E4 on NTL?

[Head in the clouds]

There's an announcement that E4 will be available on NTL's basic tv package from May 1st.

My question is, is this on analog? I'm nearly certain that it is already on digital.

So what channel will make way for it?

And is there any point in carrying it on analog where we already have RTE2 and Channel 4, where all it's programs are shown anyway?

Seems strange when they took Eurosport from us, which had all exclusive programming, and would be a godsend during the World Cup because it will probably show the matches not shown terrestrially when they clash.

Finally, will there be a price-hike.

[David C]

Where was the announcement?

E4 is on ntl digital. I'll be happy if it goes on ntl... theres some half decent programmes on it.

BTW.. You can get Eurosport for free in Analouge & Digital from the Astra 1 satellites if anyones throwing out an old system!

[John Fleming]

Well, we all know what ntl are like!

I ran a check on their website, nothing.

However, check out page 36 of today's Sunday World - i presume this is where "Head in the clouds" got his/her info...

[Guest]

Yep, it's all true.
E4 will be available to all NTL customers on the basic TV pack from May 1st with no extra charge to customers.

It is replacing TV5 - in a round-about sort of way. E4 will go where CNBC is and CNBC will go where TV5 is.

Oh, a note to ntl. Trigger Happy TV is (sadly!) no more. SO E4 won't be offering it 'first-run'.

This is welcome news though, but as a person who despises Big Brother, E4's round-the-clock coverage will make the world unbearable when it comes on.

[zg3409]

> TV5 Europe will be dropped
> In a move which will delight many viewers - and annoy quite a number too -
> NTL has announced its latest change to the Basic Service analogue package.
> E4, Channel 4's entertainment channel, will join the NTL basic analogue
> package on 1st May. On the same day, TV5 Europe will be discontinued. The
> latter move has probably been inevitable for a long time - NTL has hit TV5
> with its past two changes to the service. Last August it was banished to
> 408Mhz, which many TVs cannot pick up, and lost its morning hours.
> Although the next change saw its morning hours restored, the opportunity
> to move it to a more accessible position (the former Eurosport frequency
> of 64Mhz) was turned down, in favour of CNBC Europe. This change will see
> CNBC Europe take up residency on 408Mhz anyway, as E4 is given the prime
> 64Mhz - the second lowest chanel number - frequency.
> While French speakers will no doubt be extremely annoyed at this latest
> mistreatment of TV5 - which will remain a part of the Go Digital pacakge -
> the positive side is that E4 will probably be an extremly popular channel
> for NTL Dublin viewers. The channel is a general entertainment channel in
> the Sky One mould, and features such programmes as Friends, Dawson's
> Creek, and ER. During the summer, E4 will carry comprehensive coverage of
> the third season of Big Brother. Last year up to 18 hours a day of live
> coverage from the house was screened, and this is expected to be repeated
> this year.

[Guest]

E4 is nothing but Channel 4 repeats!

The only reason NTL are putting ity on is cos of BB, clever move on they're part!

[Annoyed]

I was looking forward to this, but typical of ntl, they've cocked up. Widescreen programming is squished into the 4*3 space and looks dire. Is there no 4*3 setting for E4?

[Guest]

Where did you hear that Trigger Happy TV is no more??

[John Fleming]

Where did you hear that Trigger Happy TV is no more??

Unfortunately, this was announced by Dom Joly himself following filming of the Xmas Special. With a bit of luck he may be persuaded to change his mind, but i don't think anybody would be surprised at ntl using this to 'sell' E4 on their package, unless their blurb comes from E4 themselves...

[The Mighty 890]

Yes, I noticed that E4 looks very odd indeed at times, that explains it.

In addition, why in the name of Christ in this day and age do NTL carry them in mono?

I can't imagine I'll be watching E4 too often as it seems to be the Ally McBeal and Sex in the City repeat channel but one programme that I have been known to watch is Dawson's Creek (hand up in shame :o ). Honestly, one of the main reasons I watch it is for the soundtrack which is generally top class.

NTL, get it sorted please and while you're at it, why no RDS for BBC Radio stations? Seems daft to me when you carry RDS for Classic FM (and a good resource it is too). It's not as though it isn't available.

Gripe over..............for now!!!!!!!!! ;)

[Guest]

I cannot watch E4. The logo, when you can see it, is very distracting with the brand new, second chance etc. NTL are making a mess of it too.

[Francis Dunne]

gave e4 a quich glance via someone elses satelite (do you really think I would pay for the muck on sky) and found that its about a week ahead of RTE in ER.

dont think I could stomach 18 hours of Big Brother . Would rather watch some french bloke talking french to be honest

[Francis Dunne]

as to the persons question whether there was going to be a price hike, of course there is, these cable companies seem to be able to charge what they like.

[FMDXer]

Mighty 890

"NTL, get it sorted please and while you're at it, why no RDS for BBC Radio stations? Seems daft to me when you carry RDS for Classic FM (and a good resource it is too). It's not as though it isn't available. "

The reason why there is no RDS is simple, they are taking those stations from satellite, and there is no RDS data stream available from satellite. Cablelink/NTL probably started taking the radiostations from satellite to avoid interference from pirates (of the FM signals coming down from NI) .
Some of the interference to BBC radio on FM is totally needless,
Did'nt Eamonn Cooke/ Radio Dublin for example jam BBC Radio 1 with a blank carrier on 99.7 for ages?

[The Mighty 890]

FMDXer, cheers for that info. I wasn't aware of that situation.

NTL have carried RDS for BBC Radio 2 for many years up until only the last couple of months and they continue to carry RDS for Classic FM on 101.90. Are these stations not taken from satellite?

E4 from what I've seen of it so far is just repeats of Ally McBeal and Sex in the City with an incredible amount of self promotion and promos for Film Four etc... Not much to get excited about there in my view.

[Brian O'D]

It also has Dawsons Creek, which keeps my girlfriend occupied!