If Telewest can do this, why can't NTL?

Tristan · 30-06-2005, 13:16

So VOD has finally launched for Telewest customers in Gloucestershire. Not much interesting there -- the first NTL region launched nearly 6 months ago.

What *is* interesting though is this: http://www.telewest.co.uk/html/telev...inyourarea.htm

It's a link that allows you to enter your postcode, and it will then tell you when Teleport (the name Telewest are giving to their VOD service) is due to launch in your area. For my postcode in Bath, it gives,

Telewest services are available at:

<my address>

Teleport will be available to Telewest digital TV customers at the above address between 18/07 - 16/08.

So please could somebody tell my why on earth Telewest are able to give a 4 week window in which VOD will launch, whereas NTL won't even tell people which area they're going to do next, let alone when (even roughly) they plan on launching it?

Roll on a merger.

McYorkie · 30-06-2005, 13:31

I doubt if ntl:'s communication skills are as good as Telewest's here - TW obviously see it as an opportunity to get their customers interested and wanting to try their version of VOD, yet the reasoning from ntl is that the company doesn't want to give misleading information or have a download delayed and cause aggravation to CSR's when it doesn't happen, whenever this has been asked in other threads.

ntl: are definetely missing a trick here in letting their customers know what's coming - even here in York, we've got no idea when or if VOD will be coming this side of 2010 which is a shame. and don't get started about the revision to CR3 that goes blue....

paul11974 · 30-06-2005, 15:46

telewest seem to be the company that lets there customers know whats going on and seem to get things working

bob_builder · 30-06-2005, 16:22

Do not worry, we shall all be using NTelewestL by the end of the year!

Womble · 30-06-2005, 16:44

In a nutshell, ntl managment are crap, and could not organise a drink in a pub, let alone keep our subs informed

McYorkie · 30-06-2005, 16:58

Yes, and if all the speculation about the merger is halfway correct, then some of the senior ntl management will take positions within the new company. That doesn't inspire confidence in the improvements to communication from NtelewestL: - on a simple level tried accessing the VOD checker this afternoon through ntl:world and it sent back the error code "invalid referrer" from its own site...broken code I guess.

Would be a real change to put Telewest bods in charge

On the VOD front, a webpage with a "your area is likely to be upgraded" with projected dates would be a start, obviously with a disclaimer that it would be subject to no bugs in code being found, or hardware problems?

Kliro · 30-06-2005, 19:00

They are doing it for a reason, for instance they may plan to do one area on thursday of next week, then find out a piece of hardware cant cope, and blows or whatever.

If that happened CS would be inundated with calls asking why, and people would be wanting compensation for the lack of the service.

Tristan · 30-06-2005, 21:17

That's why Telewest have given a 4 week window.

Besides, identical equipment is going into the NTL and Telewest hubsites -- the risk of it blowing up is the same for both of them (indeed, given NTL's head start, you might even expect their installations to be smoother).

Rillington · 10-07-2005, 10:35

Telewest does seem to be getting things together a bit these days and their Teleport thingy is a good example of this.

Acropolis · 12-07-2005, 08:38

The network on the Telewest side of things is a lot better than NTL's.

Having worked on both. for example, you install a cable modem for NTlL, you check the signal levels and so long as those are ok the modem goes in. On Telewest, you check the signal level, install the modem, then have to ring in for an "insight" check, where they then check the return path and a few other bits and piece's of not only the cable modem but everything else as well, and while you are there if it isnt right then you have to sort it. Even if you just got out to do a phone extension, they will check return path levels, and if they are not right they have to be sorted.

A complete pain from the installers point of view, but in the long run it is good as it keeps things ticking over nicely and should in theory make everything work nicely.

I am on Telewest for broadband and phone, i also have a back up broadband system and sky for the tv. I wouldnt chance the internet package unless they bring a cap in, but for the tv they are no where near as good as my sky plus.