[Merged] Where is HD from NTL? When?

[jtwn]

Originally Posted by Neil

I wasn't debating the reasons M8 ntl will always follow Sky in terms of technology, after all-all they really are is a reseller of Sky's channels when it comes to TV.

Well, thats a bit of generalisation. Lets see the channels that ntl:telewest own, wholly or partly.

Trouble
Trouble Reload
Bravo
Bravo+1
LivingTV
LivingTV +1
Living 2
Challenge
Challenge +1
Ftn
UK Gold +1
UK Gold 2
UK Style
UK Style +1
UK Horizons
UK Horizons +1
UK Drama
UK Food
UK History
UK Bright Ideas

They are really among the premier channels. Sky don't own the other big channels on pay tv from itv, BBC and Viacom. So apart from the Sky branded channels and maybe a couple of horse**** shopping channels theres not much to shout about is there?

It's all about offering a superior service & Sky's is superior to ntl's-in much the same way as ntl's phone 'service' is inferior to BT's in almost every way imaginable.

Thats all subjective to what you belive constitutes superiority.

In your case Neil, that is as many channels of crap (I mean its hard enough on ntl to find something decent to watch half the time) as can be put on the platform and broadcasting comparable channels at a lower bitrate then ntl.

Yeah, so red button may be fully functional / faster, but as for that, I couldn't really care.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by jtwn

Well, thats a bit of generalisation. Lets see the channels that ntl:telewest own, wholly or partly.

Trouble
Trouble Reload
Bravo
Bravo+1
LivingTV
LivingTV +1
Living 2
Challenge
Challenge +1
Ftn
UK Gold +1
UK Gold 2
UK Style
UK Style +1
UK Horizons
UK Horizons +1
UK Drama
UK Food
UK History
UK Bright Ideas

Not too sure about the UKTV channels I thought that was BBc + another (random) company, but regarding flextec, Ntl got hold of them by buying another company (well merging but it amount to the same thing). What a surprise with a company history like theirs!

[jtwn]

UKTV is owned partly by Flextech and the BBC. Hence why I said 'wholly or partly'

[cnewton2k]

Originally Posted by jtwn

Well, thats a bit of generalisation. Lets see the channels that ntl:telewest own, wholly or partly.

Trouble
Trouble Reload
Bravo
Bravo+1
LivingTV
LivingTV +1
Living 2
Challenge
Challenge +1
Ftn
UK Gold +1
UK Gold 2
UK Style
UK Style +1
UK Horizons
UK Horizons +1
UK Drama
UK Food
UK History
UK Bright Ideas

They are really among the premier channels. Sky don't own the other big channels on pay tv from itv, BBC and Viacom. So apart from the Sky branded channels and maybe a couple of horse**** shopping channels theres not much to shout about is there?

However Sky is own by Fox Networks, so they do have some massive programs behind them i.e 24, The simpsons and NIP/tuck just to mention a few.

Which on my op will give Sjy the advanatage of NTL when it comes down to HD

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by jtwn

UKTV is owned partly by Flextech and the BBC. Hence why I said 'wholly or partly'

Like I said, not too sure about the others but it's still a case of more luck than judgement. Like most of their other "businesses" Ntl just happened to come into ownership of them by accident when they splashed the (non existent or so we're told) cash (or share options etc.)

[Horizon]

...and to complete the channel list....:

Player
UKTV Gold
UKTV G2+1
UKTV Food+1
UKTV Documentaries
UKTV Documentaries +1
UKTV People
UKTV People +1
UKTV History +1

and to finish off with the crap:

Screenshop
bid tv
Price drop tv
Speed auction tv

31 Channels in total! The largest channel provider to all tv plaforms in the UK.

UK Horizons got renamed into UKTV Docs, I think, a while ago.

Ps: Who want to bet that some of these will be renamed Five.2, Five3, RTL1, RTL2, by the end of the year?

Now back to HDTV, or the lack of it on ntl!

[HDFootyMan]

While I'm sure my next TV set will be a HD TV set, I'm beginning to wonder if its worth the potential cost.

Sure, you get the HDTV STB box free, but then (if Telewest are anything to go by), you're talking £10 to £15 to rent the box per month, PLUS whatever Sky are going to charge for their HD channels package - assuming they actually allow NTL Telewest to have that package.

For Sky customers, that HD package is £10 per month.

So, that's at least £20 to £25 extra on my bill per month, to watch HDTV on NTL??

[Chrysalis]

Originally Posted by Neil

Just think how long ntl customers waited for Sky Sports Extra, some still can't get the full red button interactivity.

How long has Sky + been out now (& where's is ntl's offering)?

ntl-where others lead, they (try to) follow.

I am still waiting, ntl cant even finish rolling PDTV digital out yet.

Telewest did it with less money.

[quadplay]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

I am still waiting, ntl cant even finish rolling PDTV digital out yet.

Telewest did it with less money.

Two points:

1) Telewest haven't completed digital rollout. They still have numerous analogue-only areas (more than ntl, I believe).
2) Less money perhaps - but they have a smaller network, and we don't know the quality of the work.

[Rillington]

ntl can't even persuade people to take digital so this news is hardly a surprise. ntl really has got elft behind and nothing seems to work. I can't even watch BBc channels without PRESS RED appearing every 10 minutes or so with now ay to switch it off, there's no video-on-demand, I can't use a certian type of TV, we are told that low energy lightbulbs interfere with it, the box is once again randomly changing channels and ntl has chosen not to put through a vast number of channels. Not very encouraging is it.

[jem]

Well I'm intrigued, just which types of TV don't work with NTL?

ASAIK the Press Red problem isn't the fault of NTL but rather the program originators who decide when the Red Dot appears. The energy saving lightbulbs is a real pain I'm sure although I have two of them in my living room and they have never given me any problems (just lucky I guess). But if the bulbs radiate IR on the ame frequencies as the remotes use then is that NTL's fault or the light bulb makers?

Quite agree about the lack of VOD though and even more concerned about the total lack of hard info on when we can expect HDTV and a PVR. I'm afraid I can't get too excited about vague 'coming soon' or 'November time-maybe'

[King Of Fools]

Originally Posted by Chris Howell

While I'm sure my next TV set will be a HD TV set, I'm beginning to wonder if its worth the potential cost.

Sure, you get the HDTV STB box free, but then (if Telewest are anything to go by), you're talking £10 to £15 to rent the box per month, PLUS whatever Sky are going to charge for their HD channels package - assuming they actually allow NTL Telewest to have that package.

For Sky customers, that HD package is £10 per month.

So, that's at least £20 to £25 extra on my bill per month, to watch HDTV on NTL??

I doubt very much that NTL/Telewest will charge more than Sky for the HDTV service, i.e. that £10 charge will be included in the box rental charge.

Edit: I just noticed that Sky are charging £300 for the STB on top of the £10 per month, so NTL probably will charge extra per month than Sky but that has to be compared against the up-front £330 cost:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03...ch_for_sky_hd/

[gooner4life]

NTL are apparantly going for a 1 off fee for the STB (which you will still rent) but no extra subscription fee.

[Chrysalis]

Originally Posted by quadplay

Two points:

1) Telewest haven't completed digital rollout. They still have numerous analogue-only areas (more than ntl, I believe).
2) Less money perhaps - but they have a smaller network, and we don't know the quality of the work.

So the reports that state telewest will be fully digitalised by a certian date are wrong?

[jtwn]

Originally Posted by gooner4life

NTL are apparantly going for a 1 off fee for the STB (which you will still rent) but no extra subscription fee.

I thought it was the other way round.