Which should I go for - NTL or SKY?

rocky

Hi,

[mods please move to appropriate forum if this isn't it]

looking to choose between the 2, basically criteria are in decreasing order of importance:

1* channels I'm interested in - 1: BBC1,2 (3-4 maybe), CH4 (E4), discovery, national geographic
2* channels I'm interested in - 2: motoring, music, UTV
3* movies
4* no interest in sports
5* reliability
6* initial cost and monthly subscription (yearly contract?)

I think NTL and SKY both satisfy the above points, what's the story cost-wise?

Previously I had NTL analogue (21 euro/month?) I remember it had 1* and a bit of 2*, had SKY and movies pack also that worked up to 35 euro/month

Don't need NTL's broadbad (unless it's free ), heard bad stories about it lately.

Which do you recommend? Thanks.

Karoma

5* reliability

I think NTL and SKY both satisfy the above points...

I don't think NTL does, from experience.



Where are you located?

rocky

I'm in Galway.

Is NTL's tv service unreliable, I thought it was only the broadband.

sioda

Cant comment on NTL but have Sky for years never had a bit of trouble.

Good channel selection and great picture and sound quality

copacetic

i could never got back to ntl since having sky. surprised how much of the 'red button' features you use when they are available. ntl digital has none of the useful digital features like this..

Charlie

In my opinion Sky knocks NTL down on nearly all fronts. More reliable, better features, constantly introducing new innovations, more channels (although many that wouldn't interest most people), interactive features, Sky+ etc.

However, the OP seems to state that UTV is a bit of a requirement and whilst UTV is available on Sky, it is awkward enough using UTV on Sky (particularly if you are a Sky+ user).

lostexpectation

when someone wants to get setanta do they ring setanta or their digital/satillite provider?

byte

lostexpectation wrote:

when someone wants to get setanta do they ring setanta or their digital/satillite provider?

You ring Setanta I think.

If you've Sky, you just go to the Setanta channel, and call the onscreen number to upgrade. Dunno if same applies to cableco's.

lostexpectation

byte wrote:

You ring Setanta I think.

If you've Sky, you just go to the Setanta channel, and call the onscreen number to upgrade. Dunno if same applies to cableco's.

but aren't setanta just going to pass you on to your cable co's be it sky or ntl?, there just a channel not a distributor right?

_Kaiser_

Sky... we actually have both in the house here at the moment.
- Sky+
- Sky HD (if you want/need it)
- much better picture quality
- the boxes don't lock up/freeze/reset like NTL's do
- Sky has ALL the channels. NTL are still missing a lot - especially the +1's
- Sky's EPG is a LOT better and the remotes are far superior
- You can get C4 and UTV on Sky now as well (NTL's last advantage).
Admittedly UTV is only available through "other channels" but I can live with it

Downsides:
- Cost. You WILL end up paying more especially if you want Multiroom or HD

Charlie

#Elites wrote:

i would like the red button though..but seemly thats coming soon.

Taken from the ICDG webpage

NTL do not plan for interactive services to be made available in the inital rollout over the 20-year old ex-Cablelink network. However they do plan to (eventually) resume the network upgrade, possibly in 2002, and upgraded areas, such as Tallaght, will be able to take advantage of interactive services

That entry was made in 2002. I was getting digital in 2003 and was trying to get the old man to go for Sky because of interactive etc. He rang Ntl and we were assured that they would be interactive within the month. 2 years of broken promises and we decided to leave them and go for Sky, with Sky+ being a big reason. When we rang to cancel, the girl pestered us to stay, trying to counter ever reason we gave her. Eventually I told her it was because of Sky+ (knowing that she couldn't counter that argument), she then tried to convince us to stay by promising that Ntl's version of Sky+ would be out before the end of '05, luckily we didn't believe that load of bull.

I don't want to come across as a Sky fanboi as Ntl are a decent service. I just feel though that Ntl have and always will be second best when it somes to features such as interactive and new technology and it is there blatant lying when it comes to when they will implent these features that really irks me.

