Ok, another 'fantasy' thread, but just wondering.

Imagine you've just been made MD of Homechoice. It's your first day on the job, who's your first phonecall to?

What's the one issue that you think you've got to resolve first before everything else.

If it were me, my first call would be to Sky to sort out carriage of all their channels. The 2nd call would be to Flextech for their channels.

Until they can offer that, the mass public wont take the service seriously.

and with what are you going to purchase these luxuries?

I don't want hundreds of trashy Sky channels. Give me HD.

There are probably political reasons why Sky won't allow HC to have their channels.

It's a tough one... Sky channels or HD? 1. I would have to go for HD quickly followed by 2. carriage of Sky channels, 3. Scrap the majority of the films on demand - they don't interest me in the least. 4. Agree a deal with Flexitech and get LIving, Bravo etc.

This is definately a fantasy thread cuz homechoice is massively in debt & i doubt they could afford a whopper meal let alone extra channels & HD.

Yet thay can afford to advertise everywhere, this site included?

1) Sky Interactive Services (eg Football First)

Since this is actually operated as a separate contract and subscription with Sky-by-Wire the level of any debt with Homechoice should be irrelevant

2) Sky One (or at least Sky Three)

3) CMT - get some of their videos onto "VMX Country"...

Maybe HD will not be a fantasy on HC for much longer!!

Guide to HD TV in Times today states:

Homechoice, UK pioneer of broadband-delievered digital tv, recently upgraded its network to allow it to provide HD services, though in order to launch an HD capability it would first have to roll out new set top boxes.

Director of TV at HC Simon Hunt stated:

HD is an important part of our roadmap and we fully intend to be offering it in a relatively short timeframe

I found it interesting recently that on Channel 4 and on capital radio when they advertise the new C4 on demand service it quotes that this is available on Telewest NTL and Homechoice!

Quite interesting that this is stated on channel 4 as of course this is broadcast nationally.

I think that with this in mind and the ever approaching HD era I thnk HC will be rolling out nationally and in HD much sooner than we all think!

Oh and If I were MD for the day.....
A sports VOD! Showing classic football matches from days gone by, showing boxing matches from days gone by, etc etc! What a great idea... especially with World cup approaching!

Not saying that these adverts weren't broadcast nationally, but I believe they've got the capability to broadcast adverts based on region, that way they can charge differing amounts for targeted advertising and so that companies with only a regional base (such as HC) only pay for the region they operate in.

I believe that Channel 4 adverts on normal terrestrial TV are regionally split.

On satelite they broadcast the same adverts nationally.

With website adverts they pay commission to the website which the advert was with for example is some one clicked on one (although they seem to be outdated) on this page and subscribed over the internet this website will get £30 to about £60 depending on how many people subscribe from the advert that month

On ITV1 and channel4 they are regionaly split, I think they might be regionaly split on channel 5 like on GMTV which is why they always have insurance adverts.

On satelite and cable channels it usualy costs less than advertising in a region in London on a channel such as ITV1 or channel 4

theres actually 6 variants of channel4 on satellite with different ads.

Best thing that could happen to Homechoice is for Sky to buy them out. I read recently that Homechoice have appointed CSFB to go to the market to get them new funding for their LLU rollout, because basically they're skint. Their technology is pretty good, and Sky are now in the broadband biz with UKOnline, so the combination of Sky, Homechoice and UKO for accelerated LLU rollout would be pretty compelling; Sky would have the tech to reach all those places that can't have satellite with their content, and Homechoice would get the investment for rollout and HD, and I would get a decent tv service when I move to a new flat that isn't allowed satellite! Can't say I'm looking forward to losing my Sky+ box and replacing it with Homechoice as it currently stands...

If you read The Register you will see thay HC are apparently looking at wholesaleing their service to other ISP's

Dont you mean easynet or whatever its called? Cuz sky bought that recently.

Easynet is UKOnline. Easynet is the parent name/B2B business, UKOnline is the consumer arm.

I've been invited to a Homechoice focus group in a couple of weeks after replying to an ad in the last newsletter. I hope they let us in on their upcoming plans and I'll certainly be making plenty of suggestions.

stvuser is an outsider !!! stone him !!!

afaik focus group meetings are just that, because they need feedback from users, ergo no point in stvuser attending if he has not used the service