lack of progress

aprec · 05-07-2006, 19:59

I suppose nobody was surprised by the latest newsletter. No mention of interactivity, new channels or HD.

What may be a sign of things to come and a tightening of the belt was the announcement that customer care is from the 11th July is going to be 8am -8pm mon-sat, instead of what we have now 8am-11pm 7 days a week.

An engineer recently told me that there would be no real changes for the forseeable future, that the boxes have been a financial disaster and that most of his time is spent replacing boxes. New customers having dried up

Also a member of customer services indicated that the recent upgrades to the exchanges are only to make the service more stable with regards to IP adresses and was not aimed at any red button features etc...

The momentum that HC had built up of goodwill and technology advances now appears to have ground to a halt. It seems to me that since the money has run out they are treading water until a buyer bails them out.

I hope someone can put a more positive gloss on things but the cost of HC is simply not competitive any more given the costs of broadband etc...

urbanbass · 06-07-2006, 10:33

I don't know how the installers would know details of the cost breakdowns on a set top box. They are contractors, non? I have a friend who had a similar conversation with a Telewest installer. I guess it depends on the guys mood on the day.

How do you know that HC aren't looking at HD quietly? After all Sky blew big trumpets and suffered bad press when they screwed up. Does anyone do reliable HD yet? Maybe that's why they need to upgrade all the exchanges.

Beware of pissed off installers

masai · 06-07-2006, 14:06

I rang up to downgrade my package and said I was thinking of leaving. I was told that they're expecting some "BIG" changes in the next 4 months or so. He didn't go into any details.

The guy was very nice as he upgraded me to the max speed big back for free for 4 months as Iv'e been with HC for over 5 years.

bennat · 06-07-2006, 15:14

As soon as I move house and am able to get a Sky dish I will be leaving HC for good!

Now that is not good customer retention!

HC is simply freeview with a few added extras and no longer competitive! I see C1 as a BBC on demand service and no better!

They need to let us all know what these changes are in 4 mths and then maybe people would want to stay!

HC needs a shake up and fast!

Peter We · 06-07-2006, 15:40

HC are already test HD, some posted previously that Autumn was a probable launch date.
Bennat, not everyone is mad about US TV stuff.

Betamax Lives · 06-07-2006, 18:03

Homechoice is much less ugly than a satelite dish on the wall, and all thats on Sky is Pro-wrestling, football and a new episode of the Simpsons once every blue moon, i'd like to see homechoice aim itself at those of us at the other end of the market who despair at the dumbed downed drivel Sky call entertainment, and until NTL can come up with Broadband that really is broad in my area, i'm sticking with the cute little homechoice box, and its excellent VMX music service.

TaG Eledhel · 06-07-2006, 22:58

so many complaints about homechoice but you still stay with em. why? well look at the alternatives that do similar packages. NTL/Telewest, monthly charge is alot more than homechoice with an even worse selection of TV. OK so homechoice has its faults and for the 8 meg package its way overpriced when you compare Tiscali ( £22.99 for 8 meg and unlimited phone calls with no monthly bandwidth restrictions) carphone warehouse ( around £30 for line rental unlimited calls and 8 meg) to name but two.

Ive been with homechoice around 18 months now, yes at times the customer service has been truely appalling but then it was the same when i was with NTL. at other times HC customer service has been great, and whenever ive had disputes with Homechoice concerning billing they have always been very good at refunds/credit.

what they need to do is make the price more competetive for the broadband side of things becasue currently its around £10 a month to high.

And Masai did u see my other post i too have the full package free for 4 months so HC aint all bad. maybe by then we will have something worthwhile from HC

mbear · 07-07-2006, 11:19

i'm leaving HC soon i think. i've been with them a long time and i have to say the only standout feature is replay, and that doesn't have nearly enough content on it... the whole market is changing and they're a bit stuck. they've been trying to sell out for a while but no-one is interested in buying at the price they want - that is a price which covers at least all the investment already made. they could sell at a loss, which is probably what potential suitors are waiting for.

i know it's not like for like but if you look at the £50m Be was sold for recently you'll see that O2 paid a premium for a top quality network, very good and tight management, great back end systems, etc, etc. HC would probably be worth only a similar amount, despite having loads more money pumped in to keep it going...

poor things

zigzagger · 07-07-2006, 11:30

One reason why I'm staying as least until the end of the year is to find out if they are going to adopt HD. Where I live, I can't have a Sky dish and NTL/Virgin don't have any plans for HD at the moment.

