Homechoice at the Ideal Home Show...

From 3rd – 28th March, HomeChoice will be at the 2005 Daily Mail Ideal Home Show at Earls Court London, Stand 2E42.

Experience the best on-demand and digital TV channels, movies on-demand for your TV and super-fast broadband for your PC. Our stylish set-top box can be found in all four authentic show homes situated around the Mediterranean Piazza.

From the stunning Spanish Villa created by Linda Barker to the modern and innovative ‘Cave Home’ designed by interior experts Justin Ryan & Colin McAllister, HomeChoice fits the bill.

Come to Stand 2E42 to discover the world of HomeChoice. Four services all delivered down your BT phone line – it’s time to demand more

HomeChoice in new ad strategy

Video Networks has unveiled a raft of enhancements to its HomeChoice service, designed to boost alternative advertising opportunities for its on-demand platforms.
The changes will include the introduction of advertising slots to appear automatically before any on-demand programme and the ability for subscribers to press a button on remote controls to receive an e-mail combining details of programmes, products or services promoted on-screen.

Dean Hawkins, chief operating officer of Video Networks, said: “Video Networks has already announced plans to launch The Ad Chart following an extremely successful pilot with Lowe Partners, and these latest developments reinforce our commitment to creating alternative advertising opportunities on our platform.”

The on-demand intros are designed to replicate trailers and cross promotions viewers traditionally experienced before movies and linear television programmes.
In addition viewers will be hit with short, channel-specific messages when they tune in to HomeChoice services.

By Matt Chittock

Video Networks extends BBC on-demand deal

Video Networks, the UK broadband TV provider, has extended its deal with the BBC, allowing it to offer 'catch-up' programmes from the corporation's entire stable of digital channels.

The firm's HomeChoice service, alongside its linear channel line-up, includes an on-demand selection of programmes from the past seven days supplied by BBC1 and BBC2, Channel 4 and Chelsea TV.

This 'replay' portfolio has now been extended to include shows from BBC3, BBC4, Cbeebies and CBBC making for a total of some 100 hours of content available each week.

Little Britain (BBC3), Family Ties (BBC4), Tikkabilla (Cbeebies) and Blue Peter (CBBC) are among the programmes being added as part of the extended deal.

Roger Lynch, Video Networks chairman and ceo, said that this latest addition to HomeChoice demonstrated how the company was offering the "most advanced mass market on-demand service in the UK today".

The company said recently that it plans to make HomeChoice available to 2.4m households by this summer, but it has so far acquired only 15,000 subscribers.

by Jonathan Webdale C21 Media 2005

Internet Oscars

Annual awards for ISPs
Dinah Greek, Computeractive 25 Feb 2005

Wandadoo was this year's top of the pops for the judges of the internet's equivalent of the Oscars.

The internet service provider (ISP) scooped three top prizes at the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA)annual Awards.

It now boasts the titles of best national consumer ISP and best heavy consumer broadband provider for its 1Mb and 2MB connections. Its third prize was awarded for having the best portal that was deemed family friendly, with a lot of relevant UK content and services to help to protect children online.

Other consumer ISP winners included Tesco for the best unmetered dial-up award. The judges said the ISP offered "an idiot proof" way to get online at a competitive price.

Telewest Broadband won what could be termed as best supporting actor for its services offering speeds in excess of 2Mbps to consumers, such as gamers who need.

Two less well known ISPs won praise from the judges for their services. HomeChoice from Video Networks was commended for its "unique broadband service" which offers bundled digital TV.

Firefly Internet was awarded a commendation for its service that the judges felt "competed with the largest players in the industry".

For the second year running, Google won the best search engine award. BT meanwhile was honoured with the Internet Watch Foundation award for its work in developing online safety and its web address blocking initiative Cleanfeed.

The Internet, a personal TV recorder?

BBC News is reporting that the UK is the largest audience for pirated TV programs available on the Internet. Many mainstream programs such as 24, Six Feet Under, and The Simpsons air weeks or months before the series reach the UK, and it seems evident that people aren't willing to wait to see them.

It is estimated that a typical episode of 24 is downloaded by about 100,000 people globally, with up to 20,000 of those being in the UK. It has been reported that an episode can be available online within an hour and 20 minutes of being shown, and as such could potentially be downloaded and watched before it is aired on the west coast of the US.

The BBC itself ran a trial last year of a so called "Interactive Media Player (iMP)" based on a p2p model that allowed users to download TV programs for up to eight days after they had been shown. A more extensive trial is expected later in the year.

