Bell Cablemedia

scrotnig · 14-07-2006, 01:40

Some people may remember Bell Cablemedia, one of the early cable companies that became part of Cable & Wireless ConsumerCo which became part of ntl.

I remember them well in Leeds.

They ceased to exist...ooh 1997 I think.

Which makes it all the more odd that THIS web page still exists.

Do you think someone has simply forgotten it's there?

It's like a trip down memory lane! Those were the days, etc.

Graham M · 14-07-2006, 06:40

I tried dialling the number and it's "busy"... weird!

Shaun · 14-07-2006, 09:47

The business number directs to C&W!!!

0500 600190

**Hugh** · 14-07-2006, 10:37

I can top that - I worked for BCM (implementing and supporting Billing systems), and also was one of the first employees of BCM's predecessor, Jones Cable (Leeds & Watford).

I started at the (now NTL) Seacroft office in January 1994. We used to have a joke - if you had only ever sat at one desk, but worked for 5 different companies, you must be in the Cable industry.

jtwn · 14-07-2006, 11:14

You know a cableco's advert is old when they have loads of fibres as the pictures, that is so 90s =)

Rillington · 15-07-2006, 15:49

Yes I rememebr Bell Cablemedia becuase we were one of the first to get it in York in late 1995. I recall it had loads of what were then cable exclusive channels such as SelectTV (which became Carlton Select), Performance and Travel Channel (both now on satellite), The Parliamentary Channel, Mind Extension University (which turned into Jones Computer Network and finally Knowledge TV), HVC, a text-based local information service, and the full 24-hour servicves of Sci-fi, EBN and CMT as these were only on satellite part time. No L!ve TV though. In 1996, new cable-only services Carlton Food, AsiaNet and The Box appeared when CMT and EBN were dropped.

How things have changed in the cable industry in the subsequent decade becuase back then cable had as many subscribers as Sky did.

thelem · 16-07-2006, 00:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rillington

How things have changed in the cable industry in the subsequent decade becuase back then cable had as many subscribers as Sky did.

Really? Because assuming that cable passed 50% of homes, and the same number of homes were interested in pay TV in cabled areas as in non-cabled areas, that would mean nearly 100% penetration in cabled areas.

If the figure was for cabled areas only then that is still roughly the case.

Chris W · 16-07-2006, 00:17

notice how netcom need a web designer

http://www.netcom.co.uk/news/index.php?story=109

perhaps to update the 10 year old websites

Felim_Doyle · 24-10-2023, 09:48

Cable & Wireless 0500 numbers!

**Paul** · 24-10-2023, 18:59

Umm, what ?

daveeb · 24-10-2023, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Umm, what ?

That was my initial thought but I guess he's being nostalgic about 0500 numbers being a thing ?? Apparently they lasted until 2017 but I can't ever recall ringing one.

**Paul** · 25-10-2023, 02:56

I dont recall them tbh, I didnt think 05 was used at all these days, but apparently a small part of it is.

055 xxxx xxxx & 056 xxxx xxxx are used for "corporate" numbers and [some] VoIP services.

Felim_Doyle · 30-10-2023, 06:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveeb

That was my initial thought but I guess he's being nostalgic about 0500 numbers being a thing ?? Apparently they lasted until 2017 but I can't ever recall ringing one.

Yes, being nostalgic.

Wow! You never phoned an 0500 number? Businesses moved in droves from having BT 0800 numbers to having C&W 0500 numbers back when deregulation meant that there was a duopoly instead of a monopoly. 😀

Rillington · 29-03-2024, 10:25

York was covered by the franchise covering Leeds, which also covered Harrogate. The franchise was originally Jones TV, which I found out from seeing a video on YouTube about Jones Cable in Leeds. It had become Bell Cablemedia by the time it appeared in York. Not sure about Harrogate.

I also believe that Bell Cablemedia was the result of a merger between more than one cable company/franchise?

[mods, may I suggest that this is moved to Virgin Media TV as it is about a time before the internet became part of the cable offer]

**Hugh** · 29-03-2024, 15:36

Jones Cable bought out PacTel (Peterborough & Norwich) to become Bell CableMedia, then a Cable & Wireless subsidiary company bought out/merged BCM, Videotron, & Nynex (and possibly Cable London) to become CWC (Cable & Wireless Comms).

(I worked on the Bytel Billing Systems at Jones Cable Leeds (& Watford) 94-96 (it became BCM in 95), and did billing consultancy at what was EnCom in London Docklands 96-97 (when it all became CWC)).