Please adopt HD Homechoice!!!

Peter We · 07-07-2006, 12:12

There is going to be a major consolidation of ISP's soon. They are not making any money and only those that can provide triple play will survive. NTL, BT, Sky and HC are the only one's that can do it.
NTL has such a bad reputation for customer service that they will change to Virgin in the hope that nobody remembers NTL. They have had no luck gaining customers in years.
Sky are expensive and require a dish.
BT has an unproven, not yet available service.
Then there is Homechoice. If they launch their (apparently in testing) HD service, they will have great product .

For a lot of people, like me, its either BT or Homechoice and BT is no good if you can't get Freeview.

Hookey · 07-07-2006, 17:06

I'm about to move and it looks like my only digital option will be Homechoice. Having had a look, I can't say I'm looking forward to it; the lack of HD is annoying (and I really can't see anyone offering HD over DSL anytime soon) but the absolute worst thing is the lack of PVR compatibility. Sky+ is a 'killer app' for Sky and I'm really going to miss it. Here's hoping that when Sky bring out their own IPTV service in the next few months that Sky+ is in their plans.

masai · 07-07-2006, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaG Eledhel

And Masai did u see my other post i too have the full package free for 4 months so HC aint all bad. maybe by then we will have something worthwhile from HC

Yeah I did see that. Lets keep our fingers crossed!

I use Homechoice mainly for its internet, I see most of you view HC as an alternative to Sky. This is where HC are always gonna dissapoint its customers unless the add some more channels.

For those who use HC mainly as an ISP and view the TV side as a bonus like me you cant really complain. I dont remember the last time the Internet has failed me, its always reliable.

Peter We · 08-07-2006, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hookey

I'm about to move and it looks like my only digital option will be Homechoice. Having had a look, I can't say I'm looking forward to it; the lack of HD is annoying (and I really can't see anyone offering HD over DSL anytime soon) but the absolute worst thing is the lack of PVR compatibility. Sky+ is a 'killer app' for Sky and I'm really going to miss it. Here's hoping that when Sky bring out their own IPTV service in the next few months that Sky+ is in their plans.

Tivo is compatible with HC. Sky+ is rubbish in comparison to Tivo. Tivo may be able to remarket their new boxes in the UK, their contract with Sky having expired.

HD ADSL2+ IPTV STB's are just becoming available and Homechoice are supposedly testing them.

overscan · 08-07-2006, 17:10

One thing in favour of sky+ is that it records the raw stream from the satellite. With Tivo/HC you would be re-encoding the analogue output of HC. Considering HC mpeg4 can bit a bit ropey at times (makes a mess of plants/leaves/trees/water) I would imagine that recording that on a Tivo would result in a bit of a mess.

Personally though, I'm mostly happy with HC. My only gripe is not just the lack of digital audio output, but the total lack of any separate audio output, not even stereo phono connectors. Of course you can get audio out of the scart connectors but it's a bit of a pain.

johnnyrocker · 08-07-2006, 23:30

although as i understand it the audio output is left and right cd quality which can easily be fed to a suitable hi fi using a scart to scart with flying audio phonos

Peter We · 09-07-2006, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by overscan

One thing in favour of sky+ is that it records the raw stream from the satellite. With Tivo/HC you would be re-encoding the analogue output of HC. Considering HC mpeg4 can bit a bit ropey at times (makes a mess of plants/leaves/trees/water) I would imagine that recording that on a Tivo would result in a bit of a mess.

