Improving all the time (ITV Digital)

Member Name: Alternum

Product:	ITV Digital
Date:	05/08/00 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy installation; not overwhelmed with channels; lots of extra interactive bits

Disadvantages: May still be teething problems with the service

Many people think that the service offered by Ondigital is not worth having at all, the reasons given being that Skydigital has more channels for the same price, some extra services, etc. etc. However, I have to disagree completely with these.

Ondigital is the first terrestrial digital broadcaster in the world. The technology is completely untried: every new service the company brings out is a step into the unknown. As such, there are bound to be teething problems; we had problems receiving all the channels at first due to some large trees but an aerial upgrade soon sorted it out - although if one is needed, it does cost £40.

As for all the extra channels, who can honestly say they really need 200 channels? You'd never stop channel-hopping. Ondigital offer about 40 channels, including all the usual suspects such as Sky 1, MTV and Cartoon Network, and a good range of premium channels too, including Sky movie and sport channels and the excellent Filmfour, for all of which prices are comparable with Sky. There should be enough for anyone to get on with - there really is no need for any more than this!

The company has launched lots of interactive things as well: digital teletext, games, email, pay-per-view films that you can buy over a phone line, and soon there'll be an internet box available. Admittedly Sky has most of these, and generally in superior forms as well, but Ondigital only has limited capacity; most of the stuff does its job admirably anyway.

The box is extremely easy to install and get running; most areas are now covered with the digital signals although you'll need to check. Customer services are generally polite and helpful, although occasionally (as always) you get some very daft people on the line.

All in all, this fledgling company and service competing against the might of the Murdoch empire is doing remarkably well. If you don't want a dish messing up your house, buy this; if you don'
t like Murdoch, buy this. Think about it realistically. How many of those 200 channels are you ever likely to watch? And where will the money come from to pay for supplying you with them all?

Ondigital is a good company which is trying hard, and improving its service all the time. Just try it and you might be surprised.

Summary: