View source for Telewest

{{Short description|British cable and telecommunications company}}
{{hatnote|Telewest is a disused trading name of [[Virgin Media]].}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox company
|  name   = Telewest
|  logo   = [[File:Telewest.png|Telewest Logo]]
|  type   = Public company
|  fate           = Merged with [[NTL Incorporated|NTL]] & rebranded as NTL:Telewest
|  successor      = [[Virgin Media]]
|  foundation     = 1984
|  defunct        = February 2007
|  location       = United Kingdom
|  key_people     =
|  industry       = Communications
|  products       = Cable television<br />[[ADSL|Broadband]]<br />Telephone<br />Mobile phone
|website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20060615210547/http://www.telewest.co.uk/ http://www.telewest.co.uk] (archive)
}}

'''Telewest''' (previously '''Telewest Broadband''' and '''Telewest Communications''') was a [[Cable Internet access|cable internet]], [[ADSL|broadband internet]], telephone supplier and cable television provider in the United Kingdom. It was listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]], and was also once a constituent of the [[FTSE 100 Index]].

In March 2006, Telewest merged with fellow cable telecom company [[NTL Incorporated|NTL]], and created "NTL:Telewest", which then also merged with [[Virgin Mobile]] and [[Virgin.net]] in June 2006, creating the United Kingdom's first "[[quadruple play]]" telecom provider, offering television, internet, landline phone and mobile phone services. In February 2007, NTL:Telewest was rebranded as [[Virgin Media]].

== History ==
Telewest originated in [[Croydon]] in 1984 under the name "Croydon Cable".<ref name=history>{{cite web | url=http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/About-us/Company-history/Telewest-history/ | title=Company history  | access-date=27 April 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231123522/http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/About-us/Company-history/Telewest-history/ | archive-date=31 December 2011 }}</ref> United Cable, of [[Denver]], acquired Croydon Cable in 1988. Franchises extended the company scope into [[Edinburgh]] and the southwest and southeast of England. In 1989, United Cable merged with United Artists Cable International.

In May 1991, United Artists announced a merged deal with its largest shareholder [[Tele-Communications Inc.]] (TCI), to form the largest cable operator in the United States; the deal was valued at $142.5m,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-08-fi-197-story.html | title=United Artists Entertainment Agrees to Merger | work=Los Angeles Times | date=8 June 1991 | access-date=8 June 2022 | archive-date=9 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609020804/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-08-fi-197-story.html | url-status=live }}</ref> and by June the deal was improved.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-06-08-9102200927-story.html | title=TCI Cools Opposition With Sweetened United Artists Bid | work=Chicago Tribune | date=8 June 1991 | access-date=8 June 2022 | archive-date=9 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609020803/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-06-08-9102200927-story.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The deal was finalised a week later on 8 June 1991, with TCI acquiring the remaining 46% of United Artists, to allow full control.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/08/business/company-news-tele-communications-in-united-artists-deal.html | title=Tele-Communications In United Artists Deal | work=The New York Times | date=8 June 1991|access-date=8 June 2022}}</ref>

TCI and [[US West]] announced a joint venture, and in 1992, the joint venture company became Telewest Communications, a combination of the names of both founding companies. In June 1995, Telewest merged with SBC CableComms, adding franchises in the Midlands and North West serving 1.3&nbsp;million homes. During this time Telewest founded a consortium called Cable Internet. This consisted of the major cable companies in the United Kingdom working together to provide a national Internet access service.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cascade+switches+spearhead+TeleWest's+cable+Internet+infrastructure%3B...-a018488368 | title=Cascade switches spearhead TeleWest's cable Internet infrastructure | quote=UK's largest cable operator selects Cascade multiservice switches for Frame Relay network to provide cable Internet services }}</ref>

In March 1998, Telewest announced a merger with General Cable,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_/ai_n14160469?ref=HadiZayifla.Com | title=Telewest in £649m merger | access-date=1 January 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> and acquired the outstanding interest in Birmingham Cable, adding a further 1.7&nbsp;million franchise homes in Yorkshire, west London and Birmingham.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_/ai_n14179644 | title=Telewest buys up NTL stake | access-date=1 January 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Telewest purchased the remaining 50% stake in [[Cable London]] from NTL in August 1999, adding 0.4&nbsp;million franchise homes in [[North London]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/the_company_file/430565.stm | title=Telewest buys Cable London | work=BBC News | access-date=1 January 2009 | date=26 August 1999 | archive-date=28 October 2002 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021028124020/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/the_company_file/430565.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>

