[Merged] VOD

[Graham F]

no it won't....but that is a guess

woo hoo 1400 posts

[wir3d]

Originally Posted by Bob

I have a feeling that NTL may just wait to make sure things are working before they start advertising this new feature. I'm pretty sure alot of people would be down their necks telling them to stop advertising a service that doesn't work.

People have short memories - remember the L3.1 rollout? Didn't they send everyone information?

Lets just give them a while to get things worn in

*ding*

This is precisely why it's been kept quiet. The roll out could have been postponed at the last moment for any number of reasons. I certainly know I wouldn't fancy being a CSR fielding calls from irate customers shouting "I want my VOD!"

Originally Posted by wir3d

*ding*

This is precisely why it's been kept quiet. The roll out could have been postponed at the last moment for any number of reasons. I certainly know I wouldn't fancy being a CSR fielding calls from irate customers shouting "I want my VOD!"

I want my V. O. Deeee .... sounds like a cue for a Dire Straits song

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Chris T

I want my V. O. Deeee .... sounds like a cue for a Dire Straits song

Surely we should be demanding it?

[bob_builder]

Originally Posted by scastle

I agree it is a bit misleading. It is true at the moment though..

It will also be true again in a few months when NTL merges with Telewest!

[Tristan]

Originally Posted by Chris T

I want my V. O. Deeee .... sounds like a cue for a Dire Straits song

Which is, interestingly, banned on most radio stations in the UK.


Anyway, back on topic... can someone who's used the service tell me, what's the response time like when you pause, rewind or fast forward?
____________

Originally Posted by bob_builder

It will also be true again in a few months when NTL merges with Telewest!

Unless you live in London. Or Hull.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Tristan

Anyway, back on topic... can someone who's used the service tell me, what's the response time like when you pause, rewind or fast forward?

Very good. 1-2 seconds tops.

[bigitup_j]

ntl have now got an official on-demand page, where you can check availablility
http://www.home.ntl.com/page/ondemand

you can register interest, so that ntl will contact you, when the service is available in your area

[themelon]

Originally Posted by Escapee

Wales is apparently going ahead as planned.

Manchester/Baguely was high on the list but is delayed indefinately.

Other areas are still being surveyed and planned but there will be no actual work done that costs capitol expenditure.

Perhaps someone here can confirm or deny this info coming out of ntl via the VOD team yesterday?

PS: I see no reason to disbelieve this info, my info last week about this weeks announcement was spot on! All I say is I am passing it on in good faith and dont expect to be shouted at if it did prove to be wrong.

I would doubt a funding issue as apparently the cost of the upgrades is being funded by On Demand and a consortium of other companies including Seachange internation, in return for a fair whack of the profits.

The only issue I would expect is there not being enough qualified to carry out the work. We shall have to see.

[garyparson]

Originally Posted by bigitup_j

you can register interest, so that ntl will contact you, when the service is available in your area

Won't hold my breath. Still waiting for C&W to phone me to tell me that they put a cable in the road 6 or 7 years ago. zzzz

[Neil]

Originally Posted by garyparson

Won't hold my breath. Still waiting for C&W to phone me to tell me that they put a cable in the road 6 or 7 years ago. zzzz

Looks like you're not alone though: http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...040#post380040

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by themelon

I would doubt a funding issue as apparently the cost of the upgrades is being funded by On Demand and a consortium of other companies including Seachange internation, in return for a fair whack of the profits.

The only issue I would expect is there not being enough qualified to carry out the work. We shall have to see.

Yes I agree about the funding, I previously posted months ago that they were upgrading equipment in hubsites that should of been done years ago. They were adding this to the cost of the VOD project, much of it was not necessary for VOD but they were getting long needed upgardes for free by adding it to the vendors bill.

Yes, I think technical staff will be a problem. Most of the work will be carried out by the platform/headend guys, but these are also few in numbers these days although they seem to of missed this latest round of redundancies, I know there were stealth redundancies in this small department last year. I think they (dont quote me) may have one on notice still in Wales, so those redundancies are still quite recent.
(It was mentioned to me last week when being told about this weeks redundancies about one of the platform guys redundant and applying for jobs, I got the impression he was still there, but perhaps he has recently left)

The VOD project would of still relied on the Network Tech's heavily for support, but I guess those at the top who are not familiar with things are thinking the network is running so why do we need them for the project.

I think things are much worse now because there is even less high level technical support in the company these days, support was already lacking when they launched digital TV and cable modems, due to good corporate engineers who had got up and left. I think the situation is worse now, if everything goes without a hitch they have gambled and won. I believe if there are big problems though they have taken a gamble and could be paying the price.

Personally if I was in managements position making the decisions and being very mercenary about getting rid of engineers, I would of waited until after VOD was launched in a couple of areas successfully. To be hones I dont think they have that breathing space because it would get them too far in financial trouble.

As I have said many times before, I wonder what answer they will come up with when their figures dont add up and there are no employees left to make redundant.

[buba3d]

So is it like you can watch it when you want for a sub fee of 20 quid a month ? (example)
A all you can eat buffet for 20 (a month) ?

[Tristan]

All we really have to go on is a survey that NTL commissioned about a year ago, which suggested that they'd be offering a range of (not brand new) films on a monthly subscription. This is probably similar to the stuff you see on Sky Movies.

The very latest flicks are likely to stay as pay-per-view -- it suits both NTL and the movie companies this way.

As to how things will really pan out, we simply don't know yet. NTL are probably holding off from offering anything but PPV content until VOD has launched in a few more areas.

[ian@huth]

Looking at some of the screenshots it would seem that there is both free and paid for content. The paid for content appears to allow you to watch the programme as many times as you want for 24 hours after booking.