Personally though, I'm mostly happy with HC. My only gripe is not just the lack of digital audio output, but the total lack of any separate audio output, not even stereo phono connectors. Of course you can get audio out of the scart connectors but it's a bit of a pain.

A Tivo series 1 recording would soften a digital image improving it if anything. The reason why PVR's like pace, Sky+ record the raw feed is because its easier and cheaper. The disadvantage is that it takes twice the storage over Tivo. I beileve the Tivo series 3 records mpeg4, HD and many different sources.

Hookey · 10-07-2006, 09:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter We

Tivo is compatible with HC. Sky+ is rubbish in comparison to Tivo. Tivo may be able to remarket their new boxes in the UK, their contract with Sky having expired.

HD ADSL2+ IPTV STB's are just becoming available and Homechoice are supposedly testing them.

I thought (having read on this forum and elsewhere) that HC didn't work properly with PVRs unless you left the TV on all the time. NB. I had Tivo when I used to be on NTL and while it had some advantages over Sky+ I can't agree that Sky+ is 'rubbish' in comparison; Tivo only had one tuner, and with the NTL box I had, channel changing was appallingly slow. Tivo had a better UI overall, but the integration of Sky+ into the STB and Sky programming offset that advantage handily for my purposes.

Having said all that, it would be nice if Tivo did come back to the UK, as their latest boxes are pretty cool (twin tuners, networking, remote management, re-encoding for iPods and PSPs etc), but ironically the dominance of Sky in the UK makes this market less attractive than most for Tivo.

As for ADSL2 & HD; I'm not holding my breath. Maybe if HC get bought out it'll happen, but otherwise they've simply got too many things on their 'to-do' list before HD becomes a priority (like having a big enough customer base and HC LLU exchanges to make HD investment worthwhile).

Betamax Lives · 10-07-2006, 20:58

Homechoice HD is in development.

johnnyrocker · 10-07-2006, 23:42

yea right i think they have more current issues to deal with first before they add to the mire

Peter We · 11-07-2006, 09:51

Like what?

masai · 11-07-2006, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter We

Like what?

Adding more channels would be a start and then making it more stable/reliable

BBRealist · 11-07-2006, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter We

There is going to be a major consolidation of ISP's soon. They are not making any money and only those that can provide triple play will survive. NTL, BT, Sky and HC are the only one's that can do it.
NTL has such a bad reputation for customer service that they will change to Virgin in the hope that nobody remembers NTL. They have had no luck gaining customers in years.
Sky are expensive and require a dish.
BT has an unproven, not yet available service.
Then there is Homechoice. If they launch their (apparently in testing) HD service, they will have great product .

For a lot of people, like me, its either BT or Homechoice and BT is no good if you can't get Freeview.

Sorry I disagree entirely and find your optimism regarding HC unfounded.

This is a company that is still yet to make any money, and has futilely solicited for a takeover for some time.

Their parent company lost £46.5 million in the year to April 2005, £1.5 million the year before that.

They're in a lot of ways a very technically innovative company however innovation as SGI will attest doesn't pay the bills.

They need to actually show some products for the technical advances pretty quickly before BT start to really get into IPTV, and a working ADSL2+ service will be essential to compete on the internet side as availability of 2+ in their market, London, is very high.

In addition to this they are under increasing pressure from cable, whose prices continue their overall downward trend, and especially from Sky whose triple play products aren't far away at all.

You call BT's service unproven and unreleased, however describe Homechoice's unreleased and unproven HD service as a 'great product'.

While your optimism is fantastic I see nothing to indicate that Homechoice have any long term prospects at the moment and think that your bias is pretty clear.

Homechoice need more content badly, they need to actually release to market the HD / ADSL2+ products fairly quickly. They cannot survive without growing their market share substantially, and they can do all the advertising on the tube, etc, that they want but without the product to back up the advertising they won't grow, and this is a company that needs to grow or will fail.

Don't get me wrong, HC do a lot of things right, all UK customer services, plenty of engineers available, etc, however this all has to be paid for.

