Telewest Hopes For Comeback With Cut-Price Digital Package

Telewest has unveiled its comeback plans after a summer blighted by supply problems (see Telewest Puts Digital Strategy On Hold As Box Shortage Affects Cable Industry) and subsequent share price collapse (see Cable Industry Mulls Consolidation As Telewest Stock Tumbles). Its approach is to consist of digital TV and telephone packages, which should compete with NTL’s current £20m “Complete Communications Company” push (see NTL Kicks Off £20m Autumn Advertising Drive), at a monthly fee which undercuts BT’s charge for a phone line alone (£9 as oppose to £9.25).

The new digital “Starter” package includes access to digital TV, a phone line, free local calls, TV email, games, online shopping and online banking. The company is going for accessible pricing with the new packages: “[They] will allow thousands more to join the digital world,” said Philip Jansen, managing director of Telewest’s consumer division.

Telewest began with a target of winning 500,000 subscribers by the end of 2000, but following the problems during the summer, has said that this figure is more likely to be achieved by the end of the first quarter 2001 (see Set-Top Box Shortage Puts Telewest Three Months Behind).

Telewest Communications: 01483 750 900