NTL outsources staff to IBM

Thousands of jobs to go in cost savings bid

Cable TV firm NTL will outsource up to 3000 jobs to simplify customer service operations and create £250m in savings following its merger with rival Telewest.

The first 1,535 posts will be transferred to IBM from July, with the remaining jobs going by the end of 2007 and are part of an overall plan to cut 6000 staff.

The firm reported an operating profit of £4m for the first three months of the year and added 25,800 new subscribers.

NTL is in the midst of combining its operations with Telewest, and is also acquiring Virgin Mobile to create what it claims is the UK's first 'quad-play' media operator providing telephony, television,broadband and mobile services.