This reminds me a lot of the cable companies a few years ago actually

Peter We · 11-07-2006, 15:06

Us talking about it won't make it happen any sooner. HD IPTV chipsets have only just become available, if it possible I'll wait until autumn while they test it.
I've just discovered that NTL have will finish installing Broadband in London (announced in 1998 delivered in 2007).
Have NTL fixed their appalling customer services? I may finally have a choice.

bennat · 11-07-2006, 16:02

For just over £70 a month you can get Telewest, with 2mb broadband, weekend home calls, and every single channel you could want, all Sky movies, all Sky sports, bravo, sky one, all discovery channels, all MTV and VH1 channels, + TELEPORT and that is with the telewest TV drive which is HD ready and allows for recording of 2 channels and watching another!! on 80Gb hard drive!

I pay at the moment the 2mb big pack without any add ons and thats 27.99 a month + £10 line rental, total of £37.99! If I were to add sky sports and sky movies (1,3,5,7,9) to my HC package that would add another £26 taking the total to £63.99!!

If you actually think about what you are getting for your money I would have to say that Telewest offers a better service! Far more channels, same speed broadband plus a HD recorder that allows 3 channels to be recorded at any one time and offers VOD! as well as HD TV!

HC you are a sinking ship and I am probably going to jump ship very very soon!

elyobelyob · 11-07-2006, 17:30

I'm unable to get Telewest, and it'd be pretty difficult to get sky installed as am in a block of flats.

So, for broadband, I will need to have ADSL whatever. Therefore £10 is already paid out to BT.

To get a decent Broadband service alone will cost me about £20 and I won't have as many channels on Freeview.

So, despite the internet connection not being overly competetive in terms of cost & speed, having the mega pack tv is not a terrible deal for me. But I'm still on the lookout for something different in terms of service though.

05-07-2006, 19:59	#1
aprec Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 67	lack of progress I suppose nobody was surprised by the latest newsletter. No mention of interactivity, new channels or HD. What may be a sign of things to come and a tightening of the belt was the announcement that customer care is from the 11th July is going to be 8am -8pm mon-sat, instead of what we have now 8am-11pm 7 days a week. An engineer recently told me that there would be no real changes for the forseeable future, that the boxes have been a financial disaster and that most of his time is spent replacing boxes. New customers having dried up Also a member of customer services indicated that the recent upgrades to the exchanges are only to make the service more stable with regards to IP adresses and was not aimed at any red button features etc... The momentum that HC had built up of goodwill and technology advances now appears to have ground to a halt. It seems to me that since the money has run out they are treading water until a buyer bails them out. I hope someone can put a more positive gloss on things but the cost of HC is simply not competitive any more given the costs of broadband etc...

06-07-2006, 10:33	#2
urbanbass Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 15	I don't know how the installers would know details of the cost breakdowns on a set top box. They are contractors, non? I have a friend who had a similar conversation with a Telewest installer. I guess it depends on the guys mood on the day. How do you know that HC aren't looking at HD quietly? After all Sky blew big trumpets and suffered bad press when they screwed up. Does anyone do reliable HD yet? Maybe that's why they need to upgrade all the exchanges. Beware of pissed off installers

06-07-2006, 14:06	#3
masai Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London Posts: 452	I rang up to downgrade my package and said I was thinking of leaving. I was told that they're expecting some "BIG" changes in the next 4 months or so. He didn't go into any details. The guy was very nice as he upgraded me to the max speed big back for free for 4 months as Iv'e been with HC for over 5 years.

06-07-2006, 15:14	#4
bennat Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 313	As soon as I move house and am able to get a Sky dish I will be leaving HC for good! Now that is not good customer retention! HC is simply freeview with a few added extras and no longer competitive! I see C1 as a BBC on demand service and no better! They need to let us all know what these changes are in 4 mths and then maybe people would want to stay! HC needs a shake up and fast!

06-07-2006, 15:40	#5
Peter We Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 953	HC are already test HD, some posted previously that Autumn was a probable launch date. Bennat, not everyone is mad about US TV stuff.

