NTL COMMUNICATIONS CORP
POS EX, 1999-05-05
CABLE & OTHER PAY TELEVISION SERVICES
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<PAGE>   1
 
   
      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 5, 1999
    
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-71279
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549
                           -------------------------
 
   
                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
    
                                       TO
 
                                    FORM S-4
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           -------------------------
 
                            NTL COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                          <C>                          <C>
 
            DELAWARE                     4899                      52-1822078
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION (PRIMARY STANDARD INDUSTRIAL       (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
              OF             CLASSIFICATION CODE NUMBER)     IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
      INCORPORATION OR           110 EAST 59TH STREET
         ORGANIZATION)         NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
                                    (212) 906-8440
            (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
                AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                        <C>
        RICHARD J. LUBASCH, ESQ.                           COPY TO:
         SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT,                     THOMAS H. KENNEDY, ESQ.
      GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY        SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP
            NTL INCORPORATED                           919 THIRD AVENUE
          110 EAST 59TH STREET                     NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
        NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022                        (212) 735-3000
             (212) 906-8440
 (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND
             TELEPHONE NUMBER,
    INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR
                  SERVICE)
</TABLE>
 
                           -------------------------
 
     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:   As soon
as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
 
     If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box. [ ]
 
     If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
 
   
     If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [X]
    
                           -------------------------
 
     THE REGISTRANT AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS
MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A
FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2
 
   
                                EXPLANATORY NOTE
    
 
   
     This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form
S-4 (File No. 333-71279) of NTL Communications Corp. is being filed pursuant to
Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the sole purpose
of filing additional exhibits to the registration statement and, accordingly,
shall become effective immediately upon filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. After giving effect to this amendment, the registration statement
consists of the registration statement as filed with the commission at the time
it became effective on April 29, 1999, as supplemented by this amendment.
    
<PAGE>   3
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 20.   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
     As permitted by Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
"DGCL"), the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
eliminates a director's personal liability for monetary damages to the Company
and its stockholders arising from a breach or alleged breach of a director's
fiduciary duty except for liability under Section 174 of the DGCL or liability
for a breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its
stockholders, for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or for any transaction in
which the director derived an improper personal benefit. The effect of this
provision in the certificate of incorporation is to eliminate the rights of the
Company and its stockholders (through stockholders, derivative suits on behalf
of the Company) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director (including breaches resulting from negligent or
grossly negligent behavior) except in the situations described above.
 
     The Company's Restated By-laws provide that directors and officers of the
Company shall be indemnified against liabilities arising from their service as
directors and officers to the full extent permitted by law. Section 145 of the
DGCL empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the
fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation
or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, against expenses (including attorney's fees), judgments, fines
and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in
a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests
of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
 
     Section 145 also empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or
is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action or suit by or in the fight of the corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the
capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorney's fees)
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or
settlement of such action or suit if he acted under similar standards, except
that no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as
to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation
unless, and only to the extent that, the Court of Chancery or the court in which
such action was brought shall determine that despite the adjudication of
liability such person
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   4
 
is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnify for such expenses which the court
shall deem proper.
 
     Section 145 further provides that to the extent that a director or officer
of a corporation has been successful in the defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to above or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees)
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith; that
indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and that the
corporation is empowered to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a
director or officer of the corporation against any liability asserted against
him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as
such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him
against such liabilities under Section 145.
 
     The Company has entered into a director and officer indemnity agreement
("Indemnity Agreement") with each officer and director of the Company (an
"Indemnitee"). Under the bylaws and these Indemnity Agreements, the Company must
indemnify an Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL for losses
and expenses incurred in connection with actions in which the indemnitee is
involved by reason of having been a director or officer of the Company. The
Company is also obligated to advance expenses an indemnitee may incur in
connection with such actions before any resolution of the action.
 
ITEM 21.   EXHIBITS
 
     The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<C>       <S>
    1.1   Purchase Agreement, dated October 26, 1998, by and among the
          Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Chase
          Securities Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
          Corporation and Goldman, Sachs & Co., with respect to the
          11 1/2% Notes
    1.2   Purchase Agreement, dated October 30, 1998, by and among the
          Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Chase
          Securities Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
          Corporation and Goldman, Sachs & Co., with respect to the
          12 3/8% Notes
    3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company(13)
    3.1(a) Certificate of Ownership and Merger, dated as of March 26,
          1997(6)
    3.2   Restated By-laws of the Company(1)
    4.1   Indenture, dated as of November 2, 1998, by and between the
          Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, with
          respect to the 11 1/2% Notes(13)
    4.2   Indenture, dated as of November 6, 1998, by and between the
          Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, with
          respect to the 12 3/8% Notes(13)
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   5
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<C>       <S>
    4.3   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 2, 1998,
          by and among the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co.
          Incorporated, Chase Securities Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin &
          Jenrette Securities Corporation and Goldman, Sachs & Co.
          with respect to the 11 1/2% Notes(13)
    4.4   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 6, 1998,
          by and among the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co.
          Incorporated, Chase Securities Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin &
          Jenrette Securities Corporation and Goldman, Sachs & Co.
          with respect to the 12 3/8% Notes(13)
    4.5   Indenture, dated as of February 12, 1997, by and between the
          Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, with
          respect to the 10% Notes(10)
    4.6   Certificate of Designation, dated February 12, 1997, with
          respect to the Redeemable Preferred Stock(10)
    4.7   Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 12, 1997, by
          and among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
          Securities Corporation, Chase Securities Inc. and Merrill
          Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated with respect to
          the 10% Notes(10)
    4.8   Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 12, 1997, by
          and among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
          Securities Corporation, Chase Securities Inc. and Merrill
          Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated with respect to
          the Redeemable Preferred Stock(10)
    4.9   Form of 11 1/2% New Notes (included in Exhibit 4.1)
    4.10  Form of 12 3/8% New Notes (included in Exhibit 4.2)
    4.11  Indenture, dated as of June 12, 1996, by and between the
          Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the
          7% Convertible Notes(8)
    4.12  Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 12, 1996, by and
          among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
          Securities Corporation and Salomon Brothers Inc, with
          respect to the 7% Convertible Notes(8)
    4.13  Indenture, dated as of January 30, 1996, by and among the
          Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the
          11 1/2% Notes(7)
    4.14  Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 30, 1996, by
          and among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
          Securities Corporation, Salomon Brothers Inc and Chase
          Securities, Inc., with respect to the 11 1/2% Notes(7)
    4.15  Indenture, dated as of April 20, 1995, by and among the
          Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the
          12 3/4% Notes(2)
    4.16  First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 22, 1996,
          by and among the Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee with
          respect to the Indenture included as Exhibit 4.19(7)
    4.17  Registration Agreement, dated April 13, 1995 by and among
          the Company and Salomon Brothers Inc, Donaldson, Lufkin &
          Jenrette Securities Corporation and Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
          with respect to the 12 3/4% Notes(2)
    4.18  Indenture, dated as of April 20, 1995, by and among the
          Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the
          7 1/4% Convertible Notes(3)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   6
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<C>       <S>
    4.19  Registration Agreement, dated April 12, 1995, by and among
          the Company and Salomon Brothers Inc, Donaldson, Lufkin &
          Jenrette Securities Corporation and Goldman Sachs & Co.,
          with respect to the 7 1/4% Convertible Notes(3)
    4.20  Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1993, by and among the
          Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee with respect to the
          10 7/8% Senior Notes(4)
    4.21  First Supplemental Indenture, dated January 23, 1996, by and
          among the Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with
          respect to the Indenture included as Exhibit 4.24(7)
    4.22  Rights Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1993, between the
          Company and Continental Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights
          Agent(1)
    4.23  Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1995, between Comcast
          U.K. Cable Partners Limited and Bank of Montreal Trust
          Company, as Trustee, with respect to the 11.20% Senior
          Discount Debentures Due 2007 of Comcast U.K. Cable Partners
          Limited.(12)
    5.1   Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as to
          the legality of the notes being registered hereby
   10.1   Compensation Plan Agreements, as amended and restated
          effective June 3, 1997(11)
   10.2   Form of Director and Officer Indemnity Agreement (together
          with a schedule of executed Indemnity Agreements)(2)
   11.1   Statement of computation of per share earnings(11)
   12.1   Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
          Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
   21.1   Subsidiaries of the Company(11)
   23.1   Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP*
   23.2   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP*
   23.3   Consent of Deloitte & Touche -- Birmingham*
   23.4   Consent of Deloitte & Touche -- London*
   23.5   Consent of Deloitte & Touche -- Comtel*
   23.6   Consent of Coopers & Lybrand -- ComTel*
   23.7   Consent of KPMG -- Diamond*
   23.8   Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
          (included in Exhibit 5.1)
   24.1   Powers of Attorney (included in the signature page to this
          Registration Statement)
   25.1   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee with respect to
          Indenture included as Exhibit 4.1
   25.2   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee with respect to
          Indenture included as Exhibit 4.2
   99.1   Form of Letter of Transmittal in respect of the Notes*
   99.2   Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery*
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   7
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<C>       <S>
   99.3   Form of Letter to Client*
   99.4   Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Trust Companies and
          others Nominees*
   99.5   Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated July 21, 1987,
          issued to British Cable Services Limited (now held by
          CableTel Surrey and Hampshire Limited) for the area of West
          Surrey and East Hampshire, England(5)
   99.6   Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow)
          for the area of Inverclyde, Scotland(5)
   99.7   Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow)
          for the area of Bearsden and Milngavie, Scotland(5)
   99.8   Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Newport Cablevision Limited (renamed
          CableTel Newport) for the area of Newport, Wales(5)
   99.9   Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated July 10, 1984,
          issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for
          the area of North Glasgow and Clydebank, Strathclyde,
          Scotland(5)
   99.10  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow)
          for the area of Greater Glasgow, Scotland(5)
   99.11  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow)
          for the area of Paisley and Renfrew, Scotland(5)
   99.12  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Cable and Satellite Television Holdings Ltd
          (renamed CableTel West Glamorgan Limited) for the area of
          West Glamorgan, Wales(5)
   99.13  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to British Cable Services Limited for the area
          of Cardiff and Penarth, Wales (now held by CableTel Cardiff
          Limited)(5)
   99.14  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Kirklees Cable (renamed CableTel Kirklees)
          for the area of Huddersfield and Dewsbury, West Yorkshire,
          England(5)
   99.15  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to CableVision Communications Company of
          Hertfordshire Ltd (renamed CableTel Hertfordshire Limited)
          for the area of Broxbourne and East Hertfordshire,
          England(5)
   99.16  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to CableVision Communications Company Ltd
          (renamed CableTel Central Hertfordshire Limited) for the
          area of Central Hertfordshire, England(5)
   99.17  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated March 26, 1990,
          issued to CableVision Bedfordshire Limited (renamed CableTel
          Bedfordshire Ltd.) for the area of Luton and South
          Bedfordshire(5)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>   8
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<C>       <S>
   99.18  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to CableVision North Bedfordshire Ltd (renamed
          CableTel North Bedfordshire Ltd.) for the area of North
          Bedfordshire, England(5)
   99.19  Local Delivery Service License, dated October 2, 1995,
          issued to CableTel Northern Ireland Limited for Northern
          Ireland(5)
   99.20  Local Delivery Service License, dated December 6, 1995,
          issued to CableTel South Wales Limited for Glamorgan and
          Gwent, Wales(5)
   99.21  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 13, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Pembroke Dock, Dyfed, Wales
          (now held by Metro South Wales Limited)(5)
   99.22  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Camarthen, Wales (now held
          by Metro South Wales Limited)(5)
   99.23  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Milford Haven, Wales (now
          held by Metro South Wales Limited)(5)
   99.24  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Cwmgors (Amman Valley), West
          Glamorgan, Wales(5)
   99.25  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Ammanford, West Glamorgan,
          Wales(5)
   99.26  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Brecon, Gwent, Wales(5)
   99.27  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Haverfordwest, Preseli,
          Wales(5)
   99.28  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Neyland, Preseli, Wales (now
          held by Metro South Wales Limited)(5)
   99.29  License, dated January 11, 1991, issued to Cablevision
          Communications Company of Hertfordshire Ltd (renamed
          CableTel Hertfordshire Limited) for the Hertford, Cheshunt
          and Ware (Lea Valley) cable franchise, England(5)
   99.30  License, dated December 8, 1990, issued to Cablevision
          Communications Company Limited for Central Hertfordshire
          (renamed CableTel Central Hertfordshire Limited), England(5)
   99.31  License, dated August 23, 1989, issued to Cablevision
          Bedfordshire Limited for Bedford and surrounding areas,
          England(5)
   99.32  License, dated January 9, 1991, issued to Cablevision North
          Bedfordshire Ltd for North Bedfordshire, England(5)
   99.33  License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde Cablevision
          (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Inverclyde Cable
          Franchise, Scotland(5)
   99.34  License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde Cablevision
          (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Bearsden and Milngavie
          Cable Franchise, Scotland(5)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>   9
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<C>       <S>
   99.35  License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde Cablevision
          (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Paisley and Renfrew Cable
          Franchise, Scotland(5)
   99.36  License, dated June 7, 1985, issued to Clyde Cablevision Ltd
          (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for North West Glasgow and
          Clydebank, Scotland(5)
   99.37  License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde Cablevision
          (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Greater Glasgow cable
          franchise, Scotland(5)
   99.38  License, dated October 13, 1993, issued to Insight
          Communications Cardiff Limited (renamed CableTel Cardiff
          Limited) for Cardiff, Wales(5)
   99.39  License, dated January 22, 1991, issued to Newport
          Cablevision Limited (renamed CableTel Newport), for Newport
          Cable franchise Wales(5)
   99.40  License, dated May 18, 1990, issued to Cable and Satellite
          Television Holdings Limited (renamed CableTel West
          Glamorgan) for West Glamorgan, Wales(5)
   99.41  License, dated December 20, 1990, issued to Kirklees Cable
          (renamed CableTel Kirklees) for the Huddersfield and
          Dewsbury cable franchise, England(5)
   99.42  License, dated October 13, 1993, issued to Insight
          Communications Guildford Limited (renamed CableTel Surrey
          and Hampshire Limited) for the West Surrey/East Hampshire
          (Guildford) Cable Franchise, England(5)
   99.43  License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to CableTel
          Bedfordshire Ltd. for the area of South Bedfordshire,
          England(5)
   99.44  License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to CableTel North
          Bedfordshire Ltd. for the area of Bedford, England(5)
   99.45  License, dated January 20, 1992, issued to Cable and
          Satellite Television Holdings Limited (renamed CableTel West
          Glamorgan Limited) for the area of Swansea, Neath and Port
          Talbot, Wales(5)
   99.46  License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to Cabletel
          Hertfordshire Ltd. for the area of Hertford, Cheshunt and
          Ware (Lea Valley), England(5)
   99.47  License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to Cabletel Central
          Hertfordshire Ltd. for the area of Central Hertfordshire,
          England(5)
   99.48  License, dated July 21, 1995, issued to CableTel Kirklees(5)
   99.49  License, dated June 8, 1995, issued to CableTel Bedfordshire
          Ltd.(5)
   99.50  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Neyland, Wales(5)
   99.51  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Cwmgors, Wales(5)
   99.52  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Ammanford, Wales(5)
   99.53  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Carmarthen, Wales(5)
   99.54  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Haverfordwest, Wales(5)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-7
<PAGE>   10
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<C>       <S>
   99.55  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Pembroke Dock, Wales(5)
   99.56  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Milford Haven, Wales(5)
   99.57  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to CableTel South
          Wales Limited for the area of Glamorgan and Gwent, Wales(5)
   99.58  License, dated January 26, 1996, issued to Cabletel South
          Wales Limited, for part of the Glamorgan area(5)
   99.59  License, dated November 3, 1997, issued to NTL (UK) Group,
          Inc. for the Provision of Radio Fixed Access Operator
          Services(10)
   99.60  Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation; Undertaking of Comcast
          Corporation; Undertaking of Warburg, Pincus Investors,
          L.P.(11)
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
   
   *  Previously filed.
    
 (1) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-1, File No. 33-63570.
 (2) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-4, File No. 33-92794.
 (3) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-3, File No. 33-92792.
 (4) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-1, File No. 33-63572.
 (5) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Form 8-K, filed with the
     Commission on March 20, 1996.
 (6) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Form 8-K, filed with the
     Commission on March 26, 1997.
 (7) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-4, File No. 333-1010.
 (8) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-3, File No. 333-07879.
 (9) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-3, File No. 333-16751.
(10) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
     filed on March 28, 1997.
(11) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
     filed with the Commission on March 30, 1998.
(12) Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-3, File
     No. 33-96932, of Comcast U.K. Cable Partners Limited.
(13) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
     filed with the Commission on March 31, 1999.
 
                                      II-8
<PAGE>   11
 
     ITEM 22.   UNDERTAKINGS
 
     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee
benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for
information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to
Item 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this form, within one business day of receipt of
such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or
other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents
filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the
date of responding to the request.
 
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a
post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the
company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and
included in the registration statement when it became effective.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the
purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection
(a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and
regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
 
                                      II-9
<PAGE>   12
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City
of New York, State of New York, on the 4th day of May, 1999.
    
                                          NTL Communications Corp.
 
   
                                          By     /s/ RICHARD J. LUBASCH
    
                                            ------------------------------------
                                             Richard J. Lubasch
                                             Senior Vice President --
   
                                             General Counsel and Secretary
    
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             SIGNATURE                              TITLE                       DATE
             ---------                              -----                       ----
<S>                                  <C>                                    <C>
*                                    Chairman of the Board, Treasurer       May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------    and Director
George S. Blumenthal
 
*                                    President, Chief Executive and         May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------    Financial Officer and Director
J. Barclay Knapp
 
*                                    Vice President -- Controller           May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------
Gregg Gorelick
 
*                                    Director                               May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------
Sidney R. Knafel
 
*                                    Director                               May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------
Ted H. McCourtney
 
*                                    Director                               May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------
Del Mintz
 
*                                    Director                               May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------
Alan J. Patricof
 
*                                    Director                               May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------
Warren Potash
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-10
<PAGE>   13
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             SIGNATURE                              TITLE                       DATE
             ---------                              -----                       ----
<S>                                  <C>                                    <C>
*                                    Director                               May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------
Michael S. Willner
 
*                                    Director                               May 4, 1999
- -----------------------------------
Robert T. Goad
</TABLE>
    
 
   
     * Richard J. Lubasch, by signing his name hereto, does hereby execute this
registration statement on behalf of the officers and directors of the registrant
indicated above by asterisks, pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by
the officers and directors and filed as exhibits to the registration statement.
    
