I've got cable broadband with ntl and no TV or phone from them. Cable
appears
out of the ground into a little box and then up the wall into the loft
where
the cable modem is.

Ah, they've changed their policy, then. When I got the cable originally,
there was a policy that you had to have TV as well, but could go for the
minimum package. Otherwise you had to pay an additional fee, which was equal
to the cost of the cheapest TV package.

Christian.