More NTL redundancies

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by Neil

From what I hear, VOD will now get delayed & take more of a backseat than was originally planned.

I have been given some more info on this, I make no claims as to it's entire accuracy. This info has come from a couple of reliable sources and I can only pass it on in good faith, please don't shoot the messenger if it proves to be wrong. (I have faith in it though)

The planned switch on of the VOD equipment at Glasgow Headend will go ahead as planned tonight, the project is too far underway to be worth stopping and must go ahead because Simon Duffy announced it would be launched before the shareholders pulled the plug on finances.
The planned launch in Wales will go ahead as planned because it is also at an advanced stage, but the Manchester/Baguely Headend VOD has been put on hold indefinately.

There is also a bit of worry and many senior engineering people involved in the project are holding their breath that everything goes to plan, because the system has so far only been tested in laboratory conditions and not on a live network. Surveys are still ongoing for VOD in other areas, although spending has been cut/put on hold for the project until further notice.

There also seems to be some confusion about who is responsible for the loss of the Metropolitan Police contract, it is understood that broadcast and Business were both involved, with one blaming the other at the moment.

I know where my money would be on the blame!

Apparently too many corner were cut, and they tried to complete the project on the cheap without the right people in place. That smacks of the business division to me.

Please do not shout if any of this proves to be wrong, I am only passing the info on from a couple of ntl sources.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Kits

NTL is fast heading for a company with too many chiefs and not enough indians!

Been that way for quite some time IMO.

[Womble]

Originally Posted by Escapee

I have been given some more info on this, I make no claims as to it's entire accuracy. This info has come from a couple of reliable sources and I can only pass it on in good faith, please don't shoot the messenger if it proves to be wrong. (I have faith in it though)

The planned switch on of the VOD equipment at Glasgow Headend will go ahead as planned tonight, the project is too far underway to be worth stopping and must go ahead because Simon Duffy announced it would be launched before the shareholders pulled the plug on finances.
The planned launch in Wales will go ahead as planned because it is also at an advanced stage, but the Manchester/Baguely Headend VOD has been put on hold indefinately.

There is also a bit of worry and many senior engineering people involved in the project are holding their breath that everything goes to plan, because the system has so far only been tested in laboratory conditions and not on a live network. Surveys are still ongoing for VOD in other areas, although spending has been cut/put on hold for the project until further notice.

There also seems to be some confusion about who is responsible for the loss of the Metropolitan Police contract, it is understood that broadcast and Business were both involved, with one blaming the other at the moment.

I know where my money would be on the blame!

Apparently too many corner were cut, and they tried to complete the project on the cheap without the right people in place. That smacks of the business division to me.

Please do not shout if any of this proves to be wrong, I am only passing the info on from a couple of ntl sources.

I heard they ran it in Glasgow as a test, and the Pace boxes fell over!!
How true that is I don't know

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by Womble

I heard they ran it in Glasgow as a test, and the Pace boxes fell over!!
How true that is I don't know

The guy sounded very worried when he mentioned it not being tested live, so what you say could be right.

They have their top engineer on it !!!!! A guy from your part of the country that I have never had any faith in at all.

PS: The one guy was also laughing about my sig and said it was a good idea and something he would consider if made redundant. He certainly had a laugh when I explained it to him, cos apparently it has been brought to the attention of certain people in ntl who thought it wasn't possible but have now been educated.

[Chrysalis]

Sorry to those who are redundant from this, as a customer this has disgusted me and good luck for the future.

If this is anything to do with a merger it will be interesting if telewest acts the same way if it doesn't I will think the merger is just an excuse to hide the real reason.

[Chrysalis]

I think this is nothing to do with merger, if it is wouldnt telewest be doing the same thing?

Time someone at the top got the chop one **** up after another.

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

I think this is nothing to do with merger, if it is wouldnt telewest be doing the same thing?

Time someone at the top got the chop one **** up after another.

I think your probably right with that assumption, one of the managers although not in that department said rdundancies were on the cards for the merger and it was rumoured they would be happening middle/later this year. This current round of redundancies is for finanancial reasons and not to align the companies ready for a merger, he said these redundancies are extra ones that they have no choice if they want to keep operating.

The company still looks in a sorry state!

[Pierre]

Today ntl are launching ntl On Demand to 80,000 digital TV customers in Glasgow.



their new on demand service provides instant access to a wide choice of movies as well as music, kidsââ‚ ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ and adult programming. The service provides access initially to over 150 hours of additional TV programming, including advertiser-free childrenââ‚à ƒâ€šÃ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s programmes, a †˜Pick of the Weekââ‚ ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ showing the best from the BBC, a video music jukebox and adult library.

Companies who have already agreed to provide content include the BBC, Nickelodeon, Jetix, Warner Music, Entertainment Rights, VPL, The Walt Disney Company, Hollywood Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Miramax Film Corporation, Buena Vista International, Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Pictures Classics, Columbia Pictures, TriStar, PathÃÃâ€*’©, Icon Films and Playboy TV. Additional partners will join the service as it develops.

ntl On Demand will feature DVD style features include freeze frame, fast-forward and rewind, and programmes will be available for 24 hours from purchasing. Most current films will appear on TV first through VOD, nine months after cinema launch, only 90 days after video release and six months before scheduled TV movie channels. To help customers choose which film to watch full-length film trailers can be viewed before purchasing.

[Neil]

Where is that taken from Pierre?

[BBKing]

The intranet, strategically edited.

[Graham F]

also here
http://www.ntl.com/mediacentre/press/display.asp?id=766

[Neil]

Ok, ta.

[injuneer]

Originally Posted by Incognitas

there is a scene written in Terry Prachett latest book Going Postal that really echoes all that really reflects all that you have been saying thus far.In fact when I was reading it I was sure TP was writing about NTL.

I'm even more certain now.

I hope that all those affected get the outcome they want and that those who don't don't get too screwed.

I couldn't agree more, do you think Reacher Gilt is actually Simon Duffy?
Unfotunately it's the same problem in a lot of large corporations, egotists with little or no people skills and little idea what makes a good company tick or that ongoing maintenance is essential for a good service, become managers, have the full corporate lobotomy and spout company dogma all the time. I don't think I've met many managers who command much respect in the past 15 years !! NTL has too many chiefs lining their pockets and not enough Injuns. Still, as long as the beans add up !!

[Neil]

Originally Posted by injuneer

I couldn't agree more, do you think Reacher Gilt is actually Simon Duffy?
Unfotunately it's the same problem in a lot of large corporations, egotists with little or no people skills and little idea what makes a good company tick or that ongoing maintenance is essential for a good service, become managers, have the full corporate lobotomy and spout company dogma all the time. I don't think I've met many managers who command much respect in the past 15 years !! NTL has too many chiefs lining their pockets and not enough Injuns. Still, as long as the beans add up !!

Great post.

to the site.

[BBKing]

The startling similarities between Going Postal and a whole lot of modern capitalist behaviour towards engineering struck me when reading it - it's clearly informed by some very astute observation, and is one of TP's best books in a long time - he should do more social satire IMHO.

Here's another example, from the US cable industry.

http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=9427