 
   
                                          By:    /s/ RICHARD J. LUBASCH
    
                                            ------------------------------------
   
                                              Richard J. Lubasch
    
   
                                              Attorney-in-fact
    
 
                                      II-11
<PAGE>   14
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<C>       <S>
    1.1   Purchase Agreement, dated October 26, 1998, by and among the
          Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Chase
          Securities Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
          Corporation and Goldman, Sachs & Co., with respect to the
          11 1/2% Notes
 
    1.2   Purchase Agreement, dated October 30, 1998, by and among the
          Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Chase
          Securities Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
          Corporation and Goldman, Sachs & Co., with respect to the
          12 3/8% Notes
    3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company(13)
    3.1(a) Certificate of Ownership and Merger, dated as of March 26,
          1997(6)
    3.2   Restated By-laws of the Company(1)
    4.1   Indenture, dated as of November 2, 1998, by and between the
          Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, with
          respect to the 11 1/2% Notes(13)
    4.2   Indenture, dated as of November 6, 1998, by and between the
          Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, with
          respect to the 12 3/8% Notes(13)
    4.3   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 2, 1998,
          by and among the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co.
          Incorporated, Chase Securities Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin &
          Jenrette Securities Corporation and Goldman, Sachs & Co.
          with respect to the 11 1/2% Notes(13)
    4.4   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 6, 1998,
          by and among the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co.
          Incorporated, Chase Securities Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin &
          Jenrette Securities Corporation and Goldman, Sachs & Co.
          with respect to the 12 3/8% Notes(13)
    4.5   Indenture, dated as of February 12, 1997, by and between the
          Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, with
          respect to the 10% Notes(10)
    4.6   Certificate of Designation, dated February 12, 1997, with
          respect to the Redeemable Preferred Stock(10)
    4.7   Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 12, 1997, by
          and among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
          Securities Corporation, Chase Securities Inc. and Merrill
          Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated with respect to
          the 10% Notes(10)
    4.8   Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 12, 1997, by
          and among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
          Securities Corporation, Chase Securities Inc. and Merrill
          Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated with respect to
          the Redeemable Preferred Stock(10)
    4.9   Form of 11 1/2% New Notes (included in Exhibit 4.1)
    4.10  Form of 12 3/8% New Notes (included in Exhibit 4.2)
    4.11  Indenture, dated as of June 12, 1996, by and between the
          Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the
          7% Convertible Notes(8)
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>   15
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<C>       <S>
    4.12  Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 12, 1996, by and
          among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
          Securities Corporation and Salomon Brothers Inc, with
          respect to the 7% Convertible Notes(8)
    4.13  Indenture, dated as of January 30, 1996, by and among the
          Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the
          11 1/2% Notes(7)
    4.14  Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 30, 1996, by
          and among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
          Securities Corporation, Salomon Brothers Inc and Chase
          Securities, Inc., with respect to the 11 1/2% Notes(7)
    4.15  Indenture, dated as of April 20, 1995, by and among the
          Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the
          12 3/4% Notes(2)
    4.16  First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 22, 1996,
          by and among the Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee with
          respect to the Indenture included as Exhibit 4.19(7)
    4.17  Registration Agreement, dated April 13, 1995 by and among
          the Company and Salomon Brothers Inc, Donaldson, Lufkin &
          Jenrette Securities Corporation and Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
          with respect to the 12 3/4% Notes(2)
    4.18  Indenture, dated as of April 20, 1995, by and among the
          Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the
          7 1/4% Convertible Notes(3)
    4.19  Registration Agreement, dated April 12, 1995, by and among
          the Company and Salomon Brothers Inc, Donaldson, Lufkin &
          Jenrette Securities Corporation and Goldman Sachs & Co.,
          with respect to the 7 1/4% Convertible Notes(3)
    4.20  Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1993, by and among the
          Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee with respect to the
          10 7/8% Senior Notes(4)
    4.21  First Supplemental Indenture, dated January 23, 1996, by and
          among the Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with
          respect to the Indenture included as Exhibit 4.24(7)
    4.22  Rights Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1993, between the
          Company and Continental Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights
          Agent(1)
    4.23  Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1995, between Comcast
          U.K. Cable Partners Limited and Bank of Montreal Trust
          Company, as Trustee, with respect to the 11.20% Senior
          Discount Debentures Due 2007 of Comcast U.K. Cable Partners
          Limited.(12)
    5.1   Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as to
          the legality of the notes being registered hereby
   10.1   Compensation Plan Agreements, as amended and restated
          effective June 3, 1997(11)
   10.2   Form of Director and Officer Indemnity Agreement (together
          with a schedule of executed Indemnity Agreements)(2)
   11.1   Statement of computation of per share earnings(11)
   12.1   Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
          Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
   21.1   Subsidiaries of the Company(11)
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>   16
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<C>       <S>
   23.1   Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP*
   23.2   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP*
   23.3   Consent of Deloitte & Touche -- Birmingham*
   23.4   Consent of Deloitte & Touche -- London*
   23.5   Consent of Deloitte & Touche -- Comtel*
   23.6   Consent of Coopers & Lybrand -- ComTel*
   23.7   Consent of KPMG -- Diamond*
   23.8   Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
          (included in Exhibit 5.1)
   24.1   Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to this
          Registration Statement)
   25.1   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee with respect to
          Indenture included as Exhibit 4.1
   25.2   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee with respect to
          Indenture included as Exhibit 4.2
   99.1   Form of Letter of Transmittal in respect of the Notes*
   99.2   Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery*
   99.3   Form of Letter to Client*
   99.4   Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Trust Companies and
          others Nominees*
   99.5   Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated July 21, 1987,
          issued to British Cable Services Limited (now held by
          CableTel Surrey and Hampshire Limited) for the area of West
          Surrey and East Hampshire, England(5)
   99.6   Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow)
          for the area of Inverclyde, Scotland(5)
   99.7   Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow)
          for the area of Bearsden and Milngavie, Scotland(5)
   99.8   Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Newport Cablevision Limited (renamed
          CableTel Newport) for the area of Newport, Wales(5)
   99.9   Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated July 10, 1984,
          issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for
          the area of North Glasgow and Clydebank, Strathclyde,
          Scotland(5)
   99.10  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow)
          for the area of Greater Glasgow, Scotland(5)
   99.11  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow)
          for the area of Paisley and Renfrew, Scotland(5)
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>   17
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<C>       <S>
   99.12  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Cable and Satellite Television Holdings Ltd
          (renamed CableTel West Glamorgan Limited) for the area of
          West Glamorgan, Wales(5)
   99.13  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to British Cable Services Limited for the area
          of Cardiff and Penarth, Wales (now held by CableTel Cardiff
          Limited)(5)
   99.14  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to Kirklees Cable (renamed CableTel Kirklees)
          for the area of Huddersfield and Dewsbury, West Yorkshire,
          England(5)
   99.15  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to CableVision Communications Company of
          Hertfordshire Ltd (renamed CableTel Hertfordshire Limited)
          for the area of Broxbourne and East Hertfordshire,
          England(5)
   99.16  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to CableVision Communications Company Ltd
          (renamed CableTel Central Hertfordshire Limited) for the
          area of Central Hertfordshire, England(5)
   99.17  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated March 26, 1990,
          issued to CableVision Bedfordshire Limited (renamed CableTel
          Bedfordshire Ltd.) for the area of Luton and South
          Bedfordshire(5)
   99.18  Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3,
          1990, issued to CableVision North Bedfordshire Ltd (renamed
          CableTel North Bedfordshire Ltd.) for the area of North
          Bedfordshire, England(5)
   99.19  Local Delivery Service License, dated October 2, 1995,
          issued to CableTel Northern Ireland Limited for Northern
          Ireland(5)
   99.20  Local Delivery Service License, dated December 6, 1995,
          issued to CableTel South Wales Limited for Glamorgan and
          Gwent, Wales(5)
   99.21  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 13, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Pembroke Dock, Dyfed, Wales
          (now held by Metro South Wales Limited)(5)
   99.22  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Camarthen, Wales (now held
          by Metro South Wales Limited)(5)
   99.23  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Milford Haven, Wales (now
          held by Metro South Wales Limited)(5)
   99.24  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Cwmgors (Amman Valley), West
          Glamorgan, Wales(5)
   99.25  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Ammanford, West Glamorgan,
          Wales(5)
   99.26  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Brecon, Gwent, Wales(5)
   99.27  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Haverfordwest, Preseli,
          Wales(5)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   18
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<C>       <S>
   99.28  Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued
          to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Neyland, Preseli, Wales (now
          held by Metro South Wales Limited)(5)
   99.29  License, dated January 11, 1991, issued to Cablevision
          Communications Company of Hertfordshire Ltd (renamed
          CableTel Hertfordshire Limited) for the Hertford, Cheshunt
          and Ware (Lea Valley) cable franchise, England(5)
   99.30  License, dated December 8, 1990, issued to Cablevision
          Communications Company Limited for Central Hertfordshire
          (renamed CableTel Central Hertfordshire Limited), England(5)
   99.31  License, dated August 23, 1989, issued to Cablevision
          Bedfordshire Limited for Bedford and surrounding areas,
          England(5)
   99.32  License, dated January 9, 1991, issued to Cablevision North
          Bedfordshire Ltd for North Bedfordshire, England(5)
   99.33  License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde Cablevision
          (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Inverclyde Cable
          Franchise, Scotland(5)
   99.34  License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde Cablevision
          (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Bearsden and Milngavie
          Cable Franchise, Scotland(5)
   99.35  License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde Cablevision
          (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Paisley and Renfrew Cable
          Franchise, Scotland(5)
   99.36  License, dated June 7, 1985, issued to Clyde Cablevision Ltd
          (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for North West Glasgow and
          Clydebank, Scotland(5)
   99.37  License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde Cablevision
          (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Greater Glasgow cable
          franchise, Scotland(5)
   99.38  License, dated October 13, 1993, issued to Insight
          Communications Cardiff Limited (renamed CableTel Cardiff
          Limited) for Cardiff, Wales(5)
   99.39  License, dated January 22, 1991, issued to Newport
          Cablevision Limited (renamed CableTel Newport), for Newport
          Cable franchise Wales(5)
   99.40  License, dated May 18, 1990, issued to Cable and Satellite
          Television Holdings Limited (renamed CableTel West
          Glamorgan) for West Glamorgan, Wales(5)
   99.41  License, dated December 20, 1990, issued to Kirklees Cable
          (renamed CableTel Kirklees) for the Huddersfield and
          Dewsbury cable franchise, England(5)
   99.42  License, dated October 13, 1993, issued to Insight
          Communications Guildford Limited (renamed CableTel Surrey
          and Hampshire Limited) for the West Surrey/East Hampshire
          (Guildford) Cable Franchise, England(5)
   99.43  License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to CableTel
          Bedfordshire Ltd. for the area of South Bedfordshire,
          England(5)
   99.44  License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to CableTel North
          Bedfordshire Ltd. for the area of Bedford, England(5)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   19
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<C>       <S>
   99.45  License, dated January 20, 1992, issued to Cable and
          Satellite Television Holdings Limited (renamed CableTel West
          Glamorgan Limited) for the area of Swansea, Neath and Port
          Talbot, Wales(5)
   99.46  License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to Cabletel
          Hertfordshire Ltd. for the area of Hertford, Cheshunt and
          Ware (Lea Valley), England(5)
   99.47  License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to Cabletel Central
          Hertfordshire Ltd. for the area of Central Hertfordshire,
          England(5)
   99.48  License, dated July 21, 1995, issued to CableTel Kirklees(5)
   99.49  License, dated June 8, 1995, issued to CableTel Bedfordshire
          Ltd.(5)
   99.50  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Neyland, Wales(5)
   99.51  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Cwmgors, Wales(5)
   99.52  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Ammanford, Wales(5)
   99.53  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Carmarthen, Wales(5)
   99.54  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Haverfordwest, Wales(5)
   99.55  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Pembroke Dock, Wales(5)
   99.56  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
          Limited for the area of Milford Haven, Wales(5)
   99.57  License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to CableTel South
          Wales Limited for the area of Glamorgan and Gwent, Wales(5)
   99.58  License, dated January 26, 1996, issued to Cabletel South
          Wales Limited, for part of the Glamorgan area(5)
   99.59  License, dated November 3, 1997, issued to NTL (UK) Group,
          Inc. for the Provision of Radio Fixed Access Operator
          Services(10)
   99.60  Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation; Undertaking of Comcast
          Corporation; Undertaking of Warburg, Pincus Investors,
          L.P.(11)
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
   *  Previously filed.
 
 **  To be filed by amendment.
 
 (1) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-1, File No. 33-63570.
 
 (2) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-4, File No. 33-92794.
 
 (3) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-3, File No. 33-92792.
<PAGE>   20
 
 (4) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-1, File No. 33-63572.
 
 (5) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Form 8-K, filed with the
     Commission on March 20, 1996.
 
 (6) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Form 8-K, filed with the
     Commission on March 26, 1997.
 
 (7) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-4, File No. 333-1010.
 
 (8) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-3, File No. 333-07879.
 
 (9) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     S-3, File No. 333-16751.
 
(10) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
     filed on March 28, 1997.
 
(11) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
     filed with the Commission on March 30, 1998.
 
(12) Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-3, File
     No. 33-96932, of Comcast U.K. Cable Partners Limited.
 
(13) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
     filed with the Commission on March 31, 1999.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                                NTL INCORPORATED

                   $625,000,000 11-1/2% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2008

                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                                                October 26, 1998



MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
    1585 Broadway
    New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:



                  NTL incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"),
proposes to issue and sell to the parties named in Schedule I hereto
$625,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 11-1/2% Senior Notes Due 2008
(the "NOTES"). The parties named in Schedule I hereto are each, individually, an
"INITIAL PURCHASER" and, collectively, the "INITIAL PURCHASERS." The Notes are
to be issued under an indenture (the "INDENTURE"), dated as of November 2, 1998,
between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE").

                  The sale of the Notes to the Initial Purchasers will be made
without registration of the Notes under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "SECURITIES ACT"), in reliance upon exemptions from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act. The Initial Purchasers have advised the
Company that they will offer and sell the Notes purchased by them hereunder in
accordance with Section 4 hereof as soon as they deem advisable after the
execution and delivery of this Agreement.

                  In connection with the sale of the Notes, the Company has
prepared an offering memorandum, dated October 26, 1998 (the "OFFERING
MEMORANDUM"). Any reference to the Offering Memorandum shall be deemed to refer
to and include all documents incorporated by reference therein to filings made
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") pursuant to
Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), and all subsequent documents so filed by the
Company with the Commission on or prior to the date of the Offering Memorandum
and any reference to the Offering Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, as of
any specified date, shall be deemed to include (i) any documents filed with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after
the date of the Offering Memorandum and prior to such specified date and (ii)
all documents filed under the Exchange Act and so deemed to be included in the
Offering Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto are hereinafter
called the "EXCHANGE ACT REPORTS."
<PAGE>   2
                  The Offering Memorandum sets forth certain information
concerning the Company and the Notes. The Company hereby confirms that it has
authorized the use of the Offering Memorandum, and any amendment or supplement
thereto, in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes by the Initial
Purchasers.

                  The holders of the Notes will be entitled to the benefits of
the Registration Rights Agreement to be entered into among the Company and the
Initial Purchasers (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT").

                  For purposes of this Agreement, if closing of the Amalgamation
Agreement (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) occurs on or before the
Closing Date, references to the Company's "SUBSIDIARIES" and the Company's
"MATERIAL SUBSIDIARIES" in respect of periods on or after the closing of the
Amalgamation Agreement shall, in each case, be deemed to include, but not be
limited to, Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited and such subsidiaries of Comcast
UK Cable Partners Limited as shall be deemed to be either "subsidiaries" or
"Material Subsidiaries" as those terms are defined in this Agreement.

                  1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and
warrants to each Initial Purchaser as set forth below in this Section 1.

                  (a) The Offering Memorandum, at the date hereof does not, and
         at the Closing Date (as defined below) will not (and any amendment or
         supplement thereto, at the date thereof and at the Closing Date, will
         not), contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
         any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
         light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
         provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or warranty
         as to the information contained in or omitted from the Offering
         Memorandum, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon
         and in conformity with information relating to any Initial Purchaser
         furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Initial
         Purchasers specifically for inclusion therein.

                  (b) Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates (as defined
         in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act ("REGULATION
         D")), nor any person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or
         indirectly, made offers or sales of any security, or solicited offers
         to buy any security, under circumstances that would require the
         registration of the Notes under the Securities Act.

                  (c) No securities of the same class as the Notes have been
         issued and sold by the Company within the six-month period immediately
         prior to the date hereof.

                  (d) Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any
         person acting on its or their behalf has engaged in any form of general
         solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation
         D) in connection with any offer or sale of the Notes in the United
         States.

                  (e) Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any
         person acting on its or their behalf has engaged or will engage in any
         directed selling efforts within the meaning of Regulation S under the
         Securities Act ("REGULATION S") with respect to the Notes, and each of
         them has complied with the offering restriction requirements of
         Regulation S in connection with the offering of the Notes outside the
         United States.


                                        2
<PAGE>   3
                  (f) The Notes satisfy the eligibility requirements of Rule
         144A(d)(3) under the Securities Act.

                  (g) At the Closing Date, the Company will have been advised by
         the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. PORTAL Market
         ("PORTAL") that the Notes have been or will be designated PORTAL
         eligible securities in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
         National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

                  (h) The Company is not an "investment company" within the
         meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
         "INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT"), without taking account of any exemption
         arising out of the number of holders of the Company's securities.

                  (i) The Company and each of its subsidiaries has been duly
         incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing (or
         the local equivalent thereof, if any) under the laws of its
         jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power and authority
         to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted and to own,
         lease and operate its properties, in each case, as described in the
         Offering Memorandum, and each is duly qualified and in good standing as
         a foreign corporation authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in
         which the nature of its business or its ownership or leasing of
         property requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so
         qualified or in good standing would not have a material adverse effect
         on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the
         Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (j) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
         violation of its respective certificate of incorporation or by-laws or
         other governing documents or is in default in the performance of any
         obligation, agreement or condition contained in any bond, debenture,
         note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any indenture,
         material agreement or material instrument to which the Company or any
         of its Material Subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) is a party
         or by which it or any of its Material Subsidiaries is bound or to which
         any of their respective properties is subject or, except as referred to
         in the Offering Memorandum, is in violation of any law, statute, rule,
         regulation, judgment or court decree applicable to the Company or any
         of its Material Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties
         (including any laws, statutes, rules or regulations promulgated by the
         Independent Television Commission ("ITC"), the Office of
         Telecommunications ("OFTEL") and the Department of Trade and Industry
         ("DTI")), nor has any event occurred which with notice or lapse of time
         or both would constitute such a violation or default, except in each
         case, which would not have a material adverse effect on the business,
         financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (k) The Company has all requisite corporate power and
         authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this
         Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement and to
         issue, sell and deliver the Notes as provided herein and therein.

                  (l) The (i) issuance and sale of the Notes by the Company,
         (ii) execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the
         indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, (iii) compliance by
         the Company with the provisions of the Notes, this Agreement, the
         Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, and (iv) consummation
         of the transactions contemplated by any of the Notes, this Agreement,
         the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, will not


                                        3
<PAGE>   4
         require any consent, approval, authorization or other order of any
         court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental
         body, including the Federal Communications Commission, ITC, OFTEL or
         DTI (except such as may be required under the securities or Blue Sky
         laws of the various states and those consents, authorizations,
         approvals, orders, filings, registrations or notices that have been
         obtained or made and are in full force and effect) and will not
         conflict with or constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions
         of, or a default under, the certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or
         other governing documents) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
         any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in
         any indenture, material agreement or material instrument to which the
         Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party or by which it
         or any of its Material Subsidiaries is bound or any of their respective
         properties is subject, or violate or conflict with any law, statute,
         rule, regulation, judgment or court decree applicable to the Company or
         any of its Material Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties
         (including any laws, statutes, rules or regulations promulgated by ITC,
         OFTEL or DTI).

                  (m) Except as otherwise set forth in the Offering Memorandum,
         there are no material investigations, proceedings or actions, whether
         judicial or administrative and whether brought by any regulatory body,
         administrative agency or other governmental body or by any other
         person, pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, to
         which the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party or of
         which any of their respective properties is the subject.

                  (n) The Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries have all
         such permits, licenses, franchises and authorizations of governmental
         or regulatory authorities or other rights currently necessary to be
         procured by them in order to engage in the respective businesses
         currently conducted by each of them as set forth in the Offering
         Memorandum (collectively, "PERMITS"), including, without limitation,
         under any laws regulating or relating to the conduct of cable/telephony
         operations, as are necessary to own, lease and operate its respective
         properties and to conduct its business, except where the failure to
         have any such Permit would not have a material adverse effect on the
         business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company
         and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; the Company and each of its
         Material Subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed all of their
         respective obligations with respect to such Permits, and no event has
         occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow,
         revocation or termination of any such Permit or result in any other
         impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit, except in
         each case, as would not have a material adverse effect on the business,
         financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
         subsidiaries taken as a whole, and subject in each case to such
         qualification as may be set forth in the Offering Memorandum; and,
         except as described in the Offering Memorandum, no such Permit contains
         any restriction that would have a material adverse effect on the
         business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company
         and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Neither the Company nor any of
         its Material Subsidiaries has any reason to believe that any
         governmental body or regulatory agency is considering limiting,
         suspending or revoking any Permits, except as would not have a material
         adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of
         operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (o) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized,
         executed and delivered by the Company.


                                       4
<PAGE>   5
                  (p) The indenture has been duly and validly authorized by the
         Company and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company and duly
         authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, will be the valid
         and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
         Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that (i)
         enforcement thereof may be limited by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in
         effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and (2)
         general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is
         considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (ii) the waiver
         contained in Section 4.04 of the indenture may be deemed unenforceable.

                  (q) The Notes have been duly and validly authorized by the
         Company and, when (i) the Notes have been duly executed and
         authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, (ii) the
         Notes have been delivered to and paid for by the Initial Purchasers as
         contemplated by this Agreement and (iii) the indenture has been duly
         executed and delivered by the Company (assuming the due authorization,
         execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee), the Notes will be valid
         and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the
         benefits of the indenture and enforceable against the Company in
         accordance with their terms, except to the extent that (1) enforcement
         thereof may be limited by (x) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
         moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to
         or affecting creditors' rights generally and (y) general principles of
         equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding
         in equity or at law) and (2) the waiver contained in Section 4.04 of
         the indenture may be deemed unenforceable.

