Must Carry For 4 'other' Language Channels In The Cheapest Basic In Union Of 25

NORMAL CABLE

It would appear that ntl , Chorus and Minister Ahern* have heard about the campaign to seek the introduction of 'must carry' status for at least four 'other' language channels in all 25 E.U. countries in the very basic (cheapest) typical package of around 30 channels. This would be part of the strategy of the Commission and E. Parliament to encourage each country to get to know its neighbours better.

In the case of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain this would probably mean a channel in French, German, Spanish and Italian.
It would be essential that the channels should be FREE OF CHARGE to the cable companies and also should NOT replace any channel presently available in the very basic package provided to customers. The norm of thirty channels in the basic should ensure that this is possible and the fact that most of the new Union countries already provide up to eight languages on their cable service will assist them in obeying the proposd directive whether it comes from their own respective government or from Europe.
But what about Ireland with its 'twice the normal' price for basic cable and with only a fifteen channel basic?
In the very basic (cheapest) package ntl only provides TG4 because it is a 'must carry' and Chorus only provides TG4 and TV5 (-in basic in seven towns).
Will ntl want to provide a normal 'normal' service or will it continue with its ploy to ingratiate itself (we 're so good in ntl!) with Comreg in handing back some of its analogue frequencies to be used for other communications purposes in due course?
OR is Comreg forcing them to hand back these frequencies (vacated by movies and sports) at the expense of our 'Europeness'?
But on the other hand, we all know that once our presidency is over then Europe can go to hell as far as wonderful Ireland is concerned. Sorry, we'll still go for our drinkies in Spanish 'Irish' pubs.

*Minister D Ahern answered the question on 'must carry' for Union language channels with a NO on 27 April 2004 eventhough he was n't even asked the question by Mr R. Bruton T.D.

icdg

It would be a good idea if the NTL basic package was bigger than fifteen channels. As it is, if this proposal was implemented, it would mean the dropping of CNBC, Nickelodeon, Discovery, and MTV. I'm not sure this would go down well.

I'd also prefer it to be volunatary rather than prescribed.

Maybe NTL will add more foreign channels to the digital package... I'd like to see 3Sat (the German-language countries equivilant to TV5) in particular. TVE-I and RAI Uno would also be good choices.

Mike 1972

Rather than argue that such and such should be on the basic analouge package surely the way forwad is for digital to become THE basic package and for analouge to be phased out altogether. Although theres probably a case for leaving the eight basic channels on analouge for a coupls of years to facilitate Video timeshifting until such time as digital Videos or an "NTL plus" box becomes available

Go Figure!

Originally posted by Mike 1972
Rather than argue that such and such should be on the basic analouge package surely the way forwad is for digital to become THE basic package and for analouge to be phased out altogether. Although theres probably a case for leaving the eight basic channels on analouge for a coupls of years to facilitate Video timeshifting until such time as digital Videos or an "NTL plus" box becomes available

I agree with you entirely, I think NORMAL CABLE is living in a dream world if he thinks that the Analogue Cable package will be increased at any stage in the future. Digital is the future and I do think that the analogue cable package offered by NTL will be reduced over the next couple of years as more and more people switch to Digital. I do however think that there is no reason why there can't be more foreign channels on the Digital package.

NORMAL CABLE

People who go on about digital tv in terms of paying for a package of 150, 200, 250 channels really are in the minority. But they must not be denied what they have a right to: a wide choice of channels to select from to decide their evening's and many evenings' entertainment.
But the vast majority are happy to have a package of say 25 - 30 channels, typical of what is provided right across the E.U. to include a couple of 'other' language channels and that's it at a reasonable price of say 100 euros per year.

No matter how much advertising ntl undertakes the figure availing of a package of 100 plus channels will not increase significantly and no doubt London is very angry about this.

Shifting all analogue mmds over to digital mmds and all analogue cable sports and movies analogue customers over to digital cable has brought wonderful results to ntl's digital totals for digital ........but is this honest?

Once again those of us who speak mainland languages do have some rights.
ntl should understand that there is no devilish plot to seek the removal of all channels in English from the cable service in Dublin to be replaced by channels in Swaheli, Bengali and maybe a bit of French and German.

Go Figure!

I refer back to my previous post, you are still in denial no matter what you say analogue is on the way out, the analogue package will not be increased and the numbers subscribing to the digital package have trebeled (there are now 70,000 of us). You are right that those channels have left the analogue system and more will follow but that isn't the only reason people are switching to digital (I don't subscribe to movies or sports). They are switching because it has far superior picture quality and signal depth then analogue and the extra channels are just a bonus. Any new foreign channels will be on digital.

cdc

Digital is a scam. No wonder NTL are so fond of it.

You cannot get multi room viewing with digital. This is not an improvement in technology or service.
Analogue is better. And as a bonus it does not come with the ridiculous hype they bestow on digital.

Someday they will find out how to provide multi room viewing with digital and they will overcharge their customers for it.

Go Figure!

You're inhabiting the same dream world as Normal Cable then. Digital is a vast improvement in both technology and service and at just 12 euro a month extra that certainly could not be described as overcharging.

Round Cable

Originally posted by cdc
Digital is a scam. No wonder NTL are so fond of it.

You cannot get multi room viewing with digital. This is not an improvement in technology or service.
Analogue is better. And as a bonus it does not come with the ridiculous hype they bestow on digital.

Well digital isn't as as good as analouge in the terms of piping cable around the house, watching one channel while recording another. But the PICTURE is better, although there is pixalation on some channels, it's a hell of a lot better than analouge.

And you can get multi room viewing with digital: Get another box, while this is an expensive process with NTL it's only E15 a month more with SKY.

PK - the king

Second connection is a rip off with ntl? :eek: :eek: What are you - nuts?

SKY is a rip off;

NTL 2 nd box: Install: € 65 and then €12 extra monthly. Box is free.
SKY 2nd box: Install: € 75, €15 extra monthly and then €159 to "buy" the box!!!

Now, you can't seriously be telling me that it is more expensive to go ntl

cdc

Originally posted by Go Figure!
You're inhabiting the same dream world as Normal Cable then. Digital is a vast improvement in both technology and service and at just 12 euro a month extra that certainly could not be described as overcharging.

How is going from multi room viewing to single room viewing an improvement?

And I have seen the picture on digital. Nothing fantastic. Good analogue reception is not a problem.

Round Cable

Originally posted by PK - the king
Second connection is a rip off with ntl? :eek: :eek: What are you - nuts?

SKY is a rip off;

NTL 2 nd box: Install: € 65 and then €12 extra monthly. Box is free.
SKY 2nd box: Install: € 75, €15 extra monthly and then €159 to "buy" the box!!!

Now, you can't seriously be telling me that it is more expensive to go ntl

I always thought NTL charged for digital and analouge on the second television, in other words doubling your bill.

Go Figure!

Originally posted by cdc
How is going from multi room viewing to single room viewing an improvement?

And I have seen the picture on digital. Nothing fantastic. Good analogue reception is not a problem.

Yeah but your missing the point, you still have multi room viewing because you have your analogue channels on your other TV's in the house, but digital means you have lots of extra channels on one TV and as others have mentioned you can get a second digital box for another TV in another room if you wish for not much extra. The analogue reception is a real problem in my house particurlarly on Channel Four, E4 and Discovery(which is unwatchable on Analogue). The digital reception for these channels is far superior.