Could this then be the future of television? Rather than companies like NTL bundling Internet access with their television products, we may see them providing television services using their Internet access products. Using technologies such as multicasting, this could prove highly successful in reducing bandwidth strain on their networks, if trends continue. Indeed companies like HomeChoice already allow you to watch TV using VDSL which operates over a BT phone line. Perhaps they are missing an opportunity by not getting on to the US networks for access to air their programs at the same time as they are being shown in the US. It seems the only sure fire way to reduce TV piracy.

One advantage could be removal of the large TV set in corner as it's currently known, and replacing it with a computer screen that allows you to watch TV, send e-mail, surf the Net and talk to your friends on Instant Messenger, all at the same time -- a true interactive television.

By John at ADSLGUIDE.org

And the winner is ... ?

Posted by: AndyJenkins on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 08:00 AM

The Internet Service Provider Association's annual ISPAAwards took place last night in London.

First up, Best Sumo Consumer Broadband, for ISPs offering at least 2Mbps services. Blueyonder starting drinking the champagne after it took the prize up against the likes of FireFly Internet and HomeChoice, both of whom the ISPA felt worthy of a mention, and a commendation. Blueyonder won the award though both for the ISPs recent speed upgrades and their "superior service - for the more discerning consumer broadband user"

Next up, Best Heavy Consumer Broadband, an award for ISPs offering between 1 & 2Mbps products, was won by the French owned Wanadoo, not just for the variety of 1Mbps services on offer, but for playing a major role in the migration of users from dial-up services through to broadband. Wanadoo beat off competition from the likes of BTYahoo and PIPEX.

Lastly, in the consumer interest realm, Best Light Consumer Broadband, which (unsurprisingly) is the award for ISPs offering between 512Kbps and 1Mbps sees the relatively unknown NewNet step up to receive the shiny trophy. NewNet received the accolade not only for pricing a 512Kbps service with a good price point, but for offering "robust service with solid support".

Into the Business realm, Kingston Communications (Sumo), Eclipse Internet (Heavy) and ZenInternet (Light) are all celebrating after winning in their categories.

As traditional now with the ISPAs, quirky awards are also up for grabs, in the line of Internet Hero & Internet Villain. No surprises this year, see Stephen Timms MP don the cape and be crowned Internet Hero. Maybe Mr Timms will be able to use his new found power to help defeat the Internet Villain then, The European Union - "winning" the Villain award for "threatening the ‘Country of Origin' principle, which has encouraged e-commerce across the EU, and for the Draft Framework Decision on Data Retention.". Oh, is that all ?

The full list of Awards can be seen here.

Suggestions for New Content on Homechoice!

We decided it was time to setup a forum, where Homechoice Users can suggest new content. According to customer services, people asked for MTV and with in a couple of months it was available, so with this in mind, lets all pool our suggestions and get more of
what we want on Homechoice TV.

Click here to access the forum to post your suggestions.

Homechoice Marketing Department are aware this site exists, and will be keeping an eye on it! ;)

February Homechoice Offers

The Homechoice product / price offering has changed.

512Kb has been withdrawn as a product.

1Mb Broadband costs £27.50 (£19.99 for the first 3 months)
2Mb is £35
4Mb is £45.

Sign up today for the best value Broadband solution now!

New HomeChoice areas

During March HomeChoice is rolling out to areas near the following exchanges:

* Woolwich
* Kingsland Green
* Leytonstone
* Poplar
* Mile End

See the Map to see if your area is in our "foot print"

HomeChoice VoD Hits 15,000 Subs, Reach Doubles to 2.4m

Video Networks Ltd (VNL) has announced that it's broadband and Video on Demand (VoD) service, HomeChoice, now has 15,000 subscribers, since its relaunch in last September.

Eight in ten of their customers have also signed up to the company’s ‘triple play’ package that consists of broadband-delivered TV, broadband and voice calls.

It's also taking this opportunity to announce that it's going to be doubling the number of homes it can reach to 2.4 million in London and the Stevenage area, up from 1.2 million.

The VoD component of HomeChoice lets subscribers choose from over 1,000 movies, over 3000 music videos and hundreds of hit TV series, all available to watch exactly when you want.

“The concept of broadband delivered TV and VoD is very new to the entertainment-buying public and to already have 20 per cent market share of new DSL subscribers in our coverage area so soon after our launch is a great achievement. This gives us the confidence to significantly expand our network”, said Roger Lynch, Chairman and CEO VNL Ltd.

VNL initially made inroads into launching its phase 2 footprint in December 2004 when it enabled five new exchanges, including Stevenage - its first exchange outside of the M25. By 'unbundling' the exchange, called LLU (Local Loop Unbundling) in the trade, Homechoice is able to provide customers with a 6.5Mbit connection. 2.5Mb are used for TV and VoD delivery, and up to 4Mbit for Internet connection.