                  (r) The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly and
         validly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed and delivered
         by the Company (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery
         thereof by the Initial Purchasers), will be the valid and legally
         binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
         accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be
         limited by the effect of (x) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
         moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to
         or affecting creditors' rights generally and (y) general principles of
         equity (whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or
         at law).

                  (s) The consolidated financial statements of the Company and
         its subsidiaries present fairly in all material respects the financial
         position and results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries
         at the respective dates and for the respective periods indicated. Such
         financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally
         accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout
         the periods presented except as described in the Offering Memorandum
         and except that the unaudited interim financial statements are subject
         to normal year end adjustments. The selected financial data included in
         the Offering Memorandum present fairly the information shown therein
         and have been prepared on a basis consistent with that of the financial
         statements included in the Offering Memorandum.

                  (t) The Company is subject to and in full compliance with the
         reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange
         Act.

                  (u) The Company has not paid or agreed to pay to any person
         any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any securities of
         the Company (except as contemplated by this Agreement).


                                        5
<PAGE>   6
                  (v) The information provided by the Company pursuant to
         Section 5(g) hereof will not, at the date thereof contain any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
         necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading

                  (w) It is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and
         delivery of the Notes in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and
         the Offering Memorandum to register the Notes under the Act or to
         qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
         (the "TRUST INDENTURE ACT").

                  (x) There is no employee pension or benefit plan with respect
         to which the Company or any corporation considered an affiliate of the
         Company within the meaning of Section 407(d)(7) of ERISA is a party in
         interest or disqualified person. The execution and delivery of this
         Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, and the
         resale by the Initial Purchasers of the Notes to certain purchasers as
         set forth in Section 4 hereof will not involve any prohibited
         transaction within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975
         of the Code. The representation made by the Company in the preceding
         sentence is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of, and
         compliance with, the representations and covenants made or deemed made
         by the purchasers of the Notes as set forth in the Offering Memorandum
         under the Section entitled "Transfer Restrictions."

                  (y) The Exchange Act Reports, when they were or are filed with
         the Commission, conformed or will conform in all material respects to
         the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable
         rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

                  2. Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions and
in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the
Company agrees to sell to each Initial Purchaser, and each Initial Purchaser
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase
price of 97.125% of the aggregate principal amount thereof the aggregate
principal amount of Notes set forth opposite such Initial Purchaser's name on
Schedule I hereto.

                  3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Notes
shall be made at 9:00 A.M., New York time, on November 2, 1998, or such later
date as the Initial Purchasers and the Company may agree or as provided in
Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Notes being
herein called the "CLOSING DATE"). Delivery of the Notes shall be made to the
Initial Purchasers for their respective account against payment by the Initial
Purchasers of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by
wire transfer in same-day funds to a U.S. dollar account designated by the
Company or such other manner of payment as may be designated by the Company and
agreed to by the Initial Purchasers not less than two business days prior to the
Closing Date. Delivery of the Notes shall be made at such location as the
Initial Purchasers shall reasonably designate at least one business day in
advance of the Closing Date and payment for the Notes shall be made at the
office of Latham & Watkins ("COUNSEL FOR THE INITIAL PURCHASER"), 885 Third
Avenue, New York, New York. Global note certificates representing the Notes
shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Initial
Purchasers may request not less than two full U.S. business days in advance of
the Closing Date.


                                        6
<PAGE>   7
                  The Company agrees to have the Notes available for inspection
and checking by the Initial Purchasers in New York, New York not later than 9:00
A.M., New York time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date.

                  4. Offering of Notes. Each Initial Purchaser (i) acknowledges
that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be
offered or sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not
subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act or pursuant to
an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and (ii) severally,
not jointly, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company that:

                  (a) It has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell,
         any Notes except (i) to those it reasonably believes to be qualified
         institutional buyers (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act)
         and that, in connection with each such sale, it has taken or will take
         reasonable steps to ensure that the purchaser of such securities is
         aware that such sale is being made in reliance on Rule 144A or (ii) to
         non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S and in compliance with
         the representations, warranties and agreements in this Section 4 (all
         such persons referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) are hereinafter
         collectively referred to as "ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS").

                  (b) Neither it nor any of its Affiliates or any person acting
         on its or their behalf has made or will make offers or sales of the
         Notes in the United States by means of any form of general solicitation
         or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in the
         United States, except pursuant to a registered public offering as
         provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  (c) Neither it nor any of its Affiliates, nor any person
         acting on its or their behalf will, directly or indirectly, make offers
         or sales of any security, or solicit offers to buy any security, under
         circumstances that would require the registration of the Notes under
         the Securities Act.

                  (d) Neither it nor any of its Affiliates, nor any person
         acting on its or their behalf will engage in any directed selling
         efforts with respect to the Notes, except pursuant to a registered
         public offering as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  (e) (i) it has not offered or sold, and, prior to the expiry
         of the period of six months from the Closing Date, it will not offer or
         sell, any Notes in the United Kingdom except to persons whose ordinary
         activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of
         investments (as principal or as agent) for the purposes of their
         businesses or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and
         will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within
         the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995, (ii)
         it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the
         Financial Services Act 1986 with respect to anything done by it in
         relation to the Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United
         Kingdom, and (iii) it has only issued or passed on and will only issue
         or pass on in the United Kingdom any document received by it in
         connection with the issue of the Notes to a person who is of a kind
         described in Article 11(3) of the Financial Services Act 1986
         (Investment Advertisements) (Exemptions) Order 1996, as amended, or is
         a person to whom the document may otherwise lawfully be issued or
         passed on.


                                        7
<PAGE>   8
                  (f) No action has been or will be taken by the Company or any
         other person that would permit the offer or sale of the Notes or the
         possession or the distribution of the Offering Memorandum or any other
         offering or publicity material relating to the Notes in any
         jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The Company
         shall have no responsibility with respect to the rights of any person
         to offer or sell Notes or to distribute the Offering Memorandum or any
         other offering material relating to the Notes in any jurisdiction.
         Accordingly, no Initial Purchaser shall offer, sell or deliver any
         Notes, or distribute the Offering Memorandum or any other offering or
         publicity material relating to the Notes, in any jurisdiction except in
         compliance with applicable laws and regulations of that jurisdiction.
         Each Initial Purchaser shall obtain any consent, approval or
         authorization required for it to offer or sell Notes, or to distribute
         the Offering Memorandum or any other offering or publicity material
         relating to the Notes under the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction
         where it proposes to make offers or sales of Notes, or to distribute
         the Offering Memorandum or any other offering material relating to the
         Notes, in each case at its own expense, except for the reasonable fees
         and disbursements of Counsel for the Initial Purchasers relating to the
         registration or qualification of the Notes for offer and sale under the
         securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states of the United States.

                  (g) The Notes have not been and will not be registered under
         the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold within the United
         States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in
         accordance with Regulation S or pursuant to an exemption from the
         registration requirements of the Securities Act. It represents that it
         has not offered, sold or delivered the Notes, and will not offer, sell
         or deliver the Notes (i) as part of its distribution at any time or
         (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the
         offering and the Closing Date, within the United States or to, or for
         the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, except in accordance with Rule
         903 of Regulation S or Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Accordingly,
         it agrees that neither it, its Affiliates nor any persons acting on its
         or their behalf has engaged or will engage in any directed selling
         efforts within the meaning of Rule 901(b) of Regulation S with respect
         to the Notes, and it, its Affiliates and all persons acting on its or
         their behalf have complied and will comply with the offering
         restrictions requirements of Regulation S.

                  (h) It represents and agrees that the Notes offered and sold
         in reliance on Regulation S have been and will be offered and sold only
         in offshore transactions and that such securities have been and will be
         represented upon issuance by a global security that may not be
         exchanged for definitive securities until the expiration of the
         Distribution Compliance Period (as defined in Rule 902(f) of Regulation
         S) and only upon certification of beneficial ownership of the
         securities by a non-U.S. person or a U.S. person who purchased such
         securities in a transaction that was exempt from the registration
         requirements of the Securities Act.

                  (i) It agrees that, at or prior to confirmation of a sale of
         Notes (other than a sale in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof), it
         will have sent to each distributor, dealer or person receiving a
         selling concession, fee or other remuneration that purchases Notes from
         it during the Distribution Compliance Period a confirmation or notice
         to substantially the following effect:

                  "The Notes covered hereby have not been registered under the
                  U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES
                  ACT"), and may not be offered and sold within the United
                  States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons
                  (i) as part of their distribution at any time or (ii)
                  otherwise until 40 days after the later


                                        8
<PAGE>   9
                  of the commencement of the offering and the date of closing of
                  the offering, except in either case in accordance with
                  Regulation S (or Rule 144A or another exemption from the
                  registration requirements of the Securities Act if available)
                  under the Securities Act. Terms used above have the meaning
                  given to them by Regulation S."

                  It further agrees that it has not entered and will not enter
         into any contractual arrangement with respect to the distribution or
         delivery of the Notes, except with its Affiliates or with the prior
         written consent of the Company.

                  (j) It agrees not to cause any advertisement of the Notes to
         be published in any newspaper or periodical or posted in any public
         place and not to issue any circular relating to the Notes, except such
         advertisements that include the statements required by Regulation S.

                  Terms used in this Section 4 that have meanings assigned to
         them in Regulation S are used in this Section 4 as so defined.

                  5. Agreements. The Company agrees with each Initial Purchaser
that:

                  (a) The Company will furnish to each Initial Purchaser and to
         Counsel for the Initial Purchasers, without charge, during the period
         referred to in paragraph (b) below, as many copies of the Offering
         Memorandum and any amendments and supplements thereto as it may
         reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or
         other production of all documents relating to the offering.

                  (b) At any time prior to the completion of the sale of the
         Notes by the Initial Purchasers, the Company will not amend or
         supplement the Offering Memorandum if the Initial Purchasers reasonably
         object to such amendment or supplement within two business days after
         receiving a copy thereof and if at any time prior to the completion of
         the sale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers, any event occurs as a
         result of which the Offering Memorandum, as then amended or
         supplemented, would include any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
         therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
         not misleading, or if it should be necessary to amend or supplement the
         Offering Memorandum to comply with applicable law, the Company will
         promptly notify the Initial Purchasers of the same, will prepare and
         provide to the Initial Purchasers the proposed amendment or supplement
         which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance
         and will not publish such amendment or supplement if the Initial
         Purchasers reasonably object to the publication of such amendment or
         supplement within two business days after receiving a copy thereof.

                  (c) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the
         Notes for sale by the Initial Purchasers under the laws of such
         jurisdictions, if any, as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably
         designate in writing prior to the date of this Agreement and will
         maintain such qualifications in effect so long as reasonably required
         for the distribution of the Notes; provided, however, that the Company
         shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify to do business
         in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any
         action which would subject it to general or unlimited service of
         process or taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.
         The Company will promptly advise the Initial Purchasers of the receipt
         by the


                                        9
<PAGE>   10
         Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
         qualification of the Notes for sale in any jurisdiction or the
         initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

                  (d) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its
         Affiliates to, resell any Notes that have been acquired by any of them.

                  (e) Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any
         person acting on its or their behalf will, directly or indirectly, make
         offers or sales of any security, or solicit offers to buy any security,
         under circumstances that would require the registration of the Notes
         under the Securities Act.

                  (f) Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any
         person acting on its or their behalf will engage in any form of general
         solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation
         D) in connection with any offer or sale of the Notes in the United
         States, except pursuant to a registered public offering as provided in
         the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  (g) So long as any of the Notes are "restricted securities"
         within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, the
         Company will, during any period in which it is not subject to and in
         compliance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, provide to
         each holder of such restricted securities and to each prospective
         purchaser (as designated by such holder) of such restricted securities,
         upon the request of such holder or prospective purchaser, any
         information required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the
         Securities Act. This covenant is intended to be for the benefit of the
         holders, and the prospective purchasers designated by such holders,
         from time to time of such restricted securities.

                  (h) Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any
         person acting on its or their behalf will engage in any directed
         selling efforts with respect to the Notes, except pursuant to a
         registered public offering as provided in the Registration Rights
         Agreement, and each of them will comply with the offering restrictions
         requirement of Regulation S. Terms used in this paragraph have the
         meanings given to them by Regulation S.

                  (i) The Company will cooperate with the initial Purchasers and
         use its best efforts to permit the Notes to be eligible for clearance
         and settlement through DTC and, with respect to any Notes sold in
         accordance with Regulation S. the Cedel Bank, societe anonyme ("CEDEL
         BANK"), and the Euroclear System ("EUROCLEAR").

                  (j) The Company will not, until 90 days following the Closing
         Date, without the prior written consent of the initial Purchasers,
         offer, issue, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of
         directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of any senior debt
         securities issued or guaranteed by the Company (other than (i) pursuant
         to a registered public offering as provided in the Registration Rights
         Agreement relating to the Notes, (ii) the solicitation of consents,
         waivers or any other action by or from the holders of the Company's
         debt securities outstanding immediately prior to the Closing Date,
         (iii) the negotiation, syndication, arrangement or completion of or
         borrowings under, the Credit Facility (as defined in the indenture) or
         (iv) the issuance of registered (a) Series B 9-1/2% Senior Notes due
         2008, (b) Series B 10-3/4% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes due 2008 and
         (c) Series B 9-314% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes due 2008, in each case
         in exchange for privately placed (a) 9-1/2% Senior Notes due 2008, (b)
         10-


                                       10
<PAGE>   11
         3/4% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes due 2008 and (c) 9-3/4% Senior
         Deferred Coupon Notes due 2008, respectively).

                  (k) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this
         Agreement are consummated or this Agreement becomes effective or is
         terminated, to pay all costs, expenses, fees and taxes incident to and
         in connection with: (i) the preparation, printing, filing and
         distribution of the Offering Memorandum (including, without limitation,
         financial statements and supplements thereto), (ii) the preparation,
         printing (including, without limitation, word processing and
         duplication costs) and delivery of this Agreement, the Registration
         Rights Agreement and the indenture, all Blue Sky Memoranda and all
         other agreements, memoranda, correspondence and other documents printed
         and delivered in connection herewith and with the sale of the Notes by
         the initial Purchasers to certain purchasers as set forth in Section 4
         above, (iii) the issuance and delivery of the Notes, (iv) the
         registration or qualification of the Notes for offer and sale under the
         securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states (including, without
         limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of the initial
         Purchasers' counsel relating to such registration or qualification),
         (v) the preparation of certificates for the Notes (including, without
         limitation, printing and engraving thereof), (vi) the fees,
         disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants,
         (vii) all expenses and listing fees in connection with the application
         for quotation of the Notes on PORTAL, (viii) all fees and expenses
         (including fees and expenses of counsel) of the Company in connection
         with approval of the Notes by DTC for "book-entry" transfer and
         eligibility of settlement of transactions in the Notes sold in
         accordance with Regulation S through Euroclear and Cedel Bank, (ix) the
         fees and disbursements of the Trustee and the registrars of the Notes
         (including fees and disbursement of their counsel) and (x) the
         performance by the Company of its other obligations under this
         Agreement.

                  6. Conditions to the Obligations of the initial Purchasers.
The obligations of the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Notes shall be subject
to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company
contained herein at the date and time that this Agreement is executed and
delivered by the parties hereto (the "EXECUTION TIME") and the Closing Date, to
the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant
to the provisions hereof to the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

                  (a) The Company shall have furnished to the initial Purchasers
         the opinion of Richard J. Lubasch, Senior Vice President, General
         Counsel and Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the
         effect that:

                           (i) each of the Company and CableTel UK Group, Inc.
                  and any other subsidiary of the Company which is a
                  "significant subsidiary" as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of
                  Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and is incorporated
                  under the laws of the State of Delaware (for purposes of this
                  Section 6(a) only, individually, a "SUBSIDIARY" and
                  collectively, the "SUBSIDIARIES") has been duly incorporated
                  and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good
                  standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with full
                  corporate power and authority to own its properties and
                  conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum,
                  and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation
                  and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction
                  which requires such qualification where failure so to qualify
                  would have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
                  subsidiaries taken as a whole;


                                       11
<PAGE>   12
                           (ii) all the outstanding shares of capital stock of
                  each Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and
                  issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as
                  otherwise set forth in the Offering Memorandum, all of the
                  outstanding shares of capital stock of the Subsidiaries are
                  owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned
                  subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected security interest
                  and, to the knowledge of such counsel, after due inquiry, any
                  other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances;

                           (iii) the Company's authorized equity capitalization
                  is as set forth in the Offering Memorandum;

                           (iv) the indenture has been duly authorized, executed
                  and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due
                  authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee,
                  constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the
                  Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
                  terms, except to the extent that (i) enforcement thereof may
                  be limited by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
                  moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
                  relating to or affecting creditor's rights generally and (2)
                  general principles of equity (regardless of whether
                  enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)
                  and (ii) the waiver contained in Section 4.04 of the indenture
                  may be deemed unenforceable;

                           (v) The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly
                  authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and,
                  assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof
                  by the initial Purchasers, constitutes a valid and legally
                  binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the
                  Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent
                  that enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy,
                  insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
                  now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors'
                  rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity
                  (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
                  proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) the enforceability
                  of indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited
                  by Federal and state securities laws or the public policy
                  underlying such laws;

                           (vi) the Notes have been duly and validly authorized
                  and executed by the Company and, when duly authenticated in
                  accordance with the terms of the indenture and delivered to
                  and paid for by the initial Purchasers as contemplated by this
                  Agreement (assuming the due authorization, execution and
                  delivery of the indenture by the Trustee), will constitute
                  valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled
                  to the benefits of the indenture and enforceable against the
                  Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent
                  that (1) enforcement thereof may be limited by (x) bankruptcy,
                  insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
                  now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors'
                  rights generally and (y) general principles of equity
                  (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
                  proceeding in equity or at law) and (2) the waiver contained
                  in Section 4.04 of the Indenture may be deemed unenforceable;

                           (vii) the statements set forth under the heading
                  "Description of Notes" and "Description of Certain
                  Indebtedness" in the Offering Memorandum, insofar as they
                  purport to constitute a summary of documents referred to
                  therein (and assuming that the


                                       12
<PAGE>   13
                  documents referred to therein are governed by the law of New
                  York or Delaware) fairly present such documents in all
                  material respects;

                           (viii) this Agreement has been duly authorized,
                  executed and delivered by the Company;

                           (ix) no consent, approval, authorization or order of
                  any Delaware, New York or U.S. federal court or governmental
                  agency or body is required for the consummation of the
                  transactions contemplated herein, except such as may be
                  required under the blue sky or securities laws of any
                  jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and sale of the
                  Notes by the initial Purchasers (as to which counsel need
                  express no opinion) and such other approvals (specified in
                  such opinion) as have been obtained;

                           (x) the issuance and sale of the Notes by the
                  Company, the execution and delivery of the indenture, the
                  Registration Rights Agreement and this Agreement by the
                  Company, compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and
                  the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will
                  not (a) conflict with the charter or by-laws of the Company,
                  (b) result in any violation of the General Corporation Law of
                  the State of Delaware, the laws of the State of New York or
                  the federal laws of the United States of America (the
                  "REQUIREMENTS OF LAW") or (c) constitute a breach of or an
                  event of default under the terms of any indenture or other
                  agreement to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
                  party or bound which is listed on Schedule 11 hereto (except
                  that such counsel need not express an opinion as to any
                  covenant, restriction or provision of any such agreement with
                  respect to financial covenants, ratios or tests or any aspect
                  of the financial condition or results of operations of the
                  Company or any of its subsidiaries and such counsel may assume
                  that all such agreements or instruments are governed by the
                  law of New York or Delaware) or any judgment, order or decree
                  known to such counsel to be applicable to the Company or any
                  of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body,
                  administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator
                  (collectively, the "ORDERS") of the United States or the
                  States of New York or Delaware having jurisdiction over the
                  Company or any of its subsidiaries which conflict, breach or
                  default will have a material adverse effect on the condition
                  (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of
                  the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or the
                  transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided,
                  however, that such counsel's opinion expressed in this
                  paragraph may be based on such counsel's review of those
                  Requirements of Law which, in such counsel's experience, are
                  normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated
                  by in this Agreement, but without having made any special
                  investigation concerning any other Requirements of Law, and
                  those Orders specifically identified to such counsel by the
                  Company as being Orders to which it is subject; provided,
                  however, that such counsel need express no opinion with
                  respect to the U.S. federal or state securities laws or blue
                  sky laws, antifraud laws and the rules and regulations of the
                  National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.;

                           (xi) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of
                  any legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to
                  which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or could be a
                  party or to which any of their respective property is or could
                  be subject, which might result in a material adverse effect on
                  the business, financial condition or results of operations of
                  the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;


                                       13
<PAGE>   14
                           (xii) the Indenture is in such form that would not
                  preclude qualification under the Trust Indenture Act, in
                  accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

                           (xiii) assuming (1) the accuracy of the
                  representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
                  Section I of this Agreement and of the initial Purchasers'
                  representations and warranties set forth in Section 4 of this
                  Agreement, (2) the due performance by the Company of the
                  agreements set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement and the
                  due performance by the initial Purchasers of the agreements
                  set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement, (3) compliance by
                  the initial Purchasers with the offering and transfer
                  procedures and restrictions described elsewhere in this
                  Agreement and in the Offering Memorandum, (4) the accuracy of
                  the representations and agreements made in accordance with
                  this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum by the purchasers
                  to whom the initial Purchasers initially resell the Notes and
                  (5) that purchasers to whom the Initial Purchasers initially
                  resell the Notes receive a copy of the Offering Memorandum
                  prior to such sale, the offer, sale and initial resale of the
                  Notes in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the
                  Offering Memorandum, do not require registration under the
                  Securities Act and the indenture does not require
                  qualification under the Trust indenture Act, it being
                  understood that such counsel does not express any opinion as
                  to any subsequent resale of any Note; and

                           (xiv) the Company is not required to be registered as
                  an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
                  Company Act, without taking account of any exemption arising
                  out of the number of holders of the Company's securities.

