Cable Giant’s Free TV To Boost Multi-Play Proposition
Reports over the weekend claim cable customers could be in for a bumper summer, as cable giant NTL prepares to offer free TV to those who sign up for all of its services.
The company, which will soon rebrand as Virgin Television (see NTL Confirms £962m Virgin Mobile Takeover), was reported by the Sunday Telegraph to be preparing a package comprising digital TV, broadband, fixed line and mobile phone services where one service is given free to subscribers.
The paper quoted Robert Samuelson, head of Virgin Telecoms and Media, as saying: “The thing about selling four products is that you can offer one for free.”
The move would put the cable firm in a strong position against rivals such as Sky, which has unveiled its intention to roll out increased on-demand services and mobile offerings, but has yet to launch any of its offerings (see Sky To Launch IPTV Service In 2007).
Offering some of its services to customers for free would also place the company in a strong position ahead of the impending broadband price war, which now looks set to erupt as Carphone Warehouse mulls free broadband for its landline customers (see Price War Brews Over Free Broadband).
NTL: 01256 752000 www.ntl.com