[Merged] PVR for NTL

[simpsonsFAN]

garyperson, I dont know what your hooked on... but let me have some

-Chris

[quadplay]

Since the deal between ntl and SA has just been announced, what would count as a quick launch? When do you think it will actually launch (sensible answers, please)?

[jtwn]

Booya!!! Will be interesting how Sky compete/fail to with this behemoth.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by jimbo

Since the deal between ntl and SA has just been announced, what would count as a quick launch? When do you think it will actually launch (sensible answers, please)?

I would think very close to Sky's launch date for HD, which seems to be slipping further and further away each month.

[Andy C]

Originally Posted by jimbo

Since the deal between ntl and SA has just been announced, what would count as a quick launch? When do you think it will actually launch (sensible answers, please)?

It depends. As far as I am aware the PVR project has been going on for some time which brings some questions...

1. Have ntl had development hardware from SA to work on prior to the announcement?

2. If so, would the code and EPG be ready to upload to the boxes as soon as they are retail ready?

3. will ntl have access to boxes for field testing prior to retail?

If the answers to the above are yes, then I could see testing beginning early next year with a roll out starting as early as March/April, or whenever SA can actually begin shipping the boxes.

If the answer to question 3 is a no, then testing could not begin until SA begin shipping which could be March or later. Then there would be internal testing, followed by field tests which could see a roll out no sooner than the second half of next year.

Personally, I am hoping for the March/April option.


Andy.

[simpsonsFAN]

Originally Posted by jimbo

Since the deal between ntl and SA has just been announced, what would count as a quick launch? When do you think it will actually launch?

Telewest announced there SA PVR in january, put it in private employee testing over a month ago and will have it ready for us "before christmas".

NTL have only just announced there SA PVR to us, so at a reasonable guess I would say another year - however, if they do take that long they will really be testing there customour bases loyalty! there customours are not going to just sit around while sky+ hd is launching!

Im well aware of the technical benefits of MPEG4, but why delay the PVR to wait for MPEG4 decoder chipsets to become readily avalible?? - The mind boggles at the ignorance
-Chris

[Jonathan David]

Its a shame NTL are not like Apple, who have there products on sale the moment they are announced.

[C_Cube]

Originally Posted by Tristan

MPEG4. It's a better compression scheme, along the lines of DivX or WMV. It means that you can send an HD picture using the same bandwidth (and disk space, as the Digital Spy idiots seem to be forgetting) as an MPEG2 encoded SD picture.

Interestingly however, Telewest's PVR -- if they're going to go ahead with it still -- is HD capable, but only using MPEG2.

Your calculation is a bit off. You have to compare a HD picture transmitted using MPEG2. HD transmission in MPEG2 needs to be 12 -14 Mb/s and in MPEG4 about 6 - 8 Mb/s, where as SD MPEG2 would be 2 - 6 Mb/s and so in MPEG4 about 1.5 - 3 Mb/s.

Still nice to see a PVR from NTL

[testcard]

Great stuff

Cable share of the tv market is declining, moreover the number of homes connected to ntl tv has fallen.The overall churn rate for ntl has increased.

To reverse this, they need a killer product, which it seems they have!

Launch within 4 months with attractive deals and prices please.

Otherwise the decline will continue

[jtwn]

Yes but ntl never market things well. I get bombarded with Sky advertising (tv, flyers, boards etc.) compared to ntl. If it weren't for those black filled trenches on every road and green boxes everywhere I could forget they were there.

[monkey2468]

NTL don't advertise much. Very rarely see an advert on TV.

[Chris W]

I've never seen an ntl advery on tv, however they do keep sending me stuff asking me to sign up... even though i tried to and after an install team, a network tech, and a construction team they decided it wasn't servicable

anyway... lets keep to the PVR topic please

[quadplay]

There's a reason ntl don't advertise - they know they can't deliver in many cases. Despite what most people think, ntl's marketing team aren't TOTALLY inept... Just mostly.

I predect we'll begin to see a lot more advertising after the merger goes through.

[Dave E]

Originally Posted by testcard

Great stuff

Cable share of the tv market is declining, moreover the number of homes connected to ntl tv has fallen.The overall churn rate for ntl has increased.

To reverse this, they need a killer product, which it seems they have!

Launch within 4 months with attractive deals and prices please.

Otherwise the decline will continue

Sounds great but if it takes as long as VOD we could be waiting a long time!

[KenK]

Originally Posted by jimbo

There's a reason ntl don't advertise - they know they can't deliver in many cases. Despite what most people think, ntl's marketing team aren't TOTALLY inept... Just mostly.

I predect we'll begin to see a lot more advertising after the merger goes through.

Telewest have been advertising quite heavily on radio here for several months, despite the fact that a large portion of the station's audience are in an ntl area. At least it gets their name into potential customer's minds.

As for inept: my last 6 ntl bills have asked "How would you like to enjoy super-fast Broadband? Call ... to find out about our fantastic offers"; two pages later, it lists the £24.99 charge for 2MB broadband. I would have thought that a basic rule of marketing is not to push offers to your customers on something they're already paying for.