                  Such counsel shall also state that, in the course of
preparation by the Company of the Offering Memorandum, such counsel has
participated in conferences with directors, officers and other representatives
of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Company, representatives of the Initial Purchasers and representatives of
Counsel for the Initial Purchasers, at which conferences the contents of the
Offering Memorandum and related matters were discussed and, although such
counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Offering
Memorandum and has made no independent check or verification thereof (except as
stated in paragraph (vii) hereof), on the basis of the foregoing (relying as to
materiality to a large extent upon the statements of directors, officers and
other representatives of the Company), no facts have come to such counsel's
attention which have caused such counsel to believe that the Offering
Memorandum, as of its date or as of the Closing Date, contained or contains an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood
that such counsel need not express any opinion or belief with respect to the
financial statements and schedules and other financial and accounting data
included in or omitted from the Offering Memorandum).

                  Such opinion may be limited to the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware and the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws
of the United States and may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications
and exceptions. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters
involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of
New York, the State of Delaware or the United States, to the extent such counsel
deems proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel
who are satisfactory to Counsel for the Initial Purchasers.


                                       14
<PAGE>   15
                  All references in this Section 6(a) to the Offering Memorandum
shall be deemed to include any amendment or supplement thereto at the Closing
Date.

                  (b) If the transactions contemplated by the Amalgamation
         Agreement shall have closed by the Closing Date, the Company shall have
         furnished to the initial Purchasers an opinion of counsel reasonably
         satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, dated the C losing Date, to the
         effect that:

                           (i) Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited has been duly
                  organized and is validly existing and in good standing under
                  the laws of its jurisdiction of organization with full power
                  and authority to own its properties and conduct its business
                  as described in the Offering Memorandum;

                           (ii) all the outstanding shares of capital stock of
                  Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited have been duly and validly
                  authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable,
                  and, except as otherwise set forth in the Offering Memorandum,
                  all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of such entity
                  are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly
                  owned subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected security
                  interest and, to the knowledge of such counsel, after due
                  inquiry, any other security interests, claims, liens or
                  encumbrances;

                  (c) The Company shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers
         the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for
         the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:

                           (i) each of the Company and CableTel UK Group, Inc.
                  (for purposes of this Section 6(c) only, individually, a
                  "SUBSIDIARY" and collectively, the "SUBSIDIARIES") has been
                  duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation and
                  is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

                           (ii) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed
                  and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due
                  authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee,
                  constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the
                  Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
                  terms, except to the extent that (i) enforcement thereof may
                  be limited by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
                  moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
                  relating to or affecting creditor's rights generally and (2)
                  general principles of equity (regardless of whether
                  enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)
                  and (ii) the waiver contained in Section 4.04 of the Indenture
                  may be deemed unenforceable;

                           (iii) The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly
                  authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and,
                  assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof
                  by the initial Purchasers, constitutes a valid and legally
                  binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the
                  Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent
                  that enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy,
                  insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
                  now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors'
                  rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity
                  (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
                  proceeding in equity or at law) and 


                                       15
<PAGE>   16
                  (iii) the enforceability of indemnification and contribution
                  provisions may be limited by Federal and state securities laws
                  or the public policy underlying such laws;

                           (iv) the Notes have been duly and validly authorized
                  and executed by the Company and, when duly authenticated in
                  accordance with the terms of the indenture and delivered to
                  and paid for by the initial Purchasers as contemplated by this
                  Agreement (assuming the due authorization, execution and
                  delivery of the indenture by the Trustee), will constitute
                  valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled
                  to the benefits of the indenture and enforceable against the
                  Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent
                  that (1) enforcement thereof may be limited by (x) bankruptcy,
                  insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
                  now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors'
                  rights generally and (v) general principles of equity
                  (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
                  proceeding in equity or at law) and (2) the waiver contained
                  in Section 4.04 of the Indenture may be deemed unenforceable;

                           (v) the statements made under the heading
                  "Description of Notes" and "Description of Certain
                  Indebtedness" in the Offering Memorandum, insofar as they
                  constitute summaries of the provisions of the indenture and
                  the Notes, fairly present such provisions in all material
                  respects;

                           (vi) this Agreement has been duly authorized,
                  executed and delivered by

                           (vii) although the discussion in the Offering
                  Memorandum under the caption "Certain Federal Income Tax
                  Considerations" does not purport to discuss all possible U.S.
                  federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and
                  disposition of the Notes, such discussion constitutes, in all
                  material respects, a fair summary of the U.S. federal income
                  tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of
                  the Notes under current law;

                           (viii) the issuance and sale of the Notes by the
                  Company, the execution and delivery of the indenture, the
                  Registration Rights Agreement and this Agreement by the
                  Company, compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and
                  the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will
                  not (a) conflict with the charter or by-laws of the Company,
                  (b) result in any violation of the General Corporation Law of
                  the State of Delaware, the laws of the State of New York or
                  the federal laws of the United States of America (the
                  "REQUIREMENTS OF LAW") or (c) constitute a breach of or event
                  of default under the terms of any indenture or other agreement
                  to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or
                  bound which is listed on Schedule 11 hereto (except that such
                  counsel need not express an opinion as to any covenant,
                  restriction or provision of any such agreement with respect to
                  financial covenants, ratios or tests or any aspect of the
                  financial condition or results of operations of the Company or
                  any of its subsidiaries and such counsel may assume that all
                  such agreements or instruments are governed by the law of New
                  York or Delaware) or any judgment, order or decree known to
                  such counsel to be applicable to the Company or any of its
                  subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative
                  agency, governmental body or arbitrator (collectively, the
                  "ORDERS") of the United States or the States of Delaware or
                  New York having jurisdiction over the


                                       16
<PAGE>   17
                  Company or any of its subsidiaries; provided, however, that
                  such counsel's opinion expressed in this paragraph may be
                  based on such counsel's review of those Requirements of Law
                  which, in such counsel's experience, are normally applicable
                  to transactions of the type contemplated by in this Agreement,
                  but without having made any special investigation concerning
                  any other Requirements of Law, and those Orders specifically
                  identified to such counsel by the Company as being Orders to
                  which it is subject; provided, however, that such counsel need
                  express no opinion in this paragraph with respect to the U.S.
                  federal or state securities laws or blue sky laws, antifraud
                  laws and the rules and regulations of the National Association
                  of Securities Dealers, inc.;

                           (ix) the indenture is in such form that would not
                  preclude qualification under the Trust indenture Act, in
                  accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; and

                           (x) assuming (1) the accuracy of the representations
                  and warranties of the Company set forth in Section I of this
                  Agreement and of the initial Purchasers' representations and
                  warranties set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement, (2) the
                  due performance by the Company of the agreements set forth in
                  Section 5 of this Agreement and the due performance by the
                  initial Purchasers of the agreements set forth in Section 4 of
                  this Agreement, (3) compliance by the initial Purchasers with
                  the offering and transfer procedures and restrictions
                  described elsewhere in this Agreement and in the Offering
                  Memorandum, (4) the accuracy of the representations and
                  agreements made in accordance with this Agreement and the
                  Offering Memorandum by the purchasers to whom the initial
                  Purchasers initially resell the Notes and (5) that purchasers
                  to whom the Initial Purchasers initially resell the Notes
                  receive a copy of the Offering Memorandum prior to such sale,
                  the offer, sale and initial resale of the Notes in the manner
                  contemplated by this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum, do
                  not require registration under the Securities Act and the
                  indenture do not require qualification under the Trust
                  indenture, it being understood that such counsel does not
                  express any opinion as to any subsequent resale of any Note.

                  Such counsel shall also state that, in the course of
preparation by the Company of the Offering Memorandum, such counsel has
participated in conferences with directors, officers and other representatives
of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Company, representatives of the initial Purchasers and representatives of
Counsel for the initial Purchasers, at which conferences the contents of the
Offering Memorandum and related matters were discussed and, although such
counsel is not passing upon, and does not assume any responsibility for, the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Offering
Memorandum and has made no independent check or verification thereof (except to
the extent stated in paragraphs (v) and (vii) hereof), on the basis of the
foregoing, no facts have come to such counsel's attention which have caused such
counsel to believe that the Offering Memorandum, as of its date and as of the
Closing Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading (it being understood that such counsel need not express any
opinion or belief with respect to the financial statements and schedules and
other financial and accounting data included in or omitted from the Offering
Memorandum).


                                       17
<PAGE>   18
                  Such opinion may be limited to the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware and the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws
of the United States and may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications
and exceptions. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters
involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of
New York, the State of Delaware or the United States, to the extent they deem
proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel who are
satisfactory to Counsel for the initial Purchasers

                  All references in this Section 6(c) to the Offering Memorandum
shall be deemed to include any amendment or supplement thereto at the Closing
Date.

                  (d) The Company shall have furnished to the initial Purchasers
         the opinion of Robert Mackenzie, Director of Legal Affairs of the
         Company, dated the Closing Date, in the form previously approved by
         counsel to the initial Purchasers.

                  (e) The initial Purchasers shall have received from Latham &
         Watkins, Counsel for the initial Purchasers, such opinion or opinions,
         dated the Closing Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the
         Notes, the Offering Memorandum (as amended or supplemented at the
         Closing Date) and other related matters as the initial Purchasers may
         reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such
         counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them
         to pass upon such matters.

                  (f) The Company shall have furnished to the initial Purchasers
         a certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board or
         the President and the principal financial or accounting of fleer of the
         Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such
         certificate have carefully examined the Offering Memorandum, any
         amendment or supplement to the Offering Memorandum and this Agreement
         and that:

                           (i) the representations and warranties of the Company
                  in this Agreement are true and correct in all material
                  respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as
                  if made on the Closing Date, and the Company has complied with
                  all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its
                  part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the
                  Closing Date;

                           (ii) since the date of the most recent financial
                  statements included in the Offering Memorandum, there has been
                  no adverse change in the condition (financial or other),
                  earnings, business or properties of the Company and its
                  subsidiaries, which is material to the Company and its
                  subsidiaries taken as a whole whether or not arising from
                  transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set
                  forth in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum (exclusive
                  of any amendment or supplement thereto); and

                           (iii) no consolidated financial statements of the
                  Company prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted
                  accounting principles as of any date or any period subsequent
                  to June 30, 1998 are available.

                  (g) At the Closing Date, Ernst & Young LLP shall have
         furnished to the initial Purchasers a letter or letters, dated as of
         the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the initial
         Purchasers, confirming that they are independent auditors with respect
         to the Company


                                       18
<PAGE>   19
within the meaning of Rule 101 of AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct and its
interpretation and rulings and stating in effect that:

                  (i) the consolidated financial statements and financial
         statement schedules audited by them and included in the Offering
         Memorandum comply as to form in all material respects with the
         applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the related published
         rules and regulations

                  (ii) they have audited the consolidated balance sheets of the
         Company and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1997, and the
         consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash
         flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31,
         1997, all included in the Offering Memorandum;

                  (iii) they have read the 1997 and 1998 minutes of meetings of
         the shareholders and the Board of Directors and other committees of the
         Company and its subsidiaries as set forth in the minute books through a
         specified date not more than five business days prior to the date of
         the letter, and have inquired of certain officials of the Company who
         have responsibility for financial and accounting matters;

                  (iv) with respect to the six-month periods ended June 30, 1997
         and 1998, (X) they have (1) performed the procedures specified by the
         American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for review of
         interim financial information as described in SAS No. 71, "Interim
         Financial Information", on the unaudited condensed consolidated
         financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries (the
         "UNAUDITED FINANCIALS") included in the Offering Memorandum and (2)
         inquired of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility
         for financial and accounting matters whether the Unaudited Financials
         are stated on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited
         consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries
         included in the Offering Memorandum and (Y) as a result of the
         procedures performed in (X) above, nothing came to their attention that
         caused them to believe that any material modifications should be made
         to such Unaudited Financials for them to be in conformity with
         generally accepted accounting principles;

                  (v) with respect to the period subsequent to June 30, 1998,
         management of the Company has informed them that there were not any
         changes at a specified date not more than five business days prior to
         the date of the letter, in the long-term debt of the Company and its
         subsidiaries or decreases in the capital stock of the Company as
         compared with the amounts shown on the June 30, 1998, condensed
         consolidated balance sheet referred to above, except in all instances
         for changes, decreases or increases set forth in such letter, in which
         case the letter shall be accompanied by an explanation by the Company
         as to the significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed
         necessary by the Initial Purchasers;

                  (vi) nothing came to their attention that caused them to
         believe that any unaudited pro forma financial statements included in
         the Offering Memorandum do not comply as to form in all material
         respects with Regulation S-X of the Securities Act or the pro forma
         adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts in
         the compilation of those statements; and


                                       19
<PAGE>   20
                           (vii) they have performed certain other specified
                  procedures as a result of which they determined that certain
                  information of accounting, financial or statistical nature
                  (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical
                  information derived from the general accounting records of the
                  Company and its subsidiaries) set forth in the Offering
                  Memorandum agrees with the accounting records of the Company
                  and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal
                  interpretation.

                  In rendering such letter or letters, Ernst & Young LLP may
rely upon the letters of Deloitte & Touche LLP and PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP
with respect to certain historical financial information included in the
unaudited pro forma financial statements.

                  (h) At the Closing Date, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have
         furnished to the Initial Purchasers a letter or letters, dated as of
         the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial
         Purchasers, confirming that they are independent auditors with respect
         to Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and
         Telecential and their respective subsidiaries within the meaning of
         Rule 101 of AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct and its interpretation
         and rulings and stating in effect that:

                           (i) the consolidated financial statements and
                  financial statement schedules audited by them and included in
                  the Offering Memorandum comply as to form in all material
                  respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act
                  and the related published rules and regulations

                           (ii) they have audited the consolidated balance
                  sheets of Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK
                  Finance, B.V. and Telecential and their respective
                  subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1997, and the
                  consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity
                  and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
                  December 31, 1997, all included in the Offering Memorandum;

                           (iii) they have read the 1997 and 1998 minutes of
                  meetings of the shareholders and the Board of Directors and
                  other committees of Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel
                  UK Finance, B.V. and Telecential and their respective
                  subsidiaries as set forth in the minute books through a
                  specified date not more than five business days prior to the
                  date of the letter, and have inquired of certain officials of
                  Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and
                  Telecential and their respective subsidiaries who have
                  responsibility for financial and accounting matters;

                           (iv) with respect to the six-month periods ended June
                  30, 1997 and 1998, (X) they have (1) performed the procedures
                  specified by the American Institute of Certified Public
                  Accountants for review of interim financial information as
                  described in SAS No. 71, "Interim Financial Information", on
                  the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of
                  Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and
                  Telecential and their respective subsidiaries (the "D&T
                  UNAUDITED FINANCIALS") included in the Offering Memorandum and
                  (2) inquired of certain officials of Comcast UK Cable Partners
                  Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and Telecential and their
                  respective subsidiaries who have responsibility for financial
                  and accounting matters whether the D&T Unaudited Financials
                  are stated on a basis substantially consistent with


                                       20
<PAGE>   21
                  that of the audited consolidated financial statements of
                  Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and
                  Telecential and their respective subsidiaries included in the
                  Offering Memorandum and (Y) as a result of the procedures
                  performed in (X) above, nothing came to their attention that
                  caused them to believe that any material modifications should
                  be made to such D&T Unaudited Financials for them to be in
                  conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;

                           (v) with respect to the period subsequent to June 30,
                  1998, management of Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel
                  UK Finance, B.V. and Telecential and their respective
                  subsidiaries has informed them that there were not any changes
                  at a specified date not more than five business days prior to
                  the date of the letter, in the long-term debt of Comcast UK
                  Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and
                  Telecential and their respective subsidiaries or decreases in
                  the capital stock of Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel
                  UK Finance, B.V. and Telecential and their respective
                  subsidiaries as compared with the amounts shown on the June
                  30, 1998, condensed consolidated balance sheet referred to
                  above, except in all instances for changes, decreases or
                  increases set forth in such letter, in which case the letter
                  shall be accompanied by an explanation by Comcast UK Cable
                  Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and Telecential
                  and their respective subsidiaries as to the significance
                  thereof unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by the
                  initial Purchasers; and

                           (vi) they have performed certain other specified
                  procedures as a result of which they determined that certain
                  information of accounting, financial or statistical nature
                  (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical
                  information derived from the general accounting records of
                  Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and
                  Telecential and their respective subsidiaries) set forth in
                  the Offering Memorandum agrees with the accounting records of
                  Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and
                  Telecential and their respective subsidiaries, excluding any
                  questions of legal interpretation.

                  (i) At the Closing Date, PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have
         furnished to the Initial Purchasers a letter or letters, dated as of
         the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial
         Purchasers, confirming that they are independent auditors with respect
         to Comcast UK Finance B.V. within the meaning of Rule 101 of AICPA's
         Code of Professional Conduct and its interpretation and rulings and
         stating in effect that:

                  (i) the consolidated financial statements and financial
         statement schedules audited by them and included in the Offering
         Memorandum comply as to form in all material respects with the
         applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the related published
         rules and regulations

                  (ii) they have audited the consolidated balance sheets Comcast
         UK Finance B.V. as of December 31, 1996 and the consolidated statements
         of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the two
         years in the period ended December 31, 1996, all included in the
         Offering Memorandum;

                  (iii) they have performed certain other specified procedures
         as a result of which they determined that certain information of
         accounting, financial or statistical


                                       21
<PAGE>   22
         nature (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical
         information derived from the general accounting records of Comcast UK
         Finance B.V.) set forth in the Offering Memorandum agrees with the
         accounting records of Comcast UK Finance B.V., excluding any questions
         of legal interpretation.

                  (j) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates
         as of which information is given in the Offering Memorandum, there
         shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter
         or letters referred to in paragraph (f) of this Section 6 or (ii) any
         change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or
         affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings,
         business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries the effect
         of which is, in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers, so material and
         adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to market the Notes as
         contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

                  (k) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have
         been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company's debt securities
         by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as
         defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Securities Act).

                  (l) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have
         furnished to the Initial Purchasers such further information,
         certificates and documents as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably
         request.

                  (m) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Indenture and the
         Registration Rights Agreement shall have been executed substantially in
         the form hereto delivered to you and shall have been delivered to you
         and the Trustee.