06-07-2006, 18:03	#6
Betamax Lives Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 31	Homechoice is much less ugly than a satelite dish on the wall, and all thats on Sky is Pro-wrestling, football and a new episode of the Simpsons once every blue moon, i'd like to see homechoice aim itself at those of us at the other end of the market who despair at the dumbed downed drivel Sky call entertainment, and until NTL can come up with Broadband that really is broad in my area, i'm sticking with the cute little homechoice box, and its excellent VMX music service.

06-07-2006, 22:58	#7
TaG Eledhel Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: surrey Posts: 296	so many complaints about homechoice but you still stay with em. why? well look at the alternatives that do similar packages. NTL/Telewest, monthly charge is alot more than homechoice with an even worse selection of TV. OK so homechoice has its faults and for the 8 meg package its way overpriced when you compare Tiscali ( £22.99 for 8 meg and unlimited phone calls with no monthly bandwidth restrictions) carphone warehouse ( around £30 for line rental unlimited calls and 8 meg) to name but two. Ive been with homechoice around 18 months now, yes at times the customer service has been truely appalling but then it was the same when i was with NTL. at other times HC customer service has been great, and whenever ive had disputes with Homechoice concerning billing they have always been very good at refunds/credit. what they need to do is make the price more competetive for the broadband side of things becasue currently its around £10 a month to high. And Masai did u see my other post i too have the full package free for 4 months so HC aint all bad. maybe by then we will have something worthwhile from HC

07-07-2006, 11:19	#8
mbear Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 214	i'm leaving HC soon i think. i've been with them a long time and i have to say the only standout feature is replay, and that doesn't have nearly enough content on it... the whole market is changing and they're a bit stuck. they've been trying to sell out for a while but no-one is interested in buying at the price they want - that is a price which covers at least all the investment already made. they could sell at a loss, which is probably what potential suitors are waiting for. i know it's not like for like but if you look at the £50m Be was sold for recently you'll see that O2 paid a premium for a top quality network, very good and tight management, great back end systems, etc, etc. HC would probably be worth only a similar amount, despite having loads more money pumped in to keep it going... poor things

07-07-2006, 11:30	#9
zigzagger Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: London Posts: 104	One reason why I'm staying as least until the end of the year is to find out if they are going to adopt HD. Where I live, I can't have a Sky dish and NTL/Virgin don't have any plans for HD at the moment. Please adopt HD Homechoice!!!

07-07-2006, 12:12	#10
Peter We Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 953	There is going to be a major consolidation of ISP's soon. They are not making any money and only those that can provide triple play will survive. NTL, BT, Sky and HC are the only one's that can do it. NTL has such a bad reputation for customer service that they will change to Virgin in the hope that nobody remembers NTL. They have had no luck gaining customers in years. Sky are expensive and require a dish. BT has an unproven, not yet available service. Then there is Homechoice. If they launch their (apparently in testing) HD service, they will have great product . For a lot of people, like me, its either BT or Homechoice and BT is no good if you can't get Freeview.

07-07-2006, 17:06	#11
Hookey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 21	I'm about to move and it looks like my only digital option will be Homechoice. Having had a look, I can't say I'm looking forward to it; the lack of HD is annoying (and I really can't see anyone offering HD over DSL anytime soon) but the absolute worst thing is the lack of PVR compatibility. Sky+ is a 'killer app' for Sky and I'm really going to miss it. Here's hoping that when Sky bring out their own IPTV service in the next few months that Sky+ is in their plans.

07-07-2006, 20:15	#12
masai Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London Posts: 452	Quote: Originally Posted by TaG Eledhel And Masai did u see my other post i too have the full package free for 4 months so HC aint all bad. maybe by then we will have something worthwhile from HC Yeah I did see that. Lets keep our fingers crossed! I use Homechoice mainly for its internet, I see most of you view HC as an alternative to Sky. This is where HC are always gonna dissapoint its customers unless the add some more channels. For those who use HC mainly as an ISP and view the TV side as a bonus like me you cant really complain. I dont remember the last time the Internet has failed me, its always reliable.

