Bermuda Cablevision has been in the headlines recently with a strike, complaints about service and controversy over the axing of the popular children's channel Nickelodeon and the music lover's channel VH1.

Nickelodeon was replaced by a children's version of the Discovery channel, which has a number of shows in Spanish, and VH1 was replaced by a culinary channel.

The company has not answered calls from The Royal Gazette during the past few weeks, so reporter Stephen Breen took to the streets of Hamilton yesterday to ask Cablevision customers what they thought of the service.

Bill Smith, 29, of Hamilton Parish said he thought the company was doing a good job.

"I think it's really good, I like it. I have three children and there are a lot of good programmes for the children.

"It's better than the three Bermudian stations and I like the fact they have programmes in Spanish rather than just cater to English speakers.'' Stephen James, 29, of Warwick Parish suggested a possible improvement.

"It would be perfect if they could expand it more and get more channels to improve the choice.'' He was joined on his call for more choice by Devonshire's Wali Salaam, 28, who added that he thought the service was too expensive.

He said: "It needs to get more stations. The reception's pretty good, but we're paying too much money for what we're getting.'' Mr. Salaam also noted the company should have kept some of the programmes it had taken off.

"Some of the programmes they moved, they should have kept.'' Fellow Warwick resident, Keivon Simons, 12, said the service was "pretty good'' despite some of the disappointing treatment he had received.

"It's all right. I was a little upset when I ordered a wrestling programme recently and paid for it but it didn't arrive, but it is pretty good.'' However he added: "I don't like the Spanish channels.'' The Spanish channels also got the thumbs down from Hamilton Parish's Charles Williams.

The 26-year-old said: "I'm pretty happy. I like channels like HBO and ESPN.

It's pretty good value for money, although I don't really like the Spanish channels. I don't find them useful.'' Diane Marksl, 46, of Southampton, agreed with Mr. Williams but underlined the good service she received from the company this week.

"I got very good service yesterday when I asked for a cable to be moved to a new location. But they've taken off Nickelodeon and VH1 and put on some stupid Spanish channels, so I don't think it's good value for money.'' Wall Salaam Bill Smith Kelvon Simons Stephen James Charles Williams Diane Marksl TELEVISION TV