                  If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not
have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this
Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Initial Purchasers and Counsel for the
Initial Purchasers, this Agreement and all obligations of the Initial Purchasers
hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the
Initial Purchasers. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in
writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

                  The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 will
be delivered at the office of Latham & Watkins, Counsel for the Initial
Purchasers, at 885 Third Avenue, New York, New York, on the Closing Date.

                  7. Reimbursement of Expenses. If the sale of the Notes
provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations
of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied,
because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any
refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any
agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a
default by any of the Initial Purchasers in payment for the Notes on the Closing
Date, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers upon demand for all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the
proposed purchase and sale of the Notes against appropriate receipts there for.


                                       22
<PAGE>   23
                  8. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, each person who controls any
Initial Purchaser within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the respective officers, directors,
partners, employees, representatives and agents of such Initial Purchaser or
controlling person thereof against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory
law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Offering Memorandum, or in any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as
incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in
any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Offering Memorandum or any
information provided by the Company to any holder or prospective purchaser of
Notes pursuant to paragraph 5(g) hereof or in any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
relating to any Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
any Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity
agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise
have.

                  (b) Each Initial Purchaser, severally and not jointly, agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers, and
each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of
the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Initial Purchaser, but only with
reference to written information relating to such Initial Purchaser furnished to
the Company by or on behalf of such Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion
in the Offering Memorandum (or in any amendment or supplement thereto). This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Initial
Purchaser may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the statements
relating to the Initial Purchasers set forth in the last paragraph of the cover
page and in the second and third sentences of the second paragraph, the fifth
paragraph and the eleventh paragraph under the heading "Plan of Distribution" in
the Offering Memorandum constitute the only information furnished in writing by
or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers for inclusion in the Offering Memorandum
(or in any amendment or supplement thereto).

                  (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any
governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8,
notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the
failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from
liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not
otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the
indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified
party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the
indemnifying party's choice at the indemnifying party's expense to represent the
indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which
case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and
expenses of any separate counsel retained by the


                                       23
<PAGE>   24
indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that
such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party.
Notwithstanding the indemnifying party's election to appoint counsel to
represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have
the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the
indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such
separate counsel if (i) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified
party in writing to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying
party, (ii) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the
indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (iii)
the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory
to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable
time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the named parties of
any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified
party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably
concluded based upon the advice of such counsel (with a copy to the indemnifying
party) that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party (in any of which cases the indemnifying party shall not have
the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified
party, it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in
connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or
related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than
one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all such
indemnified parties, which firm shall be designated in writing by the
indemnified party, and that all such reasonable fees and expenses shall be
reimbursed as they are incurred upon written request and presentation of
satisfactory invoices). The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless
the indemnified party from and against all losses, claims, damages and
liabilities by reason of any settlement of any action (i) effected with its
written consent or (ii) effected without its written consent if the settlement
is entered into more than twenty business days after the indemnifying party
shall have received a request from the indemnified party for reimbursement for
the fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees and expenses are
at the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such
settlement, the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with such
reimbursement request. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if at
any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, an
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of the nature
contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence effected without its consent
if such indemnifying party (i) reimburses such indemnified party in accordance
with such request to the extent that it considers such request to be reasonable
and (ii) provides written notice to the indemnified party substantiating the
unpaid balance as unreasonable, in each case, prior to the date of settlement.
An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential
parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
(i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does
not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure
to act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.

                  (d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a)
or (b) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Initial Purchasers agree
to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities
(including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with
investigating or defending same) (collectively "LOSSES") to which the Company
and one or more of the Initial Purchasers may be


                                       24
<PAGE>   25
subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the Company and by the Initial Purchasers from the offering of the
Notes; provided, however, that in no case shall any Initial Purchaser (except as
may be provided in any agreement among the Initial Purchasers relating to the
offering of the Notes) be responsible for any amount in excess of the purchase
discount or commission applicable to the Notes purchased by such Initial
Purchaser hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding
sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Initial Purchasers
shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company and of the Initial
Purchasers in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received
by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the
offering (before deducting expenses), and benefits received by the Initial
Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total purchase discounts and
commissions received by the Initial Purchasers from the Company in connection
with the purchase of the Notes hereunder. Relative fault shall be determined by
reference to whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to
information provided by the Company or the Initial Purchasers. The Initial
Purchasers' respective obligations to contribute to this Section 8 are several
in proportion to the principal amount of Notes they have purchased hereunder,
and not joint. The Company and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any
other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an
Initial Purchaser within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an Initial
Purchaser shall have the same rights to contribution as such Initial Purchaser,
and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each officer, director, employee and
agent of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company,
subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph
(d).

                  9. Default by an Initial Purchaser. If any one or more Initial
Purchasers shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Notes agreed to be
purchased by such Initial Purchaser hereunder and such failure to purchase shall
constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this
Agreement, the remaining Initial Purchasers shall be obligated severally to take
up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the principal amount of the
Notes set forth opposite their names in Schedule I bears to the aggregate
principal amount of such Notes set forth opposite the names of all the remaining
Initial Purchasers in Schedule I) the Notes which the defaulting Initial
Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed to purchase; provided,
however, that in the event that the aggregate principal amount of such Notes
which the defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed
to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes set
forth in Schedule 1, the remaining Initial Purchasers that agreed to purchase
such Notes shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any
obligation to purchase any, of such Notes, and if such non-defaulting Initial
Purchasers do not purchase all such Notes, this Agreement will terminate without
liability to any non-defaulting Initial Purchaser or the Company. In the event
of a default by any Initial Purchaser as set forth in this Section 9, the
Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding seven days, as
the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers shall determine in order that the required
changes in the Offering Memorandum or in any other documents or arrangements may
be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting
Initial Purchaser of its liability, if any, to the Company or any non-defaulting
Initial Purchaser for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.


                                       25
<PAGE>   26
                   10. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to
termination by notice given by the Initial Purchasers to the Company, if (a)
after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date
(i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by,
as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock
Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Chicago
Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board
of Trade, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been
suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a general
moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York shall have been declared
by either Federal or New York State authorities or (iv) there shall have
occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial
markets or any calamity or crisis that, in the judgment of the Initial
Purchasers, is material and adverse and (b) in the case of any of the events
specified in clauses (a)(i) through (iv), such event, singly or together with
any other such event, makes it, in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers,
impracticable or inadvisable to market the Notes on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Offering Memorandum.

                   11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The
respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other
statements of the Company or its officers and of the Initial Purchasers set
forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial
Purchasers or the Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling
persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and
payment for the Notes. The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive
the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

                   12. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing
and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Initial Purchasers, will be
mailed, delivered or sent by facsimile (212-761-0086) and confirmed to them, at
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036,
attention: General Counsel; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed,
delivered or sent by facsimile (212-906-8497) and confirmed to it at 110 East
59th Street, 26th Floor, New York, New York 10022, attention: General Counsel.

                   13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the
officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof
and, except as expressly set forth in Section 5(h) hereof no other person will
have any right or obligation hereunder.

                   14. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

                   15. Business Day. For purposes of this Agreement, "business
day" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a
day on which banking institutions in The City of New York, New York are
authorized not to open or are not obligated by law, executive order or
regulation to open.

                   16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts will together constitute one and the same instrument.


                            [Signature pages follow]


                                       26
<PAGE>   27
                  If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of
our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof
whereupon this Agreement and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement
between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.

                                Very truly yours,



                                NTL INCORPORATED



                                By:  /s/ George S. Blumenthal
                                     ___________________________________________
                                     Name:  George S. Blumenthal 
                                     Title: Chairman
<PAGE>   28
The foregoing Agreement is hereby 
confirmed and accepted as of the date 
first above written.


MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED



By:  /s/ Donal A. Quigley
     __________________________________
     Name: 
     Title:



CHASE SECURITIES INC.



By:            Illegible
     __________________________________
     Name: 
     Title:



DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
  SECURITIES CORPORATION



By:  /s/ Anthony Belinkoff
     __________________________________
     Name: Anthony Belinkoff
     Title: Managing Director



GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.



By:  /s/ Goldman, Sachs, & Co.
     __________________________________
     Name: 
     Title:
<PAGE>   29
                                   SCHEDULE I

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES
INITIAL PURCHASER                                                             TO BE PURCHASED      
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------    -------------------------
<S>                                                                       <C>                  
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated ....................................        $ 406,250,000        
Chase Securities Inc. ................................................           93,750,000        
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation...................           62,500,000        
Goldman, Sachs & Co. .................................................           62,500,000        
                                                                              =============        

     TOTAL ...........................................................        $ 625,000,000        
                                                                          
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   30
                                  SCHEDULE II


1.       Amended and Restated Agreement of Reorganization and Plan of Merger,
         dated as of May 28, 1993, among the Company, OCOM Corporation and
         CableTel Merger, Inc.

2.       Rights Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1993, between the Company and
         Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent.

3.       Indenture, dated as of April 20, 1995, between the Company and the
         Trustee, governing the Company's 12-3/4% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes
         Due 2005, as amended by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of
         January 22, 1996, as amended by a Second Supplemental Indenture, dated
         as of October 14, 1998.

4.       Indenture, dated as of January 30, 1996, between the Company and the
         Trustee, governing the Company's 11-1/2% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes
         Due 2006, as amended by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of
         October 14, 1998.

5.       Indenture, dated as of June 12, 1996, between the Company and the
         Trustee governing the Company's 7% Convertible Subordinated Notes Due
         2008.

6.       Indenture, dated as of February 12, 1997, between the Company and the
         Trustee governing the Company's 10% Senior Notes Due 2007, as amended
         by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 14, 1998.

7.       Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued by the Company to various
         persons in the form included as an exhibit to the Company's Annual
         Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.

8.       NTL, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan.

9.       NTL, Inc. 1993 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan.

10.      OCOM Corporation 1991 Stock Option Plan.

11.      Consulting Agreement between the Company and Insight Communications
         Company, L.P.

12.      Non-Competition Agreements between the Company and various persons in
         the form included as an exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on Form
         10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.

13.      Credit Facility between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, dated
         as of October 17, 1997, as amended by that certain letter agreement,
         dated as of March 6, 1998.

14.      Indenture, dated as of March 13, 1998, between the Company and The
         Chase Manhattan Bank governing the Company's 9-1/2% Sterling Senior
         Notes Due 2008.
<PAGE>   31
15.      Indenture, dated as of February 12, 1997, between the Company and The
         Chase Manhattan Bank governing the Company's 10-3/4% Sterling Senior
         Deferred Coupon Notes Due 2008.

16.      Indenture, dated as of February 12, 1997, between the Company and The
         Chase Manhattan Bank governing the Company's 9-3/4% Senior Deferred
         Coupon Notes Due 2008.

17.      Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation, dated as of February 4, 1998, as
         amended, among the Company, NTL (Bermuda) Limited, a Bermuda
         corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and Comcast UK
         Cable Partners Limited.(1)

18.      Share Exchange Agreement, dated as of June 16, 1998, among the Company
         and the shareholders of Diamond Cable Communications Plc. set forth
         therein.




- ----------
(1)      This agreement may be removed from this Schedule II if the amalgamation
         has closed by the Closing Date.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                                NTL INCORPORATED

           $450,000,000 12-3/8% SENIOR DEFERRED COUPON NOTES DUE 2008

                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                                                October 30, 1998


MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
    1585 Broadway
    New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  NTL incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"),
proposes to issue and sell to the parties named in Schedule I hereto
$450,000,000 in aggregate principal amount at maturity of its 12-3/8% Senior
Deferred Coupon Notes Due 2008 (the "NOTES"). The parties named in Schedule I
hereto are each, individually, an "INITIAL PURCHASER" and, collectively, the
"INITIAL PURCHASERS." The Notes are to be issued under an indenture (the
INDENTURE), dated as of November 6, 1998, between the Company and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE").

                  The sale of the Notes to the Initial Purchasers will be made
without registration of the Notes under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "SECURITIES ACT"), in reliance upon exemptions from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act. The Initial Purchasers have advised the
Company that they will offer and sell the Notes purchased by them hereunder in
accordance with Section 4 hereof as soon as they deem advisable after the
execution and delivery of this Agreement.

                  In connection with the sale of the Notes, the Company has
prepared an offering memorandum, dated October 30, 1998 (the "OFFERING
MEMORANDUM"). Any reference to the Offering Memorandum shall be deemed to refer
to and include all documents incorporated by reference therein to filings made
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") pursuant to
Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), and all subsequent documents so filed by the
Company with the Commission on or prior to the date of the Offering Memorandum
and any reference to the Offering Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, as of
any specified date, shall be deemed to include (i) any documents filed with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after
the date of the Offering Memorandum and prior to such specified date and (ii)
all documents filed under the Exchange Act and so deemed to be included in the
Offering Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto are hereinafter 
called the "EXCHANGE ACT REPORTS."
<PAGE>   2
                  The Offering Memorandum sets forth certain information
concerning the Company and the Notes. The Company hereby confirms that it has
authorized the use of the Offering Memorandum, and any amendment or supplement
thereto, in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes by the Initial
Purchasers.

                  The holders of the Notes will be entitled to the benefits of
the Registration Rights Agreement to be entered into among the Company and the
Initial Purchasers (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT").

                  1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and
warrants to each Initial Purchaser as set forth below in this Section 1.

                  (a) The Offering Memorandum, at the date hereof does not, and
         at the Closing Date (as defined below) will not (and any amendment or
         supplement thereto, at the date thereof and at the Closing Date, will
         not), contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
         any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
         light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
         provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or warranty
         as to the information contained in or omitted from the Offering
         Memorandum, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon
         and in conformity with information relating to any initial Purchaser
         furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Initial
         Purchasers specifically for inclusion therein.

                  (b) Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates (as defined
         in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act ("REGULATION
         D")), nor any person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or
         indirectly, made offers or sales of any security, or solicited offers
         to buy any security, under circumstances that would require the
         registration of the Notes under the Securities Act.

                  (c) No securities of the same class as the Notes have been
         issued and sold by the Company within the six-month period immediately
         prior to the date hereof

                  (d) Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any
         person acting on its or their behalf has engaged in any form of general
         solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation
         D) in connection with any offer or sale of the Notes in the United
         States.

                  (e) Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any
         person acting on its or their behalf has engaged or will engage in any
         directed selling efforts within the meaning of Regulation S under the
         Securities Act ("REGULATION S") with respect to the Notes, and each of
         them has complied with the offering restriction requirements of
         Regulation S in connection with the offering of the Notes outside the
         United States.

                  (f) The Notes satisfy the eligibility requirements of Rule
         144A(d)(3) under the Securities Act.

                  (g) At the Closing Date, the Company will have been advised by
         the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. PORTAL Market
         ("PORTAL") that the Notes have been or will be designated PORTAL
         eligible securities in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
         National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.


                                       2
<PAGE>   3
                  (h) The Company is not an "investment company" within the
         meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
         "INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT"), without taking account of any exemption
         arising out of the number of holders of the Company's securities.

                  (i) The Company and each of its subsidiaries has been duly
         incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing (or
         the local equivalent thereof, if any) under the laws of its
         jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power and authority
         to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted and to own,
         lease and operate its properties, in each case, as described in the
         Offering Memorandum, and each is duly qualified and in good standing as
         a foreign corporation authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in
         which the nature of its business or its ownership or leasing of
         property requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so
         qualified or in good standing would not have a material adverse effect
         on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the
         Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (j) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
         violation of its respective certificate of incorporation or by-laws or
         other governing documents or is in default in the performance of any
         obligation, agreement or condition contained in any bond, debenture,
         note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any indenture,
         material agreement or material instrument to which the Company or any
         of its Material Subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) is a party
         or by which it or any of its Material Subsidiaries is bound or to which
         any of their respective properties is subject or, except as referred to
         in the Offering Memorandum, is in violation of any law, statute, rule,
         regulation, judgment or court decree applicable to the Company or any
         of its Material Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties
         (including any laws, statutes, rules or regulations promulgated by the
         Independent Television Commission ("ITC"), the Office of
         Telecommunications ("OFTEL") and the Department of Trade and Industry
         ("DTI")), nor has any event occurred which with notice or lapse of time
         or both would constitute such a violation or default, except in each
         case, which would not have a material adverse effect on the business,
         financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (k) The Company has all requisite corporate power and
         authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this
         Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement and to
         issue, sell and deliver the Notes as provided herein and therein.

                  (l) The (i) issuance and sale of the Notes by the Company,
         (ii) execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the
         Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, (iii) compliance by
         the Company with the provisions of the Notes, this Agreement, the
         Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, and (iv) consummation
         of the transactions contemplated by any of the Notes, this Agreement,
         the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, will not require
         any consent, approval, authorization or other order of any court,
         regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body,
         including the Federal Communications Commission, ITC, OFTEL or DTI
         (except such as may be required under the securities or Blue Sky laws
         of the various states and those consents, authorizations, approvals,
         orders, filings, registrations or notices that have been obtained or
         made and are in full force and effect) and will not conflict with or
         constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions of or a default
         under, the certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or other governing
         documents) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any bond,
         debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in


                                        3
<PAGE>   4
         any indenture, material agreement or material instrument to which the
         Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party or by which it
         or any of its Material Subsidiaries is bound or any of their respective
         properties is subject, or violate or conflict with any law, statute,
         rule, regulation, judgment or court decree applicable to the Company or
         any of its Material Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties
         (including any laws, statutes, rules or regulations promulgated by ITC,
         OFTEL or DTI).

                  (m) Except as otherwise set forth in the Offering Memorandum,
         there are no material investigations, proceedings or actions, whether
         judicial or administrative and whether brought by any regulatory body,
         administrative agency or other governmental body or by any other
         person, pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, to
         which the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party or of
         which any of their respective properties is the subject.

                  (n) The Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries have all
         such permits, licenses, franchises and authorizations of governmental
         or regulatory authorities or other rights currently necessary to be
         procured by them in order to engage in the respective businesses
         currently conducted by each of them as set forth in the Offering
         Memorandum (collectively, "PERMITS"), including, without limitation,
         under any laws regulating or relating to the conduct of cable/telephony
         operations, as are necessary to own, lease and operate its respective
         properties and to conduct its business, except where the failure to
         have any such Permit would not have a material adverse effect on the
         business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company
         and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; the Company and each of its
         Material Subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed all of their
         respective obligations with respect to such Permits, and no event has
         occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow,
         revocation or termination of any such Permit or result in any other
         impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit, except in
         each case, as would not have a material adverse effect on the business,
         financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
         subsidiaries taken as a whole, and subject in each case to such
         qualification as may be set forth in the Offering Memorandum, and,
         except as described in the Offering Memorandum, no such Permit contains
         any restriction that would have a material adverse effect on the
         business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company
         and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Neither the Company nor any of
         its Material Subsidiaries has any reason to believe that any
         governmental body or regulatory agency is considering limiting,
         suspending or revoking any Permits, except as would not have a material
         adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of
         operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (o) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized,
         executed and delivered by the Company.

                  (p) The Indenture has been duly and validly authorized by the
         Company and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company and duly
         authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, will be the valid
         and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
         Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that (i)
         enforcement thereof may be limited by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in
         effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and (2)
         general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is
         considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (ii) the waiver
         contained in Section 4.04 of the Indenture may be deemed unenforceable.


                                        4
<PAGE>   5
                  (q) The Notes have been duly and validly authorized by the
         Company and, when (i) the Notes have been duly executed and
         authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, (ii) the
         Notes have been delivered to and paid for by the Initial Purchasers as
         contemplated by this Agreement and (iii) the Indenture has been duty
         executed and delivered by the Company (assuming the due authorization,
         execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee), the Notes will be valid
         and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the
         benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in
         accordance with their terms, except to the extent that (I) enforcement
         thereof may be limited by (x) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
         moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to
         or affecting creditors' rights generally and (y) general principles of
         equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding
         in equity or at law) and (2) the waiver contained in Section 4.04 of
         the Indenture may be deemed unenforceable.

                  (r) The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly and
         validly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed and delivered
         by the Company (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery
         thereof by the Initial Purchasers), will be the valid and legally
         binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
         accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be
         limited by the effect of (x) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
         moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to
         or affecting creditors' rights generally and (y) general principles of
         equity (whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or
         at law).