08-07-2006, 11:50	#13
Peter We Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 953	Quote: Originally Posted by Hookey I'm about to move and it looks like my only digital option will be Homechoice. Having had a look, I can't say I'm looking forward to it; the lack of HD is annoying (and I really can't see anyone offering HD over DSL anytime soon) but the absolute worst thing is the lack of PVR compatibility. Sky+ is a 'killer app' for Sky and I'm really going to miss it. Here's hoping that when Sky bring out their own IPTV service in the next few months that Sky+ is in their plans. Tivo is compatible with HC. Sky+ is rubbish in comparison to Tivo. Tivo may be able to remarket their new boxes in the UK, their contract with Sky having expired. HD ADSL2+ IPTV STB's are just becoming available and Homechoice are supposedly testing them.

08-07-2006, 17:10	#14
overscan Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 9	One thing in favour of sky+ is that it records the raw stream from the satellite. With Tivo/HC you would be re-encoding the analogue output of HC. Considering HC mpeg4 can bit a bit ropey at times (makes a mess of plants/leaves/trees/water) I would imagine that recording that on a Tivo would result in a bit of a mess. Personally though, I'm mostly happy with HC. My only gripe is not just the lack of digital audio output, but the total lack of any separate audio output, not even stereo phono connectors. Of course you can get audio out of the scart connectors but it's a bit of a pain.

08-07-2006, 23:30	#15
johnnyrocker Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 340	although as i understand it the audio output is left and right cd quality which can easily be fed to a suitable hi fi using a scart to scart with flying audio phonos

09-07-2006, 11:12	#16
Peter We Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 953	Quote: Originally Posted by overscan One thing in favour of sky+ is that it records the raw stream from the satellite. With Tivo/HC you would be re-encoding the analogue output of HC. Considering HC mpeg4 can bit a bit ropey at times (makes a mess of plants/leaves/trees/water) I would imagine that recording that on a Tivo would result in a bit of a mess. Personally though, I'm mostly happy with HC. My only gripe is not just the lack of digital audio output, but the total lack of any separate audio output, not even stereo phono connectors. Of course you can get audio out of the scart connectors but it's a bit of a pain. A Tivo series 1 recording would soften a digital image improving it if anything. The reason why PVR's like pace, Sky+ record the raw feed is because its easier and cheaper. The disadvantage is that it takes twice the storage over Tivo. I beileve the Tivo series 3 records mpeg4, HD and many different sources.

10-07-2006, 09:31	#17
Hookey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 21	Quote: Originally Posted by Peter We Tivo is compatible with HC. Sky+ is rubbish in comparison to Tivo. Tivo may be able to remarket their new boxes in the UK, their contract with Sky having expired. HD ADSL2+ IPTV STB's are just becoming available and Homechoice are supposedly testing them. I thought (having read on this forum and elsewhere) that HC didn't work properly with PVRs unless you left the TV on all the time. NB. I had Tivo when I used to be on NTL and while it had some advantages over Sky+ I can't agree that Sky+ is 'rubbish' in comparison; Tivo only had one tuner, and with the NTL box I had, channel changing was appallingly slow. Tivo had a better UI overall, but the integration of Sky+ into the STB and Sky programming offset that advantage handily for my purposes. Having said all that, it would be nice if Tivo did come back to the UK, as their latest boxes are pretty cool (twin tuners, networking, remote management, re-encoding for iPods and PSPs etc), but ironically the dominance of Sky in the UK makes this market less attractive than most for Tivo. As for ADSL2 & HD; I'm not holding my breath. Maybe if HC get bought out it'll happen, but otherwise they've simply got too many things on their 'to-do' list before HD becomes a priority (like having a big enough customer base and HC LLU exchanges to make HD investment worthwhile).

10-07-2006, 20:58	#18
Betamax Lives Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 31	Homechoice HD is in development.

10-07-2006, 23:42	#19
johnnyrocker Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 340	yea right i think they have more current issues to deal with first before they add to the mire

11-07-2006, 09:51	#20
Peter We Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 953	Like what?