Telewest merged with [[Flextech]] in April 2000,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/telewest-merger-with-flextech-would-challenge-murdoch-grip-740955.html | title=Telewest merger with Flextech would challenge Murdoch grip | work=The Independent | location=London | first=Bill | last=McIntosh | date=7 December 1999 | access-date=1 January 2009 | archive-date=14 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214041844/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/telewest-merger-with-flextech-would-challenge-murdoch-grip-740955.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> and in November, extended its cable network with the acquisition of [[Eurobell]], taking the total number of homes passed to 4.9&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6695/is_/ai_n26421670 | title=UK Group buys independent | access-date=1 January 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The company later became known as "Telewest Broadband" in a rebrand during 2001.<ref name=history /> Telewest experienced financial difficulties in subsequent years, owing to the debts incurred as a result of constructing its cable network and acquiring other cable companies and assets. Notably, the Eurobell acquisition had been funded by an equity based deal, with a [[Option (finance)|cash option]]; the poor performance of the company's stock meant that the cash option was favourable, and the company was not able to cover the call.

In September 2003, Telewest restructured itself, by swapping its [[unsecured debt]] for 98.5% of its shares.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3111380.stm | title=Telewest signs debt swap deal |work=BBC News  | date=15 September 2003 | access-date=1 January 2009}}</ref> The [[London Stock Exchange]] then delisted the consolidated shares. Major Telewest shareholders included Huff and [[Liberty Media]] (run by cable tycoon [[John Malone]]).

=== Takeover by NTL ===
[[File:NTLTelewest.svg|thumb|upright=1|Logo of the NTL:Telewest.]]
The takeover of Telewest by [[NTL Incorporated|NTL]] – a company of similar size, operating in different parts of the UK – was announced in October 2005, at a reported cost of $6bn.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=3 October 2005 |title=NTL seals $6bn Telewest takeover |language=en-GB |work=BBC News: Business |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4304008.stm |access-date=29 November 2023 |archive-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223102421/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4304008.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> At that time, Telewest had 8,400 staff in the UK.<ref name=":0" /> The combined company at first used the name NTL:Telewest, then changed its name to [[Virgin Media]] in 2007, following the acquisition of [[Virgin Mobile (UK)|Virgin Mobile]] the previous year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 February 2007 |title=Virgin Media to launch on February 8 |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/cable/a42351/virgin-media-to-launch-on-february-8/ |access-date=29 November 2023 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Nickelodeon dispute===
In late 2004, negotiations for renewed carriage of the [[Nickelodeon (British and Irish TV channel)|Nickelodeon]] channels (Nickelodeon, [[Nick Jr. (British and Irish TV channel)|Nick Jr.]] and [[Nicktoons (British and Irish TV channel)|Nicktoons]]) broke down; Telewest was unwilling to pay extra to keep the channels and preferred to drop them. Other [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]]-owned channels remained, such as [[MTV (British and Irish TV channel)|MTV]] and, the now former, [[Comedy Central (British TV channel)|Paramount Comedy 1]]. 
 
The reaction to this by customers was fairly large and many left the provider to rival [[Sky Ltd|Sky]], with Nickelodeon even encouraging the move.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}} Other customers were retained by Telewest offering them a free upgrade to the [[Disney Channel (British and Irish TV channel)|Disney Channel]] for periods of between one and three months, while others were reportedly offered upgrades to [[Sky Movies]] packages in an attempt to keep them from leaving.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}} The Nickelodeon channels returned to the Telewest platform on 12 February 2005 following successful renegotiation in Nickelodeon's favour.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/cable/a17703/telewest-pulls-plug-on-nickelodeon | title=Telewest pulls plug on Nickelodeon | work=Digital Spy | date=16 December 2004 | access-date=23 September 2020 | archive-date=9 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409231652/https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/cable/a17703/telewest-pulls-plug-on-nickelodeon/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/nickelodeon-channels-return-telewest-dispute/461662| title= Nickelodeon channels return to Telewest after dispute| work= Campaign Live| date= 15 February 2005| access-date= 23 September 2020| archive-date= 2 October 2020| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201002043549/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/nickelodeon-channels-return-telewest-dispute/461662| url-status= live}}</ref>

