VCR!!!

wow, cool NTL:tw are rebadging VCR's, whats the spec BETAMAX ? 8) .

(you might ask yourself :is that a trick question 8)

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Mick

Nope - but that is irrelevant Neil - This is not what your statement is about below:



They have launched a DTV product to outshine and to a degree, rival Sky's offering's - its called VOD. Every parameter of your statement, is about ntl not having launched anything decent enough to match or rival Sky. Who hasn't got VOD yet is somewhat irrelevant within the confines your above quoted statement.

It would rival/outshine Sky's if it was available everywhere like Sky is, as it stands not all ntl customers can yet 'upgrade' to VOD, so hence it is an inferior product.

Originally Posted by Neil

It would rival/outshine Sky's if it was available everywhere like Sky is, as it stands not all ntl customers can yet 'upgrade' to VOD, so hence it is an inferior product.

Maybe on your terms Neil - but not mine. Besides - you don't actually measure how good something is, just because you cannot get it in certain areas (yet).

Originally Posted by Mick

Maybe on your terms Neil - but not mine. Besides - you don't actually measure how good something is, just because you cannot get it in certain areas (yet).

Also you don't measure something on the grounds you just hate NTL and love sky/bt

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Mick

Maybe on your terms Neil - but not mine. Besides - you don't actually measure how good something is, just because you cannot get it in certain areas (yet).

I think Neil is measuring quality in terms of availability whereas everyone seems to measure it in useability.

[pip_k]

ntl Telewest launches free Digital TV with home phone services

# 1. September 2006 by Mick
As we reported back in July, ntl Telewest, as from today, is allowing any customer, new or existing, free digital tv with any of their home phone services taken out, starting from £11 per month which includes line rental and unlimited local and national weekend calls.

The Free digital service package will consist of 36 TV Channels, including, Sky One, BBC’s digital line-up, E4 and Film4, music, news and entertainment. On Demand, will also be available.
ntl Telewest say customers can upgrade their TV packages and add premium movie and sports channels and a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) and high definition TV. Note that these are only available to Telewest customers,
but ntl state that they plan to release the PVR and high definition TV services, to their customers by the end of 2006.

Neil Berkett, chief operating officer at ntl Telewest, said:

But don't hold your breath!

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Russ D

I think Neil is measuring quality in terms of availability whereas everyone seems to measure it in useability.

Thank you Russ.

There's no point in having a great service if only a certain amount of your customers can get it.

When ntl can start getting product launches right, I'll start to believe that maybe, just maybe they may be able to offer a decent PVR product/service.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Neil

Thank you Russ.

There's no point in having a great service if only a certain amount of your customers can get it.

When ntl can start getting product launches right, I'll start to believe that maybe, just maybe they may be able to offer a decent PVR product/service.

So perhaps on the same basis you'd say Sky's bb service isn't up to much, seeing as (I believe) only about 40% can get it?

[Neil]

Originally Posted by pip_k

ntl Telewest say customers can upgrade their TV packages and add premium movie and sports channels and a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) and high definition TV. Note that these are only available to Telewest customers,
but ntl state that they plan to release the PVR and high definition TV services, to their customers by the end of 2006.

Neil Berkett, chief operating officer at ntl Telewest, said:

But don't hold your breath!

Well in May this year, ntl have already stated "early 2007": http://www.cableforum.co.uk/article/...-definition-tv

Originally Posted by ntl

UK News and Reviews website HEXUS.net has posted up an interview with ntl Telewest’s head of TV strategy, Mark Horley, regarding the cableco’s High Definition TV plans. Telewest already offers a High Def service, with ntl’s “coming soon” in 2007.

Hmmm...Telewest don't offer what I would call an HD service, AFAIK it's a only couple of channels as Sky are holding on to all of theirs (Sports/Movies etc)

---------- Post added at 20:54 ---------- Previous post was at 20:45 ----------

Originally Posted by Russ D

So perhaps on the same basis you'd say Sky's bb service isn't up to much, seeing as (I believe) only about 40% can get it?

You're referring to the 'up to 16Mb BB' I think Russ, which is only available to people whose exchanges have been unbundled (same as Bulldog/BE)

The difference is that AFAIK anyone that can get Sky BB in some flavour or another.

You may only get the 'basic' 2Mb service, but Sky ADSL is available to everyone.

If you can get ADSL, you can get Sky ADSL, you may not be able to get the 'up to16Mb' DSL from Sky, but you will be able to receive Sky BB.

Can you say the same for ntl's VOD?

[pip_k]

I thought this discussion was about PVR and not HDTV

Let the children have their fun!

Originally Posted by Neil

If you can get ADSL, you can get Sky ADSL, you may not be able to get the 'up to16Mb' DSL from Sky, but you will be able to receive Sky BB.

Can you say the same for ntl's VOD?

And look just how forward thinking it is and i bet NTL are quaking in there boots to have such a new and exciting limited , traffic shaped and capped product "upto 16 meg is not capped" up against there uncapped un traffic shaped broadband.

Sky invents again

[Neil]

Originally Posted by unlimited

And look just how forward thinking it is and i bet NTL are quaking in there boots to have such a new and exciting limited , traffic shaped and capped product "upto 16 meg is not capped" up against there uncapped un traffic shaped broadband.

Sky invents again

And you think ntl aren't/won't be traffic shpaing do you.....