11-07-2006, 11:36	#21
masai Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London Posts: 452	Quote: Originally Posted by Peter We Like what? Adding more channels would be a start and then making it more stable/reliable

DS Forums

lack of progress

11-07-2006, 12:21	#22
BBRealist Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,045	Quote: Originally Posted by Peter We There is going to be a major consolidation of ISP's soon. They are not making any money and only those that can provide triple play will survive. NTL, BT, Sky and HC are the only one's that can do it. NTL has such a bad reputation for customer service that they will change to Virgin in the hope that nobody remembers NTL. They have had no luck gaining customers in years. Sky are expensive and require a dish. BT has an unproven, not yet available service. Then there is Homechoice. If they launch their (apparently in testing) HD service, they will have great product . For a lot of people, like me, its either BT or Homechoice and BT is no good if you can't get Freeview. Sorry I disagree entirely and find your optimism regarding HC unfounded. This is a company that is still yet to make any money, and has futilely solicited for a takeover for some time. Their parent company lost £46.5 million in the year to April 2005, £1.5 million the year before that. They're in a lot of ways a very technically innovative company however innovation as SGI will attest doesn't pay the bills. They need to actually show some products for the technical advances pretty quickly before BT start to really get into IPTV, and a working ADSL2+ service will be essential to compete on the internet side as availability of 2+ in their market, London, is very high. In addition to this they are under increasing pressure from cable, whose prices continue their overall downward trend, and especially from Sky whose triple play products aren't far away at all. You call BT's service unproven and unreleased, however describe Homechoice's unreleased and unproven HD service as a 'great product'. While your optimism is fantastic I see nothing to indicate that Homechoice have any long term prospects at the moment and think that your bias is pretty clear. Homechoice need more content badly, they need to actually release to market the HD / ADSL2+ products fairly quickly. They cannot survive without growing their market share substantially, and they can do all the advertising on the tube, etc, that they want but without the product to back up the advertising they won't grow, and this is a company that needs to grow or will fail. Don't get me wrong, HC do a lot of things right, all UK customer services, plenty of engineers available, etc, however this all has to be paid for. This reminds me a lot of the cable companies a few years ago actually

11-07-2006, 15:06	#23
Peter We Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 953	Us talking about it won't make it happen any sooner. HD IPTV chipsets have only just become available, if it possible I'll wait until autumn while they test it. I've just discovered that NTL have will finish installing Broadband in London (announced in 1998 delivered in 2007). Have NTL fixed their appalling customer services? I may finally have a choice.

11-07-2006, 16:02	#24
bennat Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 313	For just over £70 a month you can get Telewest, with 2mb broadband, weekend home calls, and every single channel you could want, all Sky movies, all Sky sports, bravo, sky one, all discovery channels, all MTV and VH1 channels, + TELEPORT and that is with the telewest TV drive which is HD ready and allows for recording of 2 channels and watching another!! on 80Gb hard drive! I pay at the moment the 2mb big pack without any add ons and thats 27.99 a month + £10 line rental, total of £37.99! If I were to add sky sports and sky movies (1,3,5,7,9) to my HC package that would add another £26 taking the total to £63.99!! If you actually think about what you are getting for your money I would have to say that Telewest offers a better service! Far more channels, same speed broadband plus a HD recorder that allows 3 channels to be recorded at any one time and offers VOD! as well as HD TV! HC you are a sinking ship and I am probably going to jump ship very very soon!

11-07-2006, 17:30	#25
elyobelyob Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 92	I'm unable to get Telewest, and it'd be pretty difficult to get sky installed as am in a block of flats. So, for broadband, I will need to have ADSL whatever. Therefore £10 is already paid out to BT. To get a decent Broadband service alone will cost me about £20 and I won't have as many channels on Freeview. So, despite the internet connection not being overly competetive in terms of cost & speed, having the mega pack tv is not a terrible deal for me. But I'm still on the lookout for something different in terms of service though.