Freeview via NTL cable?

You have a point, and I don't disagree. However, NTL could offer the
purchase of a box and then feed with FTA channels. And imagine the
potential for marketing that it would open up. Actually, I've just
remembered - NTL are now offering free TV box with access to all the FTA
channels if you subscribe to their telephone package, so this could be a
mute subject.

Moot?


Probably - I always get them mixed up.

"John Porcella" wrote in message
...

"Java Jive" wrote in message
...
You have a valid point morally, I also think NTL should have to carry
Terrestrial Freeview channels in the clear for those who can't have an
external aerial or otherwise get decent reception. Perhaps we should all
write to our MPs about it?

Why should they carry this for free for people that do not want to help
defray the cost of its massive investment?


Whilst I agree that NTL should not be expected to provide their service for
free (to be honest, having had NTL in the past I wouldn't have it now even
if it was free!) some "customers" have been severely stitched up by NTL,
their landlords or their freeholder.

A prime example is new estates of houses and flats that forbid the
installation of external aerials and dishes and merely provide an NTL
connection. Unless good reception is available on an internal aerial, these
people are kippered unless they pay NTL for channels they are already paying
for in their licence fee .

They already provide the analogue terrestrial channels, I suspect as part of
their licence, or however else they are controlled - I believe that this
is so people like the OP who don't have access to a communal aerial system
and can't install their own or a sat dish can receive the current analogue
terrestrial channels.

Particularly after analogue switch off, why should the current digital
terrestrial channels be treated any differently?

I have expended considerable money, time, and effort in improving my own
aerial system and installing a sat dish, but I still can't guarantee to
receive or record a program like "Planet Earth" without interference
blemishes. It's virtually impossible on terrestrial, I have a much greater
chance on sat. If I could receive the terrestrial channels via cable, I
could have saved myself much of the wasted money and hassle I have
previously described in this ng.

"harrogate3" wrote in message
...

Why should NTL pass FTV/FTA channels through for the benefit of people
who won't pay? They have considerable plant, power, and staff costs to
support that feed, and then someone expects to get it for free?

"Java Jive" wrote in message
...
They already provide the analogue terrestrial channels, I suspect as
part of
their licence, or however else they are controlled - I believe
that this
is so people like the OP who don't have access to a communal aerial
system
and can't install their own or a sat dish can receive the current
analogue
terrestrial channels.

Particularly after analogue switch off, why should the current
digital
terrestrial channels be treated any differently?

I have expended considerable money, time, and effort in improving my
own
aerial system and installing a sat dish, but I still can't guarantee
to
receive or record a program like "Planet Earth" without interference
blemishes. It's virtually impossible on terrestrial, I have a much
greater
chance on sat. If I could receive the terrestrial channels via
cable, I
could have saved myself much of the wasted money and hassle I have
previously described in this ng.

"harrogate3" wrote in message
...

Why should NTL pass FTV/FTA channels through for the benefit of
people
who won't pay? They have considerable plant, power, and staff
costs to
support that feed, and then someone expects to get it for free?




Ah, there speaks someone who has never had cable! I think anyone on
here would agree that cable is no less prone to 'blemishes' than sat -
in fact picture freeze is much more common whatever the weather!

Also remember that the cable to your home is carrying multiple
carriers for TV and broadband, so to convert FTA digital channels from
digital to analogue to push down the pipe not only requires much plant
and often major redesign to the distribution system (the cable local
loop) but there may also be capacity problems to boot.

I would agree that the availability of a FTA STB for purchase at a
reasonable price to go on the end of cable where there is no
alternative may be an option and would do the image of NTL-Telewest a
lot of good, but as I said before the cable infrastructure has
considerable fixed costs so why should those that have cable available
(by choice or not) but don't pay the subscription benefit for free?


--
Woody

harrogate3 at ntlworld dot com

"harrogate3" wrote in message
...

Ah, there speaks someone who has never had cable! I think anyone on
here would agree that cable is no less prone to 'blemishes' than sat -
in fact picture freeze is much more common whatever the weather!

An incorrect assumption - I am a former NTL customer.

Also remember that the cable to your home is carrying multiple
carriers for TV and broadband, so to convert FTA digital channels from
digital to analogue to push down the pipe not only requires much plant
and often major redesign to the distribution system (the cable local
loop) but there may also be capacity problems to boot.

I would agree that the availability of a FTA STB for purchase at a
reasonable price to go on the end of cable where there is no
alternative may be an option and would do the image of NTL-Telewest a
lot of good, but as I said before the cable infrastructure has
considerable fixed costs so why should those that have cable available
(by choice or not) but don't pay the subscription benefit for free?


I can see that there might be some technical and bandwidth issues, but that
is presumably also true of providing the current analogue channels. At
analogue switch-off, the cable providers would simply have to swap one set
of issues for another.

