Two months ago it was being reported that the much anticipated merger between NTL and Telewest could go ahead within weeks, this never happened. It's now being reported that, due to disagreements over a final price, the merger may have been delayed until the autumn (Sep/Oct).

Typically the information, which has been leaked to the media via unnamed sources, should be taken with a pinch of salt. Having said that, price is often a sticking point for major deals.

Mind you, customers of Telewest will no doubt be more concerned about what a merger will mean for the quality of service they receive. NTL isn’t exactly best known for providing Internet access services of the highest quality.