==Marketing strategies==
Telewest used a number of marketing strategies over the years, with a solid corporate identity not coming out until the end of 2005, to coincide with a "three for £30" offer. Until 2007, the company used the mascot Ellie West to promote its services. In November 2004, when ''[[The Incredibles]]'' was released, Telewest promoted Blueyonder internet services with branding from the film, including television adverts starring characters from the film.

== Operations ==
[[File:Telewest BL53FSK.jpg|thumb|right|A Telewest [[Opel Vivaro A|Vauxhall Vivaro]] van in [[Plymouth]], Devon (2006)]]
Telewest provided several residential services on its cable network, including:

=== Television ===
The majority of Telewest's television was digital. There were, however, areas that received an analogue service (Slough, Windsor and some areas in west London). Late in its independent existence, Telewest was in the process of converting the remaining analogue areas to digital, and it was expected that the analogue service would cease in 2007.

The digital television service offered a number of different products including true [[video on demand]], a PVR, and HDTV.
* '''On Demand''' (formerly known as Teleport) was the brand name for Telewest's video on demand (VOD) service. The on Demand service launched in 2005. In contrast to [[Sky (United Kingdom)|Sky Digital]] which, due to technical limitations, was able only to provide near VOD services, Teleport was a true VOD system. Users could search through a large library of programmes and watch them when they wanted to as part of their subscription.

This library included a free seven day watch again feature for television programmes produced by the [[BBC]], [[Channel 4]] and [[Living TV Group|Virgin Media Television]] (formerly known as Flextech). On Demand also offered movies that could be purchased and watched as many times as desired within a twenty four hour period. On Demand also offered HD content that worked in conjunction with the Telewest PVR (now renamed the V+).
* '''HDTV''' Telewest was the first United Kingdom broadcaster to offer [[HDTV]]. Telewest's HDTV service launched several months earlier than that of their chief competitor, Sky Digital.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/telewest-beats-sky-to-hd-launch/1032894.article | title=Telewest beats Sky to HD launch | magazine=Broadcast Now|access-date=8 June 2022 }}</ref>

Telewest's HD service initially comprised around 10–30&nbsp;hours per week of video on demand content, with no linear high definition television channels available, although the early trial services of BBC HD and ITV HD were carried for a brief time. In January 2006, Telewest started to broadcast HD documentaries such as ''[[The Blue Planet]]'', ''Planet Earth'' and ''Pride'' through their Teleport service, and later broadcast some movies in HD.

Telewest had an agreement with both [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] and the [[BBC]], and claimed to be the only provider in the United Kingdom to offer all the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] matches in HD. In reality, however, half of the final group stage matches were not available in HD. Telewest's HD service was provided exclusively through their TV Drive box. Sky launched their HD service in May 2006, initially charging a £300 setup fee and an additional £10/month for several subscription HD channels, including HD versions of Sky One, Sky Movies and Sky Sports. Telewest charged a £75 setup fee and £10/month, although no subscription HD channels were offered. Telewest's fees however included the TV Drive recording service, equivalent to the recording features of the Sky+ service.
* '''[[V+|TV Drive]]''' was the name of Telewest's [[Digital video recorder]] (PVR) service. The product incorporated a 160&nbsp;[[gigabyte]] [[hard drive]] as standard, meaning it was able to store around 80&nbsp;hours of recorded programmes. This was in contrast to BSkyB's [[Sky+]] service which offered only 80&nbsp;gigabytes (40&nbsp;hours). Similarly, Telewest's product incorporated three tuners while Sky's incorporated only two, meaning that Telewest's service could record two channels at the same time while watching a third. A few days ahead of the rebranding to [[Virgin Media]], TV Drive was renamed ''[[V+]]''.

