Ntl / Telewest, Or Virgin Media

[Arthurgray50@blu]

This is driving me nuts, so can someone explain too me, it is several months since VM took over NTL / TELEWEST, so why do l keep reading in forums that in some areas, that some customers still have NTL / TELEWEST channel packages, l don't understand, as even our ansaphone service is STILL under Telewest, and sometimes l wish it was still Telewest.

[Toto]

Basically they have not fully meshed the old ntl and Telewest TV packages. Telewest and ntl negotiated their own deals prior to the merger, and as those deals end, they are either renegotiated or dropped.

At some point, the TV system will be fully merged, hopefully along with its BB.

[Mick Fisher]

It's all in a mess Arthur, as it has been ever since Ntl came into existance and started eating other cable co's.
Will it ever be sorted out, only time will tell. If history is anything to go by then VM will likely be under new management before they sort it and then the whole process will start again, and maybe it will be ad infinitum.

[colin-bennett]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

This is driving me nuts, so can someone explain too me, it is several months since VM took over NTL / TELEWEST, so why do l keep reading in forums that in some areas, that some customers still have NTL / TELEWEST channel packages, l don't understand, as even our ansaphone service is STILL under Telewest, and sometimes l wish it was still Telewest.

TOTO is correct up to a point. There are several major hurdles to overcome in order to have same chanels and features over all networks.
The head ends used by ex TW and the 2 used by ex NTL are different in several ways and as such this is a hurdle VM have to overcome.
As an example the recent boxing match purchased on PPV was able to show highlights in ex NTL areas but not in ex TW areas.
These issues are being addressed but it will take some time.

I thought this was what the Next Gen TV project was all about. Where these only going to be one national headend with a backup etc.