NTL Telewest Plans Network of Stores

The Financial Times has reported that NTL Telewest is to open a network of stores in 2007, when it is rebranded under the Virgin name next year.

Chief operating officer Neil Berkett said: “Retail is going to be an important focus. As you move to a superior visual proposition such as video on demand and high definition, people want to look at it and feel itwe’ll roll out stand-alone stores quite aggressively in 2007″.

The acquisition of Virgin Mobile has given NTL Telewest a network of 120 stores, mainly sited in Virgin Megastores and WH Smiths. However, this figure is set to increase as the company rolls out stand-alone stores in 2007.

NTL Telewest is hoping the store network will allow the company to easily explain its “quadruple play” offering of broadband, pay television, landline and mobile phone services. NTL Telewest also hopes the move will help it differentiate itself from rivals such as BT and British Sky Broadcasting, which do not have a retailing network.