                  (s) The consolidated financial statements of the Company and
         its subsidiaries present fairly in all material respects the financial
         position and results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries
         at the respective dates and for the respective periods indicated. Such
         financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally
         accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout
         the periods presented except as described in the Offering Memorandum
         and except that the unaudited interim financial statements are subject
         to normal year end adjustments. The selected financial data included in
         the Offering Memorandum present fairly the information shown therein
         and have been prepared on a basis consistent with that of the financial
         statements included in the Offering Memorandum.

                  (t) The Company is subject to and in full compliance with the
         reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange
         Act.

                  (u) The Company has not paid or agreed to pay to any person
         any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any securities of
         the Company (except as contemplated by this Agreement).

                  (v) The information provided by the Company pursuant to
         Section 5(g) hereof will not, at the date thereof contain any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
         necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

                  (w) It is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and
         delivery of the Notes in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and
         the Offering Memorandum to register the Notes under the Act or to
         qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
         (the "TRUST INDENTURE ACT").


                                       5
<PAGE>   6
                  (x) There is no employee pension or benefit plan with respect
         to which the Company or any corporation considered an affiliate of the
         Company within the meaning of Section 407(d)(7) of ERISA is a party in
         interest or disqualified person. The execution and delivery of this
         Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, and the
         resale by the Initial Purchasers of the Notes to certain purchasers as
         set forth in Section 4 hereof will not involve any prohibited
         transaction within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975
         of the Code. The representation made by the Company in the preceding
         sentence is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of, and
         compliance with, the representations and covenants made or deemed made
         by the purchasers of the Notes as set forth in the Offering Memorandum
         under the Section entitled "Transfer Restrictions."

                  (y) The Exchange Act Reports, when they were or are filed with
         the Commission, conformed or will conform in all material respects to
         the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable
         rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

                  2. Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions and
in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the
Company agrees to sell to each Initial Purchaser, and each Initial Purchaser
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase
price of 53.38% of the principal amount thereof, plus accreted value, if any,
the principal amount at maturity of Notes set forth opposite such Initial
Purchaser's name on Schedule I hereto.

                  3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Notes
shall be made at 9:00 A.M., New York time, on November 6, 1998, or such later
date as the Initial Purchasers and the Company may agree or as provided in
Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Notes being
herein called the "CLOSING DATE"). Delivery of the Notes shall be made to the
Initial Purchasers for their respective account against payment by the Initial
Purchasers of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by
wire transfer in same-day funds to a U.S. dollar account designated by the
Company or such other manner of payment as may be designated by the Company and
agreed to by the Initial Purchasers not less than two business days prior to the
Closing Date. Delivery of the Notes shall be made at such location as the
Initial Purchasers shall reasonably designate at least one business day in
advance of the Closing Date and payment for the Notes shall be made at the
office of Latham & Watkins ("COUNSEL FOR THE INITIAL PURCHASER"), 885 Third
Avenue, New York, New York. Global note certificates representing the Notes
shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Initial
Purchasers may request not less than two full U.S. business days in advance of
the Closing Date.

                  The Company agrees to have the Notes available for inspection
and checking by the Initial Purchasers in New York, New York not later than 9:00
A.M., New York time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date.

                  4. Offering of Notes. Each Initial Purchaser (i) acknowledges
that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be
offered or sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not
subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act or pursuant to
an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and (ii) severally,
not jointly, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company that:

                  (a) It has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell,
         any Notes except (i) to those it reasonably believes to be qualified
         institutional buyers (as defined in Rule 144A under the


                                        6
<PAGE>   7
         Securities Act) and that, in connection with each such sale, it has
         taken or will take reasonable steps to ensure that the purchaser of
         such securities is aware that such sale is being made in reliance on
         Rule 144A or (ii) to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S
         and in compliance with the representations, warranties and agreements
         in this Section 4 (all such persons referred to in clauses (i) and (ii)
         are hereinafter collectively referred to as "ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS").

                  (b) Neither it nor any of its Affiliates or any person acting
         on its or their behalf has made or will make offers or sales of the
         Notes in the United States by means of any form of general solicitation
         or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in the
         United States, except pursuant to a registered public offering as
         provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  (c) Neither it nor any of its Affiliates, nor any person
         acting on its or their behalf will, directly or indirectly, make offers
         or sales of any security, or solicit offers to buy any security, under
         circumstances that would require the registration of the Notes under
         the Securities Act.

                  (d) Neither it nor any of its Affiliates, nor any person
         acting on its or their behalf will engage in any directed selling
         efforts with respect to the Notes, except pursuant to a registered
         public offering as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  (e) (i) It has not offered or sold, and, prior to the expiry
         of the period of six months from the Closing Date, it will not offer or
         sell, any Notes in the United Kingdom except to persons whose ordinary
         activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of
         investments (as principal or as agent) for the purposes of their
         businesses or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and
         will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within
         the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995, (ii)
         it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the
         Financial Services Act 1986 with respect to anything done by it in
         relation to the Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United
         Kingdom, and (iii) it has only issued or passed on and will only issue
         or pass on in the United Kingdom any document received by it in
         connection with the issue of the Notes to a person who is of a kind
         described in Article 11(3) of the Financial Services Act 1986
         (Investment Advertisements) (Exemptions) Order 1996, as amended, or is
         a person to whom the document may otherwise lawfully be issued or
         passed on.

                  (f) No action has been or will be taken by the Company or any
         other person that would permit the offer or sale of the Notes or the
         possession or the distribution of the Offering Memorandum or any other
         offering or publicity material relating to the Notes in any
         jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The Company
         shall have no responsibility with respect to the rights of any person
         to offer or sell Notes or to distribute the Offering Memorandum or any
         other offering material relating to the Notes in any jurisdiction.
         Accordingly, no Initial Purchaser shall offer, sell or deliver any
         Notes, or distribute the Offering Memorandum or any other offering or
         publicity material relating to the Notes, in any jurisdiction except in
         compliance with applicable laws and regulations of that jurisdiction.
         Each Initial Purchaser shall obtain any consent, approval or
         authorization required for it to offer or sell Notes, or to distribute
         the Offering Memorandum or any other offering or publicity material
         relating to the Notes under the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction
         where it proposes to make offers or sales of Notes, or to


                                        7
<PAGE>   8
         distribute the Offering Memorandum or any other offering material
         relating to the Notes, in each case at its own expense, except for the
         reasonable fees and disbursements of Counsel for the Initial Purchasers
         relating to the registration or qualification of the Notes for offer
         and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states of
         the United States.

                  (g) The Notes have not been and will not be registered under
         the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold within the United
         States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in
         accordance with Regulation S or pursuant to an exemption from the
         registration requirements of the Securities Act. It represents that it
         has not offered, sold or delivered the Notes, and will not offer, sell
         or deliver the Notes (i) as part of its distribution at any time or
         (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the
         offering and the Closing Date, within the United States or to, or for
         the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, except in accordance with Rule
         903 of Regulation S or Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Accordingly,
         it agrees that neither it, its Affiliates nor any persons acting on its
         or their behalf has engaged or will engage in any directed selling
         efforts within the meaning of Rule 901(b) of Regulation S with respect
         to the Notes, and it, its Affiliates and all persons acting on its or
         their behalf have complied and will comply with the offering
         restrictions requirements of Regulation S.

                  (h) It represents and agrees that the Notes offered and sold
         in reliance on Regulation S have been and will be offered and sold only
         in offshore transactions and that such securities have been and will be
         represented upon issuance by a global security that may not be
         exchanged for definitive securities until the expiration of the
         Distribution Compliance Period (as defined in Rule 902(f) of Regulation
         S) and only upon certification of beneficial ownership of the
         securities by a non-U.S. person or a U.S. person who purchased such
         securities in a transaction that was exempt from the registration
         requirements of the Securities Act.

                  (i) It agrees that, at or prior to confirmation of a sale of
         Notes (other than a sale in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof), it
         will have sent to each distributor, dealer or person receiving a
         selling concession, fee or other remuneration that purchases Notes from
         it during the Distribution Compliance Period a confirmation or notice
         to substantially the following effect:

                  "The Notes covered hereby have not been registered under the
                  U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES
                  ACT"), and may not be offered and sold within the United
                  States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons
                  (i) as part of their distribution at any time or (ii)
                  otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of
                  the offering and the date of closing of the offering, except
                  in either case in accordance with Regulation S (or Rule 144A
                  or another exemption from the registration requirements of the
                  Securities Act if available) under the Securities Act. Terms
                  used above have the meaning given to them by Regulation S."

                  It further agrees that it has not entered and will not enter
         into any contractual arrangement with respect to the distribution or
         delivery of the Notes, except with its Affiliates or with the prior
         written consent of the Company.


                                        8
<PAGE>   9
                  (j) It agrees not to cause any advertisement of the Notes to
         be published in any newspaper or periodical or posted in any public
         place and not to issue any circular relating to the Notes, except such
         advertisements that include the statements required by Regulation S.

                  Terms used in this Section 4 that have meanings assigned to
         them in Regulation S are used in this Section 4 as so defined.

                  5. Agreements. The Company agrees with each Initial Purchaser
that:

                  (a) The Company will furnish to each Initial Purchaser and to
         Counsel for the Initial Purchasers, without charge, during the period
         referred to in paragraph (b) below, as many copies of the Offering
         Memorandum and any amendments and supplements thereto as it may
         reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or
         other production of all documents relating to the offering.

                  (b) At any time prior to the completion of the sale of the
         Notes by the Initial Purchasers, the Company will not amend or
         supplement the Offering Memorandum if the Initial Purchasers reasonably
         object to such amendment or supplement within two business days after
         receiving a copy thereof and if at any time prior to the completion of
         the sale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers, any event occurs as a
         result of which the Offering Memorandum, as then amended or
         supplemented, would include any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
         therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
         not misleading, or if it should be necessary to amend or supplement the
         Offering Memorandum to comply with applicable law, the Company will
         promptly notify the Initial Purchasers of the same, will prepare and
         provide to the Initial Purchasers the proposed amendment or supplement
         which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance
         and will not publish such amendment or supplement if the Initial
         Purchasers reasonably object to the publication of such amendment or
         supplement within two business days after receiving a copy thereof.

                  (c) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the
         Notes for sale by the Initial Purchasers under the laws of such
         jurisdictions, if any, as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably
         designate in writing prior to the date of this Agreement and will
         maintain such qualifications in effect so long as reasonably required
         for the distribution of the Notes; provided, however, that the Company
         shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify to do business
         in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any
         action which would subject it to general or unlimited service of
         process or taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.
         The Company will promptly advise the Initial Purchasers of the receipt
         by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of
         the qualification of the Notes for sale in any jurisdiction or the
         initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

                  (d) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its
         Affiliates to, resell any Notes that have been acquired by any of them.

                  (e) Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any
         person acting on its or their behalf will, directly or indirectly, make
         offers or sales of any security, or solicit offers to buy any security,
         under circumstances that would require the registration of the Notes
         under the Securities Act.


                                        9
<PAGE>   10
                  (f) Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any
         person acting on its or their behalf will engage in any form of general
         solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation
         D) in connection with any offer or sale of the Notes in the United
         States, except pursuant to a registered public offering as provided in
         the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  (g) So long as any of the Notes are "restricted securities"
         within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, the
         Company will, during any period in which it is not subject to and in
         compliance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, provide to
         each holder of such restricted securities and to each prospective
         purchaser (as designated by such holder) of such restricted securities,
         upon the request of such holder or prospective purchaser, any
         information required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the
         Securities Act. This covenant is intended to be for the benefit of the
         holders, and the prospective purchasers designated by such holders,
         from time to time of such restricted securities.

                  (h) Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any
         person acting on its or their behalf will engage in any directed
         selling efforts with respect to the Notes, except pursuant to a
         registered public offering as provided in the Registration Rights
         Agreement, and each of them will comply with the offering restrictions
         requirement of Regulation S. Terms used in this paragraph have the
         meanings given to them by Regulation S.

                  (i) The Company will cooperate with the Initial Purchasers and
         use its best efforts to permit the Notes to be eligible for clearance
         and settlement through DTC and, with respect to any Notes sold in
         accordance with Regulation S. the Cedel Bank, societe anonyme ("CEDEL
         BANK"), and the Euroclear System ("EUROCLEAR").

                  (j) The Company will not, until 90 days following the Closing
         Date, without the prior written consent of the Initial Purchasers,
         offer, issue, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of,
         directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any senior debt
         securities issued or guaranteed by the Company (other than (i) pursuant
         to a registered public offering as provided in the Registration Rights
         Agreement relating to the Notes, (ii) the solicitation of consents,
         waivers or any other action by or from the holders of the Company's
         debt securities outstanding immediately prior to the Closing Date,
         (iii) the negotiation, syndication, arrangement or completion of, or
         borrowings under, the Credit Facility (as defined in the Indenture),
         (iv) the issuance of the Company's 11-1/2% Senior Notes due 2008 or (v)
         the issuance of registered (a) Series B 9-1/2% Senior Notes due 2008,
         (b) Series B 10-3/4% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes due 2008 and (c)
         Series B 9-3/4% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes due 2008, in each case in
         exchange for privately placed (a) 9-1/2% Senior Notes due 2008, (b)
         10-3/4% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes due 2008 and (c) 9-3/4% Senior
         Deferred Coupon Notes due 2008, respectively.).

                  (k) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this
         Agreement are consummated or this Agreement becomes effective or is
         terminated, to pay all costs, expenses, fees and taxes incident to and
         in connection with: (i) the preparation, printing, filing and
         distribution of the Offering Memorandum (including, without limitation,
         financial statements and supplements thereto), (ii) the preparation,
         printing (including, without limitation, word processing and
         duplication costs) and delivery of this Agreement, the Registration
         Rights Agreement and the indenture, all Blue Sky Memoranda and all
         other agreements, memoranda, correspondence and other documents printed
         and delivered in connection herewith and with the sale of the Notes by
         the Initial Purchasers to certain purchasers as set forth in Section 4
         above,


                                       10
<PAGE>   11
         (iii) the issuance and delivery of the Notes, (iv) the registration or
         qualification of the Notes for offer and sale under the securities or
         Blue Sky laws of the several states (including, without limitation, the
         reasonable fees and disbursements of the Initial Purchasers' counsel
         relating to such registration or qualification), (v) the preparation of
         certificates for the Notes (including, without limitation, printing and
         engraving thereof), (vi) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the
         Company's counsel and accountants, (vii) all expenses and listing fees
         in connection with the application for quotation of the Notes on
         PORTAL, (viii) all fees and expenses (including fees and expenses of
         counsel) of the Company in connection with approval of the Notes by DTC
         for "book-entry" transfer and eligibility of settlement of transactions
         in the Notes sold in accordance with Regulation S through Euroclear and
         Cedel Bank, (ix) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and the
         registrars of the Notes (including fees and disbursement of their
         counsel) and (x) the performance by the Company of its other
         obligations under this Agreement.

                  6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Initial Purchasers.
The obligations of the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Notes shall be subject
to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company
contained herein at the date and time that this Agreement is executed and
delivered by the parties hereto (the "EXECUTION TIME") and the Closing Date, to
the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant
to the provisions hereof to the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

                  (a) The Company shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers
         the opinion of Richard J. Lubasch, Senior Vice President, General
         Counsel and Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the
         effect that:

                           (i) each of the Company and CableTel UK Group, inc.
                  and any other subsidiary of the Company which is a
                  "significant subsidiary" as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of
                  Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and is incorporated
                  under the laws of the State of Delaware (for purposes of this
                  Section 6(a) only, individually, a "SUBSIDIARY" and
                  collectively, the "SUBSIDIARIES") has been duly incorporated
                  and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good
                  standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with full
                  corporate power and authority to own its properties and
                  conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum,
                  and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation
                  and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction
                  which requires such qualification where failure so to qualify
                  would have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
                  subsidiaries taken as a whole;

                           (ii) all the outstanding shares of capital stock of
                  each Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and
                  issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as
                  otherwise set forth in the Offering Memorandum, all of the
                  outstanding shares of capital stock of the Subsidiaries are
                  owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned
                  subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected security interest
                  and, to the knowledge of such counsel, after due inquiry, any
                  other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances;

                           (iii) the Company's authorized equity capitalization
                  is as set forth in the Offering Memorandum;


                                       11
<PAGE>   12
                           (iv) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed
                  and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due
                  authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee,
                  constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the
                  Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
                  terms, except to the extent that (i) enforcement thereof may
                  be limited by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
                  moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
                  relating to or affecting creditor's rights generally and (2)
                  general principles of equity (regardless of whether
                  enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)
                  and (ii) the waiver contained in Section 4.04 of the Indenture
                  may be deemed unenforceable;

                           (v) The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly
                  authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and,
                  assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof
                  by the Initial Purchasers, constitutes a valid and legally
                  binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the
                  Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent
                  that enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy,
                  insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
                  now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors'
                  rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity
                  (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
                  proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) the enforceability
                  of indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited
                  by Federal and state securities laws or the public policy
                  underlying such laws;

                           (vi) the Notes have been duly and validly authorized
                  and executed by the Company and, when duly authenticated in
                  accordance with the terms of the indenture and delivered to
                  and paid for by the Initial Purchasers as contemplated by this
                  Agreement (assuming the due authorization, execution and
                  delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee), will constitute
                  valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled
                  to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the
                  Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent
                  that (1) enforcement thereof may be limited by (x) bankruptcy,
                  insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
                  now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors'
                  rights generally and (y) general principles of equity
                  (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
                  proceeding in equity or at law) and (2) the waiver contained
                  in Section 4.04 of the Indenture may be deemed unenforceable;

                           (vii) the statements set forth under the heading
                  "Description of Notes" and "Description of Certain
                  Indebtedness" in the Offering Memorandum, insofar as they
                  purport to constitute a summary of documents referred to
                  therein (and assuming that the documents referred to therein
                  are governed by the law of New York or Delaware) fairly
                  present such documents in all material respects;

                           (viii) this Agreement has been duly authorized,
                  executed and delivered by the Company;

                           (ix) no consent, approval, authorization or order of
                  any Delaware, New York or U.S. federal court or governmental
                  agency or body is required for the consummation of the
                  transactions contemplated herein, except such as may be
                  required under the blue sky or securities laws of any
                  jurisdiction in connection with the purchase


                                       12
<PAGE>   13
                  and sale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers (as to which
                  counsel need express no opinion) and such other approvals
                  (specified in such opinion) as have been obtained;

                           (x) the issuance and sale of the Notes by the
                  Company, the execution and delivery of the Indenture, the
                  Registration Rights Agreement and this Agreement by the
                  Company, compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and
                  the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will
                  not (a) conflict with the charter or by-laws of the Company,
                  (b) result in any violation of the General Corporation Law of
                  the State of Delaware, the laws of the State of New York or
                  the federal laws of the United States of America (the
                  "REQUIREMENTS OF LAW") or (c) constitute a breach of or an
                  event of default under the terms of any indenture or other
                  agreement to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
                  party or bound which is listed on Schedule II hereto (except
                  that such counsel need not express an opinion as to any
                  covenant, restriction or provision of any such agreement with
                  respect to financial covenants, ratios or tests or any aspect
                  of the financial condition or results of operations of the
                  Company or any of its subsidiaries and such counsel may assume
                  that all such agreements or instruments are governed by the
                  law of New York or Delaware) or any judgment, order or decree
                  known to such counsel to be applicable to the Company or any
                  of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body,
                  administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator
                  (collectively, the "ORDERS") of the United States or the
                  States of New York or Delaware having jurisdiction over the
                  Company or any of its subsidiaries which conflict, breach or
                  default will have a material adverse effect on the condition
                  (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of
                  the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or the
                  transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided,
                  however, that such counsel's opinion expressed in this
                  paragraph may be based on such counsel's review of those
                  Requirements of Law which, in such counsel's experience, are
                  normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated
                  by in this Agreement, but without having made any special
                  investigation concerning any other Requirements of Law, and
                  those Orders specifically identified to such counsel by the
                  Company as being Orders to which it is subject; provided,
                  however, that such counsel need express no opinion with
                  respect to the U.S. federal or state securities laws or blue
                  sky laws, antifraud laws and the rules and regulations of the
                  National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.;

                           (xi) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of
                  any legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to
                  which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or could be a
                  party or to which any of their respective property is or could
                  be subject, which might result in a material adverse effect on
                  the business, financial condition or results of operations of
                  the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

                           (xii) the Indenture is in such form that would not
                  preclude qualification under the Trust Indenture Act, in
                  accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

                           (xiii) assuming (1) the accuracy of the
                  representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
                  Section I of this Agreement and of the Initial Purchasers'
                  representations and warranties set forth in Section 4 of this
                  Agreement, (2) the due performance by the Company of the
                  agreements set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement and the
                  due performance by the Initial Purchasers of the agreements
                  set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement, (3) compliance by
                  the Initial Purchasers with the offering and


                                       13
<PAGE>   14
                  transfer procedures and restrictions described elsewhere in
                  this Agreement and in the Offering Memorandum, (4) the
                  accuracy of the representations and agreements made in
                  accordance with this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum by
                  the purchasers to whom the Initial Purchasers initially resell
                  the Notes and (5) that purchasers to whom the Initial
                  Purchasers initially resell the Notes receive a copy of the
                  Offering Memorandum prior to such sale, the offer, sale and
                  initial resale of the Notes in the manner contemplated by this
                  Agreement and the Offering Memorandum, do not require
                  registration under the Securities Act and the Indenture does
                  not require qualification under the Trust Indenture Act, it
                  being understood that such counsel does not express any
                  opinion as to any subsequent resale of any Note; and

                           (xiv) the Company is not required to be registered as
                  an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
                  Company Act, without taking account of any exemption arising
                  out of the number of holders of the Company's securities.