With the launch of the BBC's FTA satellite service, it's take-up by ITV and
Film 4, and hopefully eventually by Chs 4 & 5, we seem to be approaching a
situation where there is some consistency of provision of the nation's free
channels across all delivery systems, which I think is highly desirable -
it means that citizens like the OP and myself can choose the delivery system
that suits their situation best.

I would just like the consistency to be mandatory - ie: that all
unencrypted terrestrial channels be available unencrypted on all delivery
systems. It seems crazy and illogical to me that I can get, say, More 4 or
UK TV History FTA on terrestrial, where my enjoyment of programs like 'Time
Team' or 'Earth Story' is ruined by frequent interference and
over-compression, but not on satellite or cable, because it is encrypted on
those systems.

It seems then that there are probably technical reasons why I can't get
FTA channels like BBC 3 & 4 etc.

If the service charge did pay for the maintenance of a communal outside
aerial, most people would expect that when they connected the aerial
cable from the TV to the communal aerial socket they would be able to
view BBC1 & 2, ITV1, and C4 and 5 without paying anything extra (apart
from the TV licence). Also, they would have the option of buying a set
top box that would enable the reception of extra channels.

I'm not expecting to get Freeview for free. I pay for a TV licence and
I pay via my service charge for the maintenance of the physical
infratructure of an NTL cable connection, and possibly also the
selection of channels that I can get without paying any extra. I've
even considered trying to get Freeview with an indoor aerial.

As has been pointed out, NTL themselves are offering packages that
include "Free Digital TV" -- providing you take their telephone
service. This is an option I'm considering.
"harrogate3" wrote in message
...

Ah, there speaks someone who has never had cable! I think anyone on
here would agree that cable is no less prone to 'blemishes' than sat -
in fact picture freeze is much more common whatever the weather!

An incorrect assumption - I am a former NTL customer.

Also remember that the cable to your home is carrying multiple
carriers for TV and broadband, so to convert FTA digital channels from
digital to analogue to push down the pipe not only requires much plant
and often major redesign to the distribution system (the cable local
loop) but there may also be capacity problems to boot.

I would agree that the availability of a FTA STB for purchase at a
reasonable price to go on the end of cable where there is no
alternative may be an option and would do the image of NTL-Telewest a
lot of good, but as I said before the cable infrastructure has
considerable fixed costs so why should those that have cable available
(by choice or not) but don't pay the subscription benefit for free?


I can see that there might be some technical and bandwidth issues, but that
is presumably also true of providing the current analogue channels. At
analogue switch-off, the cable providers would simply have to swap one set
of issues for another.

With the launch of the BBC's FTA satellite service, it's take-up by ITV and
Film 4, and hopefully eventually by Chs 4 & 5, we seem to be approaching a
situation where there is some consistency of provision of the nation's free
channels across all delivery systems, which I think is highly desirable -
it means that citizens like the OP and myself can choose the delivery system
that suits their situation best.

I would just like the consistency to be mandatory - ie: that all
unencrypted terrestrial channels be available unencrypted on all delivery
systems. It seems crazy and illogical to me that I can get, say, More 4 or
UK TV History FTA on terrestrial, where my enjoyment of programs like 'Time
Team' or 'Earth Story' is ruined by frequent interference and
over-compression, but not on satellite or cable, because it is encrypted on
those systems.

On 29 Oct 2006 06:54:20 -0800, "
wrote:

|As has been pointed out, NTL themselves are offering packages that
|include "Free Digital TV" -- providing you take their telephone
|service. This is an option I'm considering.

I would get a statement of *what* "Free Digital TV" actually means before
signing up.
--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk Google Groups is IME the *worst*
method of accessing usenet. GG subscribers would be well advised get a
newsreader, say Agent, and a newsserver, say news.individual.net. These
will allow them: to see only *new* posts, a killfile, and other goodies.

"Dave Fawthrop" wrote in message
...
On 29 Oct 2006 06:54:20 -0800, "
wrote:

|As has been pointed out, NTL themselves are offering packages that
|include "Free Digital TV" -- providing you take their telephone
|service. This is an option I'm considering.

I would get a statement of *what* "Free Digital TV" actually means before
signing up.
--

NTL's free cable service is basically all the Freeview channels, with the
exception of E4+1 (you get E4 so no great loss) and Sky Three. But Sky One
is included, which isn't on Freeview. There is a £25 insallation charge but
this is waived if you take a subscription channel package for one month and
then cancel.

On Sat, 28 Oct 2006 17:42:55 +0100, "John Porcella"
wrote:

Actually, I've just
remembered - NTL are now offering free TV box with access to all the FTA
channels if you subscribe to their telephone package, so this could be a
mute subject.

Moot?

I suppose a mute subject could be one you don't need to talk about, so
maybe he's right...

Rod.