The only other point I think should be made is picture quality. Myself and my mate both have the exact same model TV. I have sky and he has Ntl. The difference in picture quality is shocking. Ntl is heavily pixilated. There are quite a few channels on Ntl digital that look worse than their analogue counterparts.

tinkerbell

Definitely Sky.

copacetic

#Elites wrote:

Keep in mind you dont need a dish for NTL..

i have NTL Digital..its fine tbh..i can Purcahse Sky Sports/movies if i want to via ntl..

i would like the red button though..but seemly thats coming soon.

true enough, but I didn't need a dish for sky because the apt is piped from a roof dish (also couldn't get ntl on cable as development isn't wired up, they offered some kind of crappy MMDS I think).

So was forced to go with sky really but am really glad I have it now. The red button is a godsend for sports fans. Only let down is that the builders didn't pipe 2 feeds to the apts so I can't get sky+

spank_inferno

Having had both I can say that sky beats NTL digital comfortably

they are more expensive but in terms of:
- Picture & sound quality
- diversity of packages on offer
- innovation & new products available
- customer service (sky narrowly wins this)

Extra channels like BBC 3 & BBC4 are also available on the sky platform
though they require manual tuning. The sky installation guy will probably show you this.

humanji

NTL customer support would put me off ever going back to them.

Alternatively, get yourself a library card and save yourself a fortune.

JerkyBoy

Sky has "Playboy One" on it and it's free.
Some good stroke material on there!

Cheese Princess

Don't know anything about Sky but NTL must have the worst customer support in the country.

lady_j

I have both NTL and sky due to the fact NTL have not answered my calls for three months! with Ntl I am currently on cable with NTL and cannot view the follwing channels : Channel 4 (its just snow) RTE2, BBC 1. NTL are a disgrace. Sky have good customer service and answer your calls :eek: Even if you only get sky for 1 year, most basic channels are available on freeview so you'll still get the basics once you have a box. SKY SKY SKY

lady_j

Kaiser2000 wrote:

Sky... we actually have both in the house here at the moment.

Admittedly UTV is only available through "other channels" but I can live with it

You can manually tune it in in other stations section

cailinoBAC

Yeah, NTL customer service is terrible. When I finally got through for them we arranged for a guy to come out and he never turned up. I emailed them and told them I expected a reply within 24 hours or I would go with Sky and that´s what I did.

However, I don´t think I have UTV, where do the rest of you find it?

copacetic

cailinoBAC wrote:

Yeah, NTL customer service is terrible. When I finally got through for them we arranged for a guy to come out and he never turned up. I emailed them and told them I expected a reply within 24 hours or I would go with Sky and that´s what I did.

However, I don´t think I have UTV, where do the rest of you find it?

see this thread over on the sat forum on how to add UTV and others to the 'other channels' menu on the services button:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055038749

Wisheress

I chose NTL and regret that decision on a daily basis (I didn't want a satellite dish for Sky since apartment balcony is small).

Problems

(1) Customer service. Yes what you've heard is true. Multiply the bad stuff you've heard by a thousand and you'll get the idea.

No answer when I phone their customer service department (have been put on hold for up to 2 hours on several occasions. More fool me for holding. Speakerphone lessens the pain somewhat).

No replies to 5 emails to date.

Bills completely incorrect for the past 5 months. Last week I got a bill for 115E instead of 14.99; when I called, after a 2 hour wait, the agent breezily said the bill was incorrect and that she had no idea when this issue would be sorted out. Thank God I didn't go for direct debit, but then again they penalise you for not paying by DD (I think it's an extra 4E a month).

(2) Picture quality poor as attested to by previous posters

(3) Box constantly freezes so have ended up hardly using the digital service and just use the basic channels.

There have been plenty of threads and plenty of forums about NTL. The consensus stands.

Slightly off-topic, if anyone has had any luck in dealing with these sorts of issues with NTL, I would really appreciate any advice.

And OP, if Sky is an option for you, I would go for it. Hope that this helps

Jagera

I have had both, and tbh I was happy enough with both - Sky would be my first choice, but I went with NTL for a very particular reason...

I had both NTL TV & broadband, which meant I could get Blueface phone, and ditch Eircom altogether.

Sky was a better TV option, but the money I saved with blueface was worth the difference (geez I sound like an ad..!!)

Here's my few bob worth in comparisons....
Its true about NTL customer support - not good. Thankfully though I never had troubles, I do know several people who did & heard their tales of woe.

I NEVER wanted to use the red button/interactive thing, so that didn't bother me.