=== Internet ===
Telewest's [[Cable Internet|internet]] service called Blueyonder, launched in March 2000 at a cost of £50/month for 512&nbsp;Kbit/s service,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/687899.stm | title=Telewest speeds internet | work=BBC News | date=23 March 2000 | access-date=6 August 2025 | archive-date=17 October 2002 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021017224139/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/687899.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> by August 2000 the price was reduced to £33/month in an effort to compete with BT’s £40/month ADSL service.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theregister.com/2000/08/07/telewest_cuts_cost_of_broadband/ | title=Telewest cuts cost of broadband Net access | work=The Register | date=7 August 2000 | access-date=6 August 2025 | archive-date=28 November 2004 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041128113428/https://www.theregister.com/2000/08/07/telewest_cuts_cost_of_broadband/ | url-status=live }}</ref> It used the cable infrastructure and was later expanded to offer speeds of 2&nbsp;[[Mbit/s]], 4&nbsp;Mbit/s and 10&nbsp;Mbit/s downstream.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Richardson |first=Tim |date=11 August 2005 |title=Telewest announces 10 meg broadband |url=https://www.theregister.com/2005/08/11/telewest_broadband/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526101501/https://www.theregister.com/2005/08/11/telewest_broadband/ |archive-date=26 May 2023 |access-date=2025-08-06 |work=The Register |language=en }}</ref> The broadband service was 'uncapped', meaning that its use was unlimited and no extra charges were payable related to the amount of data downloaded. The offering included free webspace where customers could create their own websites, which was discontinued for new customers after the rebranding to Virgin Media.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Webspace |url=https://my.virginmedia.com/customer-news/articles/about-webspace.html |access-date=1 August 2024 |website=my.virginmedia.com}}</ref>

In November 2006, after the merger with NTL, ''[[The Register]]'' reported that [[Bandwidth throttling|subscriber traffic management]] was being trialled in areas of northern England, and would be rolled out nationwide.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theregister.com/2006/11/21/blueyonder_gets_throttled/ | title=NTL/Telewest admits limiting unlimited web access | work=The Register | date=21 November 2006 | access-date=8 June 2022 | archive-date=9 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609020803/https://www.theregister.com/2006/11/21/blueyonder_gets_throttled/ | url-status=live }}</ref> [[Virgin Media|Blueyonder]] also provided dial-up internet services on a pay-as-you-go tariff, or a fixed monthly fee of £14.99 for unlimited use.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Mark |title=Telewests Dialup To Broadband Offer |url=https://www.ispreview.co.uk/news/EpAApFlVFuQgrYPlYJ.html |access-date=24 March 2025 |website=ISPreview UK |language=en}}</ref>

=== Telephone ===
* Talk Unlimited
* Talk Evenings and Weekends
* Talk Weekends
Provided landline calls for up to an hour for a fixed fee monthly inclusive of line rental. Telewest were the first{{when|date=February 2013}} landline company in the United Kingdom to offer 'unlimited' calls to landlines for a fixed monthly fee.
* Talk Mobile
Mobile calls with 25% reduction from standard rates.
* Talk International
Similar principle to Talk Mobile, with different reductions to different countries.
* Talk Anywhere
Packages including 200, 400, or 800 minutes of usage per month. Telewest were the first{{when|date=February 2013}} landline company to offer a package of this kind which included bundled minutes every month that could be carried over to the next. It included calls to mobiles, landlines (01 and 02; latterly also 03), businesses with 0845 and 0870 numbers, and specified international mobiles and landlines. It was available nationally, varying in price depending on the number of minutes.

== Broadcasting ==
{{Main|Living TV Group}}
Telewest owned [[Living TV Group|Flextech]], a content-provider with a number of wholly owned channels (including [[Bravo (UK TV channel)|Bravo]] and [[Sky Living|LIVINGtv]]). Additionally, Flextech had a 50% share in [[UKTV]] (with [[BBC Worldwide]]), and owned [[Bid Shopping|Sit-Up Ltd]], who operated [[Screenshop]], [[Bid (TV channel)|bid TV]], [[Price Drop|price-drop TV]] and [[Bid Plus|Speed Auction TV]].

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category}}

{{Virgin Media O2}}
{{CATV}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cable television companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Former internet service providers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Media and communications in the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Companies based in the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1984]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1984]]
[[Category:Technology companies disestablished in 2007]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2007 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange]]