I would love Homechoice to succeed - I think it's got the potential to be a great service.

However, it's now got until the autumn to sort itself out. Then, 2 other IPTV services are both launching - one is BT Vision, the other is Orange TV.

Both will probably be able to launch with more customers than Homechoice already has (Orange TV will just plug into the existing Livebox that was supplied when Orange Broadband was Wanadoo).

Both have the money behind them to make them work.

By the time they launch, Homechoice really needs to have positioned itself on a comparable level with NTL Telewest to survive...

Maybe. However, BT Vision is probably going to be very flakey due to the simple fact that they can't control the quality of service. Comparing HC and BT Vision, too much of BT service is Freeview, which we already have.
I'd wait and see before calling judgement.
As for Orange, I'm already a customer, but anything that smacks of Free broadband also means - you get what you pay for. Carphone warehouse don't actually have to supply the broadband, so if you don't have service you have no reason to complain. That sucks, I need broadband to work.

I agree with Peter..and rumours abound about BT vision , the stability of the software and its launch date.I also want Homechoice to succeed and I am fairly satisfied with the service but would like to see the interactive side developed and the introduction of HD.I am going to a Homechoice focus group meeting next week and hopefully will be able to post more info on their future plans.

Why can't they control the quality of the service.

Other than the Freeview service it's delivered over their network using their equipment. There's no reason for it to ever leave their network so there's no reason for them not to be able to control the quality.

I agree with Dronkula.
I think that HC will need to offer HD in the very near future, if it is not going to lose some of its hard gained customer base.
Its a shame that we are still behind the French in this regard

Orange, owned by France Télécom, has more than 200,000 broadband TV customers in France. They will be able to watch the World Cup and French Open in high-definition TV on Orange TV

HC have to deliver HD and interactive channels by the end of the year in my humble opinion.
When was the last time HC said anything of consequence?
They are obviously desperate for a take over and/or substantial reinvestment to pay for those new boxes we all are going to need.

Being honest, I wouldn't mind forking out 2-3 hundred for an STB if it meant I could get HD as an 'early adopter' without having to wait for Homechoice to scrounge more investment. And consdiering that I won't be getting Freeview HD in London till 2012 then it pretty much is early adoption, and for that you usually have to to pay the piper, as SKY HD customers have done.

Additionally, I agree that Homechoice should really aim to get HD out before the end of the year what with these 2 other IPTV services launching. With regards to BTs questionable quality, I don't think that the average punter will be aware of any of that. And with BT potentially being able to cover all possible bases in one package; land-line, mobile, broadband, TV, HD (eventually), THAT'S going to attract a lot of people.

Homechoice has always been something of a pioneer and now, more than ever, they have to keep that ethos going or some existing customers are going to look elsewhere. This time last year, I wouldn't have swapped my Homechoice for Sky, mainly due to the competitive pricing. But now, for me at least, HD has changed the landscape completely and if I was allowed a satellite dish on my building I'd be a Sky customer by now. I realise this argument won't hold any water with some other people as they aren't that fussed about HD yet.

I'm expecting HC to lanch HD and adsl2+ in the next two months. If they don't by the end of the year I will be looking at how I can get another service.

wrong topic
Last edited by Peter We : 02-06-2006 at 12:41