NTL Expects To Exceed Digital Subs Of ˝m By Year End

NTL has announced a 41% increase to its digital subscriber base during the third quarter, bringing the total number of customers to 325,000. The cable group said it expects to exceed its target of 500,000 by the end of 2000.

In its first full quarter statistics since completion of its merger with Cable and Wireless Communications (see Government Clears NTL/CWC Merger), the group said integration efforts had so far been successful although high levels of churn were reported in original CWC areas. A monthly churn level of 1.9% was recorded – which equates with one in five customers leaving the service on an annual basis.

Similar levels of churn have also recently dogged the roll-out of ONdigital (see Sharewatch) and as the race for subscribers gains pace the ability to retain customers will take on increased importance. Telewest, meanwhile, the UK’s second cable operator, has admitted it will not reach its 500,000 sales target until the first quarter of next year due to set-top box shortage (see Set-Top Box Shortage Puts Telewest Three Months Behind).

The customer base of NTLworld, the group’s internet business, grew by 265% to 381,000 during the third quarter, despite a rash of customer complaints earlier this year, which forced the group to pull marketing of the service (see NTL Pulls Advertising Of Net Service).

NTL: 01252 402 000