NTL/Telewest merger is “great news for customers”

The long-awaited merger of NTL and Telewest, announced yesterday, will create a cable provider which is capable of competing more effectively in the broadband internet, TV and telephone marketplace and is “great news for customers”, says Philip Wilkinson of broadband comparison service Broadband Genie.

The merger of the UK’s two biggest cable companies will create a supplier with some five million customers and a turnover of £3.3bn.

Philip Wilkinson of Broadband Genie said:

“The coming together of NTL and Telewest is long overdue, and is great news for customers. The key point is that the two suppliers operate in different regions of the UK, so the merger will mean more – rather than less – competition because the combined company can now operate as a national supplier.

“NTL and Telewest can now work together to bring down prices and to deliver their triple-play – broadband, TV and telephone – services across the country, as well as the best of their new product line-ups, including High-Definition TV (HDTV), Video on Demand (VoD), and Voice-over-IP (VoIP).

“The economies of scale and national coverage should mean that the combined company can compete more effectively with BT and Sky in particular, and even take part in national/TV advertising. On the downside, there are bound to be problems in combining two complex organisational structures, and in making sure that technical, marketing, and operational processes continue to run smoothly during the transition.

“Expect consolidated product and price line-ups early next year, and maybe some hot deals even before that, as the combined entity starts to push hard at regaining lost market share from DSL operators and Sky.”

NTL currently offers 1Mbps broadband internet from just £9.99/month, while Telewest’s Blueyonder broadband internet offering starts at £14.99/month for a 512K service. Visit http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk to check the current products and prices from NTL and Telewest (Blueyonder).

Notes to editors

1.Broadband Genie allows users to compare broadband online, and is part of Genie Group.

2.Genie Group Ltd is a leading independent provider of internet comparison shopping services in the UK, and was set up in 2004 by Philip Wilkinson (co-founder of Kelkoo UK). Genie Group’s unique selling point is ‘the Genie’, which makes personal recommendations to internet shoppers based on ground-breaking, intelligent technology. This gives Genie Group the ability to provide an enjoyable and satisfying internet shopping experience, and deliver an unmatched quality of sales leads to our affiliate merchants. Genie Group launched its flagship broadband comparison service Broadband Genie in January 2005.

3.More information can be found at http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk. Please direct all media enquiries to Ciaron Dunne (ciaron.dunne@broadbandgenie.co.uk). Interviews with Philip Wilkinson can be arranged on request.