                  Such counsel shall also state that, in the course of
preparation by the Company of the Offering Memorandum, such counsel has
participated in conferences with directors, officers and other representatives
of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Company, representatives of the Initial Purchasers and representatives of
Counsel for the Initial Purchasers, at which conferences the contents of the
Offering Memorandum and related matters were discussed and, although such
counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Offering
Memorandum and has made no independent check or verification thereof (except as
stated in paragraph (vii) hereof, on the basis of the foregoing (relying as to
materiality to a large extent upon the statements of directors, officers and
other representatives of the Company), no facts have come to such counsel's
attention which have caused such counsel to believe that the Offering
Memorandum, as of its date or as of the Closing Date, contained or contains an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood
that such counsel need not express any opinion or belief with respect to the
financial statements and schedules and other financial and accounting data
included in or omitted from the Offering Memorandum).

                  Such opinion may be limited to the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware and the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws
of the United States and may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications
and exceptions. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters
involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of
New York, the State of Delaware or the United States, to the extent such counsel
deems proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel
who are satisfactory to Counsel for the Initial Purchasers.

                  All references in this Section 6(a) to the Offering Memorandum
shall be deemed to include any amendment or supplement thereto at the Closing
Date.

                  (b) The Company shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers
         an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Initial
         Purchasers, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:

                           (i) Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited has been duly
                  organized and is validly existing and in good standing under
                  the laws of its jurisdiction of organization


                                       14
<PAGE>   15
                  with full power and authority to own its properties and
                  conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum;

                           (ii) all the outstanding shares of capital stock of
                  Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited have been duly and validly
                  authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable,
                  and, except as otherwise set forth in the Offering Memorandum,
                  all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of such entity
                  are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly
                  owned subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected security
                  interest and, to the knowledge of such counsel, after due
                  inquiry, any other security interests, claims, liens or
                  encumbrances;

                  (c) The Company shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers
         the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for
         the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:

                           (i) each of the Company and CableTel UK Group, Inc.
                  (for purposes of this Section 6(c) only, individually, a
                  "Subsidiary" and collectively, the "Subsidiaries") has been
                  duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation and
                  is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

                           (ii) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed
                  and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due
                  authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee,
                  constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the
                  Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
                  terms, except to the extent that (i) enforcement thereof may
                  be limited by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
                  moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
                  relating to or affecting creditor's rights generally and (2)
                  general principles of equity (regardless of whether
                  enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)
                  and (ii) the waiver contained in Section 4.04 of the Indenture
                  may be deemed unenforceable;

                           (iii) The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly
                  authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and,
                  assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof
                  by the Initial Purchasers, constitutes a valid and legally
                  binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the
                  Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent
                  that enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy,
                  insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
                  now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors'
                  rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity
                  (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
                  proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) the enforceability
                  of indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited
                  by Federal and state securities laws or the public policy
                  underlying such laws;

                           (iv) the Notes have been duly and validly authorized
                  and executed by the Company and, when duly authenticated in
                  accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered to
                  and paid for by the Initial Purchasers as contemplated by this
                  Agreement (assuming the due authorization, execution and
                  delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee), will constitute
                  valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled
                  to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the
                  Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent
                  that (1) enforcement thereof may be


                                       15
<PAGE>   16
                  limited by (x) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
                  moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
                  relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and (y)
                  general principles of equity (regardless of whether
                  enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)
                  and (2) the waiver contained in Section 4.04 of the Indenture
                  may be deemed unenforceable;

                           (v) the statements made under the heading
                  "Description of Notes" and "Description of Certain
                  Indebtedness" in the Offering Memorandum, insofar as they
                  constitute summaries of the provisions of the Indenture and
                  the Notes, fairly present such provisions in all material
                  respects;

                           (vi) this Agreement has been duly authorized,
                  executed and delivered by the Company;

                           (vii) although the discussion in the Offering
                  Memorandum under the caption "Certain Federal Income Tax
                  Considerations" does not purport to discuss all possible U.S.
                  federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and
                  disposition of the Notes, such discussion constitutes, in all
                  material respects, a fair summary of the U.S. federal income
                  tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of
                  the Notes under current law;

                           (viii) the issuance and sale of the Notes by the
                  Company, the execution and delivery of the Indenture, the
                  Registration Rights Agreement and this Agreement by the
                  Company, compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and
                  the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will
                  not (a) conflict with the charter or by-laws of the Company,
                  (b) result in any violation of the General Corporation Law of
                  the State of Delaware, the laws of the State of New York or
                  the federal laws of the United States of America (the
                  "REQUIREMENTS OF LAW") or (c) constitute a breach of or event
                  of default under the terms of any indenture or other agreement
                  to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or
                  bound which is listed on Schedule II hereto (except that such
                  counsel need not express an opinion as to any covenant,
                  restriction or provision of any such agreement with respect to
                  financial covenants, ratios or tests or any aspect of the
                  financial condition or results of operations of the Company or
                  any of its subsidiaries and such counsel may assume that all
                  such agreements or instruments are governed by the law of New
                  York or Delaware) or any judgment, order or decree known to
                  such counsel to be applicable to the Company or any of its
                  subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative
                  agency, governmental body or arbitrator (collectively, the
                  "ORDERS") of the United States or the States of Delaware or
                  New York having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
                  subsidiaries; provided, however, that such counsel's opinion
                  expressed in this paragraph may be based on such counsel's
                  review of those Requirements of Law which, in such counsel's
                  experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the
                  type contemplated by in this Agreement, but without having
                  made any special investigation concerning any other
                  Requirements of Law, and those Orders specifically identified
                  to such counsel by the Company as being Orders to which it is
                  subject; provided, however, that such counsel need express no
                  opinion in this paragraph with respect to the U.S. federal or
                  state securities laws or blue sky laws, antifraud laws and the
                  rules and regulations of the National Association of
                  Securities Dealers, Inc.;


                                       16
<PAGE>   17
                           (ix) the Indenture is in such form that would not
                  preclude qualification under the Trust Indenture Act, in
                  accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; and

                           (x) assuming (1) the accuracy of the representations
                  and warranties of the Company set forth in Section I of this
                  Agreement and of the Initial Purchasers' representations and
                  warranties set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement, (2) the
                  due performance by the Company of the agreements set forth in
                  Section 5 of this Agreement and the due performance by the
                  Initial Purchasers of the agreements set forth in Section 4 of
                  this Agreement, (3) compliance by the Initial Purchasers with
                  the offering and transfer procedures and restrictions
                  described elsewhere in this Agreement and in the Offering
                  Memorandum, (4) the accuracy of the representations and
                  agreements made in accordance with this Agreement and the
                  Offering Memorandum by the purchasers to whom the Initial
                  Purchasers initially resell the Notes and (5) that purchasers
                  to whom the Initial Purchasers initially resell the Notes
                  receive a copy of the Offering Memorandum prior to such sale,
                  the offer, sale and initial resale of the Notes in the manner
                  contemplated by this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum, do
                  not require registration under the Securities Act and the
                  Indenture do not require qualification under the Trust
                  Indenture, it being understood that such counsel does not
                  express any opinion as to any subsequent resale of any Note.

                  Such counsel shall also state that, in the course of
preparation by the Company of the Offering Memorandum, such counsel has
participated in conferences with directors, officers and other representatives
of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Company, representatives of the Initial Purchasers and representatives of
Counsel for the Initial Purchasers, at which conferences the contents of the
Offering Memorandum and related matters were discussed and, although such
counsel is not passing upon, and does not assume any responsibility for, the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Offering
Memorandum and has made no independent check or verification thereof (except to
the extent stated in paragraphs (v) and (vii) hereof), on the basis of the
foregoing, no facts have come to such counsel's attention which have caused such
counsel to believe that the Offering Memorandum, as of its date and as of the
Closing Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading (it being understood that such counsel need not express any
opinion or belief with respect to the financial statements and schedules and
other financial and accounting data included in or omitted from the Offering
Memorandum).

                  Such opinion may be limited to the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware and the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws
of the United States and may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications
and exceptions. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters
involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of
New York, the State of Delaware or the United States, to the extent they deem
proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel who are
satisfactory to Counsel for the Initial Purchasers.

                  All references in this Section 6(c) to the Offering Memorandum
shall be deemed to include any amendment or supplement thereto at the Closing
Date.


                                       17
<PAGE>   18
                  (d) The Company shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers
         the opinion of Robert Mackenzie, Director of Legal Affairs of the
         Company, dated the Closing Date, in the form previously approved by
         counsel to the Initial Purchasers.

                  (e) The Initial Purchasers shall have received from Latham &
         Watkins, Counsel for the Initial Purchasers, such opinion or opinions,
         dated the Closing Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the
         Notes, the Offering Memorandum (as amended or supplemented at the
         Closing Date) and other related matters as the Initial Purchasers may
         reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such
         counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them
         to pass upon such makers.

                  (f) The Company shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers
         a certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board or
         the President and the principal financial or accounting officer of the
         Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such
         certificate have carefully examined the Offering Memorandum, any
         amendment or supplement to the Offering Memorandum and this Agreement
         and that:

                           (i) the representations and warranties of the Company
                  in this Agreement are true and correct in all material
                  respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as
                  if made on the Closing Date, and the Company has complied with
                  all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its
                  part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the
                  Closing Date;

                           (ii) since the date of the most recent financial
                  statements included in the Offering Memorandum, there has been
                  no adverse change in the condition (financial or other),
                  earnings, business or properties of the Company and its
                  subsidiaries, which is material to the Company and its
                  subsidiaries taken as a whole whether or not arising from
                  transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set
                  forth in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum (exclusive
                  of any amendment or supplement thereto); and

                           (iii) no consolidated financial statements of the
                  Company prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted
                  accounting principles as of any date or any period subsequent
                  to June 30, 1998 are available.

                  (g) At the Closing Date, Ernst & Young LLP shall have
         furnished to the Initial Purchasers a letter or letters, dated as of
         the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial
         Purchasers, confirming that they are independent auditors with respect
         to the Company within the meaning of Rule 101 of AICPA's Code of
         Professional Conduct and its interpretation and rulings and stating in
         effect that:

                           (i) the consolidated financial statements and
                  financial statement schedules audited by them and included in
                  the Offering Memorandum comply as to form in all material
                  respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act
                  and the related published rules and regulations

                           (ii) they have audited the consolidated balance
                  sheets of the Company and its subsidiaries as of December 31,
                  1996 and 1997, and the consolidated statements


                                       18
<PAGE>   19
                  of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of
                  the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997, all
                  included in the Offering Memorandum;

                           (iii) they have read the 1997 and 1998 minutes of
                  meetings of the shareholders and the Board of Directors and
                  other committees of the Company and its subsidiaries as set
                  forth in the minute books through a specified date not more
                  than five business days prior to the date of the letter, and
                  have inquired of certain officials of the Company who have
                  responsibility for financial and accounting matters:

                           (iv) with respect to the six-month periods ended June
                  30, 1997 and 1998, (X) they have (1) performed the procedures
                  specified by the American Institute of Certified Public
                  Accountants for review of interim financial information as
                  described in SAS No. 71, "Interim Financial Information", on
                  the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of
                  the Company and its subsidiaries (the "UNAUDITED FINANCIALS")
                  included in the Offering Memorandum and (2) inquired of
                  certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for
                  financial and accounting matters whether the Unaudited
                  Financials are stated on a basis substantially consistent with
                  that of the audited consolidated financial statements of the
                  Company and its subsidiaries included in the Offering
                  Memorandum and (Y) as a result of the procedures performed in
                  (X) above, nothing came to their attention that caused them to
                  believe that any material modifications should be made to such
                  Unaudited Financials for them to be in conformity with
                  generally accepted accounting principles;

                           (v) with respect to the period subsequent to June 30,
                  1998, management of the Company has informed them that there
                  were not any changes at a specified date not more than five
                  business days prior to the date of the letter, in the
                  long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries or
                  decreases in the capital stock of the Company as compared with
                  the amounts shown on the June 30, 1998, condensed consolidated
                  balance sheet referred to above, except in all instances for
                  changes, decreases or increases set forth in such letter, in
                  which case the letter shall be accompanied by an explanation
                  by the Company as to the significance thereof unless said
                  explanation is not deemed necessary by the Initial Purchasers;

                           (vi) nothing came to their attention that caused them
                  to believe that any unaudited pro forma financial statements
                  included in the Offering Memorandum do not comply as to form
                  in all material respects with Regulation S-X of the Securities
                  Act or the pro forma adjustments have not been properly
                  applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those
                  statements; and

                           (vii) they have performed certain other specified
                  procedures as a result of which they determined that certain
                  information of accounting, financial or statistical nature
                  (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical
                  information derived from the general accounting records of the
                  Company and its subsidiaries) set forth in the Offering
                  Memorandum agrees with the accounting records of the Company
                  and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal
                  interpretation.


                                       19
<PAGE>   20
                  In rendering such letter or letters, Ernst & Young LLP may
rely upon the letters of Deloitte & Touche LLP and PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP
with respect to certain historical financial information included in the
unaudited pro forma financial statements.

                  (h) At the Closing Date, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have
         furnished to the Initial Purchasers a letter or letters, dated as of
         the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial
         Purchasers, confirming that they are independent auditors with respect
         to Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B. V. and
         Telecential and their respective subsidiaries within the meaning of
         Rule 101 of AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct and its interpretation
         and rulings and stating in effect that:

                           (i) the consolidated financial statements and
                  financial statement schedules audited by them and included in
                  the Offering Memorandum comply as to form in all material
                  respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act
                  and the related published rules and regulations

                           (ii) they have audited the consolidated balance
                  sheets of Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK
                  Finance, B.V. and Telecential and their respective
                  subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1997, and the
                  consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity
                  and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
                  December 31, 1997, all included in the Offering Memorandum;

                           (iii) they have read the 1997 and 1998 minutes of
                  meetings of the shareholders and the Board of Directors and
                  other committees of Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel
                  UK Finance, B.V. and Telecential and their respective
                  subsidiaries as set forth in the minute books through a
                  specified date not more than five business days prior to the
                  date of the letter, and have inquired of certain officials of
                  Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and
                  Telecential and their respective subsidiaries who have
                  responsibility for financial and accounting matters;

                           (iv) with respect to the six-month periods ended June
                  30, 1997 and 1998, (X) they have (1) performed the procedures
                  specified by the American Institute of Certified Public
                  Accountants for review of interim financial information as
                  described in SAS No. 71, "Interim Financial Information", on
                  the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of
                  Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and
                  Telecential and their respective subsidiaries (the "D&T
                  UNAUDITED FINANCIALS") included in the Offering Memorandum and
                  (2) inquired of certain officials of Comcast UK Cable Partners
                  Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and Telecential and their
                  respective subsidiaries who have responsibility for financial
                  and accounting matters whether the D&T Unaudited Financials
                  are stated on a basis substantially consistent with that of
                  the audited consolidated financial statements of Comcast UK
                  Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B. V. and
                  Telecential and their respective subsidiaries included in the
                  Offering Memorandum and (Y) as a result of the procedures
                  performed in (X) above, nothing came to their attention that
                  caused them to believe that any material modifications should
                  be made to such D&T Unaudited Financials for them to be in
                  conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;


                                       20
<PAGE>   21
                           (v) with respect to the period subsequent to June 30,
                  1998, management of Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel
                  UK Finance, B.V. and Telecential and their respective
                  subsidiaries has informed them that there were not any changes
                  at a specified date not more than five business days prior to
                  the date of the letter, in the long-term debt of Comcast UK
                  Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and
                  Telecential and their respective subsidiaries or decreases in
                  the capital stock of Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel
                  UK Finance, B.V. and Telecential and their respective
                  subsidiaries as compared with the amounts shown on the June
                  30, 1998, condensed consolidated balance sheet referred to
                  above, except in all instances for changes, decreases or
                  increases set forth in such letter, in which case the letter
                  shall be accompanied by an explanation by Comcast UK Cable
                  Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and Telecential and
                  their respective subsidiaries as to the significance thereof
                  unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by the Initial
                  Purchasers; and

                           (vi) they have performed certain other specified
                  procedures as a result of which they determined that certain
                  information of accounting, financial or statistical nature
                  (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical
                  information derived from the general accounting records of
                  Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and
                  Telecential and their respective subsidiaries) set forth in
                  the Offering Memorandum agrees with the accounting records of
                  Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited, ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and
                  Telecential and their respective subsidiaries, excluding any
                  questions of legal interpretation.

                  (i) At the Closing Date, PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have
         furnished to the Initial Purchasers a letter or letters, dated as of
         the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial
         Purchasers, confirming that they are independent auditors with respect
         to Comcast UK Finance B.V. within the meaning of Rule 101 of AICPA's
         Code of Professional Conduct and its interpretation and rulings and
         stating in effect that:

                           (i) the consolidated financial statements and
                  financial statement schedules audited by them and included in
                  the Offering Memorandum comply as to form in all material
                  respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act
                  and the related published rules and regulations

                           (ii) they have audited the consolidated balance
                  sheets Comcast UK Finance B.V. as of December 31, 1996 and the
                  consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity
                  and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended
                  December 31, 1996, all included in the Offering Memorandum;

                           (iii) they have performed certain other specified
                  procedures as a result of which they determined that certain
                  information of accounting, financial or statistical nature
                  (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical
                  information derived from the general accounting records of
                  Comcast UK Finance B.V.) set forth in the Offering Memorandum
                  agrees with the accounting records of Comcast UK Finance B.V.,
                  excluding any questions of legal interpretation.

                  (j) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates
         as of which information is given in the Offering Memorandum, there
         shall not have been (i) any change or


                                       21
<PAGE>   22
         decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph
         (f) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving
         a prospective change, in or affecting the condition, financial or
         otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company
         and its subsidiaries the effect of which is, in the judgment of the
         Initial Purchasers, so material and adverse as to make it impractical
         or inadvisable to market the Notes as contemplated by the Offering
         Memorandum.

                  (k) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have
         been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company's debt securities
         by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as
         defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Securities Act).

                  (1) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have
         furnished to the Initial Purchasers such further information,
         certificates and documents as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably
         request.

                  (m) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Indenture and the
         Registration Rights Agreement shall have been executed substantially in
         the form hereto delivered to you and shall have been delivered to you
         and the Trustee.

                  (n) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have
         consummated the sale of its 11-1/2% Senior Notes due 2008.

                  If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not
have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this
Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Initial Purchasers and Counsel for the
Initial Purchasers, this Agreement and all obligations of the Initial Purchasers
hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the
Initial Purchasers. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in
writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

                  The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 will
be delivered at the office of Latham & Watkins, Counsel for the Initial
Purchasers, at 885 Third Avenue, New York, New York, on the Closing Date.

                  7. Reimbursement of Expenses. If the sale of the Notes
provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations
of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied,
because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any
refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any
agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a
default by any of the Initial Purchasers in payment for the Notes on the Closing
Date, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers upon demand for all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the
proposed purchase and sale of the Notes against appropriate receipts there for.