Browsing for something to watch is WAY better with Sky.

Getting UTV and Setanta in NTL was way better (yes I know its there with Sky but its a pain in the arse having to go through all the steps to watch it)

The selection of movies (on Sky & hence NTL's Sky movies channels) were totally rubbish. Box Office movies which you pay for are already out of DVD. It wasn't like that about 6 yrs ago when I was living i the UK, they were all newer ones.

Sky has Takeshi's Castle on Challenge - NTL doesn't....... love it!!!

I ended up mostly watching all the free-to-air stations anyway, so reckon its a waste of money. I'd rather watch DVD's with no ads. But bear in mind, thats just me.

Can't think of owt else, happy hunting.

sweetie

bw wrote:

I have had both, and tbh I was happy enough with both - Sky would be my first choice, but I went with NTL for a very particular reason...



Browsing for something to watch is WAY better with Sky.

Getting UTV and Setanta in NTL was way better (yes I know its there with Sky but its a pain in the arse having to go through all the steps to watch it)

The selection of movies (on Sky & hence NTL's Sky movies channels) were totally rubbish. Box Office movies which you pay for are already out of DVD. It wasn't like that about 6 yrs ago when I was living i the UK, they were all newer ones.

Sky has Takeshi's Castle on Challenge - NTL doesn't....... love it!!!

I ended up mostly watching all the free-to-air stations anyway, so reckon its a waste of money. I'd rather watch DVD's with no ads. But bear in mind, thats just me.

Can't think of owt else, happy hunting.

Ftn channel on NTL also shows Takeshis Castle. I have a pioneer 430 HD dvd recorder with guideplus and it has a much better channel guide and also controls the ntl box so I'm happy enough with it. Hardly ever need to use the ntl remote. I had loss of digital for nearly a month and ntl gave me two months free digital which is better than nothing.

BKtje

Got ntl. Picture is perfect, had problems maybe for a total of 1 day in 2+yrs.

Got more channels than i can shake a stick at (but i guess u get that with sky too ). Dont miss the red button (probably cos i never had it ).
Film 4 is great (do u get it on sky?) most nights a decent movie of some sort.

Never needed customer service so can't comment there.
Living in co. dublin incase that affects quality of service.

copacetic

B-K-DzR wrote:

Got ntl. Picture is perfect, had problems maybe for a total of 1 day in 2+yrs.

Got more channels than i can shake a stick at (but i guess u get that with sky too ). Dont miss the red button (probably cos i never had it ).
Film 4 is great (do u get it on sky?) most nights a decent movie of some sort.

Never needed customer service so can't comment there.
Living in co. dublin incase that affects quality of service.

yep, you get film 4 and film 4+1 with sky.

Of course sky has more channels than you can shake 100 sticks at!!
most useless of course..

B-K-DzR

B-K-DzR wrote:

Got ntl. Picture is perfect, had problems maybe for a total of 1 day in 2+yrs.

Got more channels than i can shake a stick at (but i guess u get that with sky too ). Dont miss the red button (probably cos i never had it ).
Film 4 is great (do u get it on sky?) most nights a decent movie of some sort.

Never needed customer service so can't comment there.
Living in co. dublin incase that affects quality of service.

Im on the same lines as yourself. Hopefully will never need the customer service (touch wood), although Sky's CS is a nightmare as well afaik.

AdMMM

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but one of the major plus points of going with NTL is that you merely RENT the equipment off them. This means that if anything goes wrong with your box, you simply ring up and you'll have a replacement within a week (it's worth stating that the old NTL digiboxes [not the small profile ones] are unreliable and their tuners are destined to fail). If anything goes wrong with Sky then you're liable for any costs (call out fees, replacement equipment).

I was with NTL for as long as I can remember and only recently switched to Sky but not because we were unhappy with the NTL service but because of the changes to NTLs billing policies.

superdudeman007

The Phone Show on FM104 in Dublin has at least two callers every night who have had their NTL cut off for no reason :rolleyes:

I've never had a problem with Sky (except I have to keep re-manually tuning to get ITV2, BBC3 etc)

1huge1

Ive had sky for 7 years now, 3 of which ive been with sky + and multiroom
well it is expensive but considering the brilliant service and the way sky + had changed my life literally its a obvious choice