Telewest Widens On-Demand Access

Cable operator Telewest has widened the reach of its Teleport on-demand service, extending the technology to Essex, offering customers TV and film content at the push of a button.

The service, which offers the same control as watching a DVD or video, enables users to pause, fast forward and rewind as many times as they like.

The service will be made available to around 320,000 homes in the Basildon region as part of Telewest’s existing digital TV service.

Teleport’s services are accessed via customers’ existing set-top box and remote control, with a simple on-screen interface guiding viewers through replay, movie and TV on-demand services.

Commenting on the expansion, Eric Tveter, president and chief operating officer of Telewest, said: “Teleport has arrived in Basildon and it’s genuinely going to change the way people watch TV. The schedule normally dictates what we watch, but our customers will have the choice and convenience of a service that they can tailor – its TV on their terms.”

Teleport will be rolling out to the company’s 1.2 million digital TV customers throughout 2005. The recently announced merger between Telewest and ntl will see the companies combine their conventional TV and on-demand services, presenting a more unified threat to the multi-channel dominance of BSkyB (see Cable Giants Tie Up To Tackle Sky).

Upon completion, the combined ntl/Telewest footprint will cover approximately half of Britain’s households.

Telewest: 0845 142 0000 www.telewest.co.uk