The company’s major marketing push for the re-launched HomeChoice service began in September 2004. During Q4 of 2004, VNL was responsible for one in five new DSL net additions in its initial launch footprint of 1.2 million homes.

The company has continued to build on what it offer its subscribers. In August last year, HomeChoice signed a retail deal with BSkyB enabling its subscribers to watch Sky Sports and selected Sky Movies channels on the service. It has also added telephony to its offering, and is about to launch a music download service that will allow HomeChoice customers to buy downloadable music tracks as they appear on screen. It also plans to double the speed of its broadband service from February, at no extra cost: 512Kbps will raise to 1Mb, 1Mbps to 2Mbps, and 2Mbps to 4Mbps.

HomeChoice

Christian Harris

Watchdog calls for web policing debate

Lord Currie, chairman of the media regulator Ofcom, is leading calls for a debate on how the internet should be regulated. In a speech last week, he told an industry body that the current system of self-regulation "may not always be the answer".

Speaking to the Internet Service Providers' Association, Lord Currie stressed he was not seeking a new regulatory role for Ofcom. The internet is not part of the watchdog's remit. However, his remarks will fuel speculation that the Government could appoint a formal body to oversee the internet.

Lord Currie said the need to address the issue of internet regulation had been strengthened by the rapid increase in television broadcasting via broadband internet. Homechoice, which offers a video-on-demand service, launched a major marketing drive last summer. BT is developing a similar service.

"There will be a balance to strike between protecting consumers from the additional risks of the online world and not underestimating their ability to understand and assess these risks for themselves," he said.

Regulation could be needed to stop children watching harmful content, said Lord Currie, and also to ensure copyright rules were not infringed.

Internet companies say that computer users have greater control over what they watch than television viewers. They can, for example, install security chips preventing children from viewing unsuitable content.

A spokesman for the Internet Service Providers' Association said: "Any regulation should be applied to content providers, not the ISPs."

By Tim Webb

HomeChoice reaches 15,000 subscribers

Homechoice now has a total of 15,000 subscribers, parent company Video Networks announced Friday.

The VOD service was relaunched last September with a major marketing push aimed at its 1.2 million potential homes. Since the launch of an accompanying telephone package in November, an encouraging 85% of new signups have opted for all three services - digital TV, broadband internet and phone.

"We are very pleased with the initial take up of the HomeChoice service," said Roger Lynch, Chairman of Video Networks. "The concept of broadband delivered TV and video-on-demand is very new to the entertainment buying public and to already have 20% market share of new DSL subscribers in our coverage area so soon after our launch is a great achievement."

The company now plans to double its footprint by this summer, taking its potential subscriber base to 2.4 million homes. The first new homes will come online in March 2005, with the remainder being passed by June 2005.

Saturday, January 29 2005, 00:55 GMT -- by Neil Wilkes

HomeChoice doubles broadband speeds

Video Networks is doubling speeds for its HomeChoice service up to a maximum of 4Mb at no extra cost.

The broadband entertainment outfit sells video-on-demand (VOD), home phone and net access through digital TV, using local loop unbundling (LLU) to deliver the service. Video Networks has installed kit in BT exchanges and and is capable of piping broadband direct to 1.4m homes across London and Stevenage. It declines to reveal subscriber numbers.

Video Networks boss Roger Lynch said the speed hike shows "the strength of our network and our commitment to the internet market in addition to our digital TV, video-on-demand and telephony services."

Published Tuesday 25th January 2005 12:44 GMT

HomeChoice and Sky Do a Deal on Sport and Films

VideoNetwork's HomeChoice platform now carries BSkyB's Sky Sports and Movies channels. Subscribers can now watch Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and Xtra, plus Sky Movies Screens 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.

This takes HomeChoices' selection up to 80 digital TV and on-demand film, music and entertainment channels.

Roger Lynch, Chairman and CEO, Video Networks Ltd said: "The addition of these channels is great news for HomeChoice subscribers. Over the past 15 years Sky has helped shape the UK’s TV sector. Its sports channels offer fantastic coverage of events that are close to the hearts of all UK sports fans. Furthermore, the addition of Sky Movies means even more choice for our customers. There are currently over 1000 films at their fingertips via our on-demand film channels Film 1st and Movies Now. Factor in the movies delivered via Sky’s channels and the HomeChoice platform offers outstanding choice for film fans."

Martin Goswami, Sky’s Commercial Director, said: "We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Video Networks that enables Sky to retail its services on the HomeChoice platform. This is a new initiative for Sky and a further broadening of the distribution of our channels."

Fraser Lovatt