I've just read E4 and E4+1 is going live on freeview from June. The freeview service seems to be getting much better.

I think homechoice, isn't good value anymore as broadband is getting cheaper elsewhere.
The VOD services aren't great and C1 seems to be getting old shows or doesn't update content that much.

Film 1st isn't as upto date as I was told, new films don't come out at the same time they are released on DVD, and at least if you get them from blockbusters you get to see any extras or additional discs. The movies on MN Unlimited are so old or just rubbish, I'm not going to pay £2.00 a time for!

At least with freeview, you get 2 free music channels, and with a PVR, you can record any programs you watch regularly.

Unfortunately, I've got 5 months left on my contract, does anyone know if I can get out of the contract?

Does anyone else agree?

Have you got a link to the E4 info? I thought it had been meant to be coming for a LONG time but freeview wouldn't say when they would actually carry it. I believe if you move house they will terminate your contract. Probably no help but I AM moving house and if freeview has E4 I will probably not sign up in my new property.

Actually just had a look and here it is on the C4 website

http://www.channel4.com/about_c4/viewing_E4/

so it might be so long HC!

Yes e4 is coming onto freeview, however it is NOT a full service it is time limited and is only going to be available between certain hours where as Homechoice broadcasts a full e4 service.

With regards to the broadband service, Homechoice is still one of the cheapest and fastest services in London, I have spoken to customer services recently and apparently even faster speeds will be added at some point ie 6mb and 8mb, I also understand that thier systems are being tested for 20mb broadband, this however can't happen yet as the current british telephone networks can't handle it. So if all goes well for them they will be the fastest broadband provider in the country. Also howmany service providers double your broadband speed for nothing!

VOD is improving, C1 & 2 are getting weekly updates now, but they can only put on what they are licienced too, again from speaking to customer services (I did think that VOD was pants and wanted to know what was going on) there is more upto date shows in the pipeline and that they can't hold things on VOD indefinatley as they only have limited space. Replay is being worked on, but I was very impressed with them when they didn't put part 2 of a casualty special on replay as they didn't realise it was a two parter, after one short call to customer services they added it to replay within 5 minutes, this was 3 days after the program was broadcast!!! I think that they do record everything but only put on what they are licienced.

BUT all is not rosy THE FILM CHANNELS ARE TOTAL CRAP!!! but we always have blockbusters, and we don't pay for the film channels unless you use them so no harm done really.

Also HC are in negotiations to have Living, Bravo, Sky 1 and other top channels added this year, but as these channels are from HC's main competitors it is taking time to get them.

I wish they would make their minds up - I was told last week they had no intention off adding any of these channles in the foreseable future and HC's main priority was the VOD service.

Freeview will be getting E4 24hours, and +1 at least 18h, probably 24h. See the press release (its on the DS news) for full details.

I don't agree with what was said about HC broadband being one of the cheapest. I pay £45 a month for the 4MB service. The equivalent on Bulldog is £29.50 (£19.50 for the first 6 months). On top of the £45, I pay £24 for Sky Sports which means a monthy outlay of £69. When I move house I will get Sky and pay £33 a month for the Sky Sports package. This with Bulldog will mean I am paying £62.50 (£6.50 less than HC) and receive a far superior TV package. This doesn't take into account discounts. For the first 3 months I will pay only £36 for the whole lot!!

HC need to get their act together. At the moment, they seem to be used by people like me who could not install a Sky dish and wanted more than Freeview could offer (E4, Skysports). If HC are having problems licensing VOD content they should release a PVR version of their set top box, and not at a stupid price like they charge for the wireless router..

nice chat with support guy today - he says they are working on a PVR (but it won't be around for a year or so) and adding lots more replay content as the roll out of MPEG4 is almost complete they're gonna have more server capacity.

which is nice.