                  8. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, each person who controls any
Initial Purchaser within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the respective officers, directors,
partners, employees, representatives and agents of such Initial Purchaser or
controlling person thereof against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of


                                       22
<PAGE>   23
them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other
Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Offering Memorandum, or in any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and agrees to
reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in
the Offering Memorandum or any information provided by the Company to any holder
or prospective purchaser of Notes pursuant to paragraph 5(g) hereof or in any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information relating to any Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company
by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion therein.
This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company
may otherwise have.

                  (b) Each Initial Purchaser, severally and not jointly, agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers, and
each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of
the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Initial Purchaser, but only with
reference to written information relating to such Initial Purchaser furnished to
the Company by or on behalf of such Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion
in the Offering Memorandum (or in any amendment or supplement thereto). This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Initial
Purchaser may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the statements
relating to the Initial Purchasers set forth in the last paragraph of the cover
page and in the second and third sentences of the second paragraph, the fifth
paragraph and the eleventh paragraph under the heading "Plan of Distribution" in
the Offering Memorandum constitute the only information furnished in writing by
or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers for inclusion in the Offering Memorandum
(or in any amendment or supplement thereto).

                  (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any
governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8,
notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof but the
failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from
liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not
otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the
indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified
party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the
indemnifying party's choice at the indemnifying party's expense to represent the
indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which
case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and
expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties
except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the
indemnifying party's election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified
party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ
separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall
bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the
indemnifying party shall authorize


                                       23
<PAGE>   24
the indemnified party in writing to employ separate counsel at the expense of
the indemnifying party, (ii) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party
to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of
interest, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or
(iv) the named parties of any such action (including any impleaded parties)
include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded based upon the advice of such
counsel (with a copy to the indemnifying party) that there may be legal defenses
available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or
additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in any of which cases
the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such
action on behalf of such indemnified party, it being understood, however, that
the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or
separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction
arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the
fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to
any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties, which firm shall be
designated in writing by the indemnified party, and that all such reasonable
fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred upon written request
and presentation of satisfactory invoices). The indemnifying party shall
indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party from and against all losses,
claims, damages and liabilities by reason of any settlement of any action (i)
effected with its written consent or (ii) effected without its written consent
if the settlement is entered into more than twenty business days after the
indemnifying party shall have received a request from the indemnified party for
reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees
and expenses are at the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the
date of such settlement, the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with
such reimbursement request. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence,
if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party
to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, an
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of the nature
contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence effected without its consent
if such indemnifying party (i) reimburses such indemnified party in accordance
with such request to the extent that it considers such request to be reasonable
and (ii) provides written notice to the indemnified party substantiating the
unpaid balance as unreasonable, in each case, prior to the date of settlement.
An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential
parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
(i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does
not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure
to act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.

                  (d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a)
or (b) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Initial Purchasers agree
to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities
(including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with
investigating or defending same) (collectively "LOSSES") to which the Company
and one or more of the Initial Purchasers may be subject in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and by
the Initial Purchasers from the offering of the Notes; provided, however, that
in no case shall any Initial Purchaser (except as may be provided in any
agreement among the Initial Purchasers relating to the offering of the Notes) be
responsible for any amount in excess of the purchase discount or commission
applicable to the Notes purchased by such Initial Purchaser hereunder. If the
allocation


                                       24
<PAGE>   25
provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason,
the Company and the Initial Purchasers shall contribute in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company and of the Initial Purchasers in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be
deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting
expenses), and benefits received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be
equal to the total purchase discounts and commissions received by the Initial
Purchasers from the Company in connection with the purchase of the Notes
hereunder. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether any
alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information provided by the
Company or the Initial Purchasers. The Initial Purchasers' respective
obligations to contribute to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the
principal amount at maturity of Notes they have purchased hereunder, and not
jolt. The Company and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this
Section 8, each person who controls an Initial Purchaser within the meaning of
either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer,
employee and agent of an Initial Purchaser shall have the same rights to
contribution as such Initial Purchaser, and each person who controls the Company
within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each
officer, director, employee and agent of the Company shall have the same rights
to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and
conditions of this paragraph (d).

                  9. Default by an Initial Purchaser. If any one or more Initial
Purchasers shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Notes agreed to be
purchased by such Initial Purchaser hereunder and such failure to purchase shall
constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this
Agreement, the remaining Initial Purchasers shall be obligated severally to take
up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the principal amount at
maturity of the Notes set forth opposite their names in Schedule I bears to the
aggregate principal amount at maturity of such Notes set forth opposite the
names of all the remaining Initial Purchasers in Schedule I) the Notes which the
defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed to
purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate principal
amount at maturity of such Notes which the defaulting Initial Purchaser or
Initial Purchasers agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the
aggregate principal amount at maturity of such Notes set forth in Schedule I,
the remaining Initial Purchasers that agreed to purchase such Notes shall have
the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase
any, of such Notes, and if such non-defaulting Initial Purchasers do not
purchase all such Notes, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any
non-defaulting Initial Purchaser or the Company. In the event of a default by
any Initial Purchaser as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be
postponed for such period, not exceeding seven days, as the non-defaulting
Initial Purchasers shall determine in order that the required changes in the
Offering Memorandum or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Initial
Purchaser of its liability, if any, to the Company or any non-defaulting Initial
Purchaser for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

                  10. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to
termination by notice given by the Initial Purchasers to the Company, if (a)
after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date
(i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by,
as the


                                       25
<PAGE>   26
case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange,
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Chicago Board of
Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade,
(ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any
exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on
commercial banking activities in New York shall have been declared by either
Federal or New York State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any
outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any
calamity or crisis that, in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers, is material
and adverse and (b) in the case of any of the events specified in clauses (a)(i)
through (iv), such event, singly or together with any other such event, makes
it, in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers, impracticable or inadvisable to
market the Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Offering
Memorandum.

                  11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective
agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the Initial Purchasers set forth in or made
pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or the Company
or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in Section
8 hereof. and will survive delivery of and payment for the Notes. The provisions
of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this
Agreement.

                  12. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing
and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Initial Purchasers, will be
mailed, delivered or sent by facsimile (212-761-0086) and confirmed to them, at
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036,
attention: General Counsel; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed,
delivered or sent by facsimile (212-906-8497) and confirmed to it at 110 East
59th Street, 26th Floor, New York, New York 10022, attention: General Counsel.

                  13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the
officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof
and, except as expressly set forth in Section 5(h) hereof, no other person will
have any right or obligation hereunder.

                  14. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

                  15. Business Day. For purposes of this Agreement, "business
day" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a
day on which banking institutions in The City of New York, New York are
authorized not to open or are not obligated by law, executive order or
regulation to open.

                  16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts will together constitute one and the same instrument.

                            [Signature pages follow]


                                       26
<PAGE>   27
                  If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of
our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof,
whereupon this Agreement and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement
between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.



                                        Very truly yours,



                                        NTL INCORPORATED



                                        By:  /s/ George S. Blumenthal
                                             ___________________________________
                                             Name: George S. Blumenthal 
                                             Title: Chairman
<PAGE>   28
The foregoing Agreement is hereby 
confirmed and accepted as of the date 
first above written.


MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED



By:  /s/ Donal A. Quigley
     _____________________________________
     Name: 
     Title:



CHASE SECURITIES INC.



By:                Illegible
     _____________________________________
     Name: 
     Title:



DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
  SECURITIES CORPORATION



By:                Illegible
     _____________________________________
     Name: 
     Title:



GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

By:  /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.
     _____________________________________
     Name: 
     Title:
<PAGE>   29
                                   SCHEDULE I

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT AT  
                                                                  MATURITY OF NOTES   
INITIAL PURCHASER                                                  TO BE PURCHASED    
- ------------------------------------------------------------     -------------------
<S>                                                              <C>              
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated ..........................         $270,000,000     
Chase Securities Inc........................................          135,000,000     
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation.........           22,500,000     
Goldman, Sachs & Co.........................................           22,500,000     
                                                                     ============     

         TOTAL .............................................         $450,000,000     
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   30
                                  SCHEDULE II

1.       Amended and Restated Agreement of Reorganization and Plan of Merger,
         dated as of May 28, 1993, among the Company, OCOM Corporation and
         CableTel Merger, Inc.

2.       Rights Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1993, between the Company and
         Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent.

3.       Indenture, dated as of April 20, 1995, between the Company and the
         Trustee, governing the Company's 12-3/4% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes
         Due 2005, as amended by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of
         January 22, 1996, as amended by a Second Supplemental Indenture, dated
         as of October 14, 1998.

4.       Indenture, dated as of January 30, 1996, between the Company and the
         Trustee, governing the Company's 11-1/2% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes
         Due 2006, as amended by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of
         October 14,1998.

5.       Indenture, dated as of June 12, 1996, between the Company and the
         Trustee governing the Company's 7% Convertible Subordinated Notes Due
         2008.

6.       Indenture, dated as of February 12, 1997, between the Company and the
         Trustee governing the Company's 10% Senior Notes Due 2007, as amended
         by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 14, 1998.

7.       Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued by the Company to various
         persons in the form included as an exhibit to the Company's Annual
         Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,1995.

8.       NTL, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan.

9.       NTL, Inc. 1993 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan.

10.      OCOM Corporation 1991 Stock Option Plan.

11.      Consulting Agreement between the Company and Insight Communications
         Company, L.P.

12.      Credit Facility between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, dated
         as of October 17, 1997, as amended by that certain letter agreement,
         dated as of March 6,1998.

13.      Indenture, dated as of March 13, 1998, between the Company and The
         Chase Manhattan Bank governing the Company's 9-1/2% Sterling Senior
         Notes Due 2008.

14.      Indenture, dated as of February 12, 1997, between the Company and The
         Chase Manhattan Bank governing the Company's 10-3/4% Sterling Senior
         Deferred Coupon Notes Due 2008.

15.      Indenture, dated as of February 12,1997, between the Company and The
         Chase Manhattan Bank governing the Company's 9-3/4% Senior Deferred
         Coupon Notes Due 2008.
<PAGE>   31
16.      Share Exchange Agreement, dated as of June 16, 1998, among the Company
         and the shareholders of Diamond Cable Communications Plc. set forth
         therein.

17.      Indenture, dated as of November 2, 1998, between the Company and The
         Chase Manhattan Bank governing the Company's 11-1/2% Senior Notes Due
         2008.

<PAGE>   1



                    SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP
                                919 THIRD AVENUE
                             NEW YORK NEW YORK 10022
                               TEL: (212) 735-3000
                               FAX: (212) 735-2000






                                                                     May 5, 1999



NTL Communications Corp.
110 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022




                           Re:      NTL Communications Corp.
                                    Registration Statement on Form S-4

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  We have acted as special counsel to NTL Communications Corp.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the public offering
of $625,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 11 1/2% Series B
Senior Notes Due 2008 (the "11 1/2% New Notes"), and $450,000,000 aggregate
principal amount at maturity of the Company's 12 3/8% Series B Senior Deferred
Coupon Notes Due 2008 (the "12 3/8 New Notes" and, together with the 11 1/2% New
Notes, the "New Notes"). The New Notes are to be issued pursuant to an exchange
offer (the "Exchange Offer"), in exchange for (i) in the case of the 11 1/2% New
Notes, a like principal amount of the issued and out standing 11 1/2% Senior
Notes Due 2008 of the Company (the "11 1/2% Old Notes" and, together with the 
11 1/2% New Notes, the "11 1/2% Notes") and (ii) in the case of the 12 3/8% New
Notes, a like principal amount at maturity of the issued and outstanding 12 3/8%
Senior Deferred Coupon Notes Due 2008 of the Company (the "12 3/8% Old Notes"
and, together with the 11 1/2% Old Notes, the "Old Notes" and, together with the
12 3/8% New Notes, the "12 3/8% Notes", the New Notes
<PAGE>   2
NTL Communications Corp.
May 5, 1999
Page 2


and the Old Notes being referred to herein collectively as the "Notes"),
respectively, under the Indentures for the respective Notes, dated as of
November 2, 1998 with respect to the 11 1/2% Notes and November 6, 1998 with
respect to the 12 3/8% Notes,(the "Indentures"), by and among the Company and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trust ee (the "Trustee"). The Exchange Offer is
contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreements, dated November 2, 1998 with
respect to the 11 1/2% Notes and November 6, 1998 with respect to the 12 3/8%
Notes, between the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Chase
Securities Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation and
Goldman, Sachs & Co.

                  This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the
requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act").

                  In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or
copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-71279), as filed by the
Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on
January 27, 1999 under the Act, Amendment No. 1 thereto, filed with the
Commission on February 11, 1999, Amendment No. 2 thereto, filed with the
Commission on April 13, 1999, Amendment No. 3 thereto, filed with the Commission
on April 23, 1999 and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 thereto, filed with the
Commission on May 5, 1999, (such Registration Statement, as so amended, being
hereinafter referred to as the "Registration Statement"); (ii) an executed copy
of each of the Registration Rights Agreements; (iii) an executed copy of each of
the Indentures; (iv) the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company,
as amended to date; (v) the By-Laws of the Company, as amended to date; (vi)
certain resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and a
pricing committee of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the
Exchange Offer, the issuance of the Old Notes and the New Notes, the Indentures
and related matters; (vii) the Forms T-1 of the Trustee filed as exhibits to the
Registration


                                        2
<PAGE>   3
NTL Communications Corp.
May 5, 1999
Page 3


Statement; and (viii) the form of the New Notes. We have also examined originals
or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such
records of the Company and such agreements, certificates of public officials,
certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and
such other documents, certificates and records as we have deemed necessary or
appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.

                  In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all
natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of
all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and
the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. In making our
examination of documents executed or to be executed, we have assumed that the
parties thereto, other than the Company, had or will have the power, corporate
or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also
assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and
execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and the validity and
binding effect thereof on such parties. As to any facts material to the opinions
expressed herein which we have not independently established or verified, we
have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other
representatives of the Company and others.

                  Our opinions set forth herein are limited to Delaware
corporate law and the laws of the State of New York which are normally
applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Exchange Offer and to
the extent that judicial or regulatory orders or decrees or consents, approvals,
licenses, authorizations, validations, filings, recordings or registrations with
govern mental authorities are relevant, to those required under such laws (all
of the foregoing being referred to as "Opined on Law"). We do not express any
opinion with respect to the law of any jurisdiction other than Opined on Law or
as to the effect of any such non opined law on the opinions herein stated.


                                        3
<PAGE>   4
NTL Communications Corp.
May 5, 1999
Page 4


                  Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the limitations,
qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the
opinion that when the New Notes have been duly executed and authenticated in
accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and have been delivered
upon consummation of the Exchange Offer against receipt of Old Notes surrendered
in exchange therefor in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer, the New
Notes will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that
enforcement thereof may be limited by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to creditors' rights generally and (2) general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or
in equity).

                  In rendering the opinions set forth above, we have assumed
that the execution, authentication and delivery by the Company of the Indentures
and the New Notes do not and will not violate, conflict with or constitute a
default under any agreement or instrument to which the Company or its properties
is subject, except for those agreements and instruments which have been
identified to us by the Company as being material to it and which are listed in
Part 4 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

                  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the
Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the
reference to our firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Registration
Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included
in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act
or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

                                            Very truly yours,


                                            /s/ Skadden , Arps, Slate,
                                                Meagher & Flom LLP


                                        4
<PAGE>   5


<PAGE>   1
NTL


Exhibit 12.1

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       December 31
                                                      -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               1998            1997            1996            1995            1994
                                                      -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
Fixed charges:
              Interest                                $ 356,575,000   $ 209,340,000   $ 147,326,000   $  40,562,000   $  15,316,000
              Amortization of debt expense               10,227,000       7,831,000       8,873,000       1,424,000         502,000
              Interest portion of rental expense          9,687,000       6,016,000       4,957,000         647,000         369,000
                                                      -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
                                                      $ 376,489,000   $ 223,187,000   $ 161,156,000   $  42,633,000   $  16,187,000
                                                                                      =============   =============   =============
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirement                     18,761,000      11,978,000
                                                      -------------   -------------
Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends  $ 395,250,000   $ 235,165,000
                                                      =============   =============
Earnings:
              Income (loss) from operations           ($537,943,000)  ($348,648,000)  ($246,801,000)  ($ 93,262,000)  ($ 27,943,000)
              Fixed charges per above                   376,489,000     223,187,000     161,156,000      42,633,000      16,187,000
                   Less: Capitalized interest           (27,760,000)     (6,770,000)    (10,294,000)    (12,183,000)     (3,906,000)
                                                      -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
                                                      ($189,214,000)  ($132,231,000)  ($ 95,939,000)  ($ 62,812,000)  ($ 15,662,000)
                                                      =============   =============   =============   =============   =============

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (1)                           --              --              --              --              --
Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and
      Preferred Stock Dividends (2)                              --              --
</TABLE>


The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and combined fixed charges and preferred
stock dividends is not meaningful for the periods that result in a deficit.

(1) For the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, and 1994, the
    deficit of earnings to fixed charges was $565,703,000, $355,418,000,
    $257,095,000, $105,445,000 and $31,849,000, respectively.

(2) For the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997 the deficit of earnings to
    combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends was $584,464,000 and
    $367,396,000, respectively.


<PAGE>   1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549
                                   ----------

                                    FORM T-1

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                    UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF
                   A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
                                   ----------

               CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF
                A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________
                                   ----------

                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
               (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)


NEW YORK                                                              13-4994650
(State of incorporation                                         (I.R.S. employer
if not a national bank)                                      identification No.)

270 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                                         10017
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                               William H. McDavid
                                 General Counsel
                                 270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                               Tel: (212) 270-2611
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                                   ----------
                            NTL COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
               (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE                                                              52-1822078
(State or other jurisdiction of                                 (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                               identification No.)

110 EAST 59TH STREET, 26TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                                         10022
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                                   ----------
                          11 1/2% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2008
                       (Title of the indenture securities)
<PAGE>   2
                                     GENERAL

Item 1.  General Information.

         Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

         (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to
which it is subject.

             New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York
             12110.

             Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.,
             20551

             Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty
             Street, New York, N.Y.

             Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.


         (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

             Yes.


Item 2.  Affiliations with the Obligor.

         If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such
affiliation.

         None.


                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3
Item 16.   List of Exhibits

           List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of
Eligibility.

           1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee as now in
effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of Amendment
dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September 9, 1982,
February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1
filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

           2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence
Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration
Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in
connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank
(National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed
The Chase Manhattan Bank).

           3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being
contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

           4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

           5. Not applicable.

           6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act
(see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No.
33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in connection
with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed The Chase
Manhattan Bank).

           7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published
pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

           8. Not applicable.

           9. Not applicable.

                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the
Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in
the City of New York and State of New York, on the 29th day of April 1999.

                                         THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

                                         By  /s/ Andrew M. Deck
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Andrew M. Deck
                                             Vice President


                                      - 3 -
<PAGE>   4
                             Exhibit 7 to Form T-1


                                Bank Call Notice

                             RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
                       CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

                            The Chase Manhattan Bank
                  of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
                     and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
                     a member of the Federal Reserve System,

                 at the close of business December 31, 1998, in
        accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
        District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Dollar Amounts
                   ASSETS                                            in Millions

<S>                                                    <C>          <C>
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
        Noninterest-bearing balances and
        currency and coin .......................................      $ 13,915
        Interest-bearing balances ...............................         7,805
Securities:
Held to maturity securities .....................................         1,429
Available for sale securities ...................................        56,327
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under
        agreements to resell ....................................        21,733
Loans and lease financing receivables:
        Loans and leases, net of unearned income       $131,095
        Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses         2,711
        Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve                 0
                                                       --------
        Loans and leases, net of unearned income,
        allowance, and reserve ..................................       128,384
Trading Assets ..................................................        48,949
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized
        leases) .................................................         3,095
Other real estate owned .........................................           239
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
        associated companies ....................................           199
Customers liability to this bank on acceptances
        outstanding .............................................         1,209
Intangible assets ...............................................         2,081
Other assets ....................................................        11,352
                                                                       --------
TOTAL ASSETS ....................................................      $296,717
                                                                       ========
</TABLE>


                                      - 4 -
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  LIABILITIES

<S>                                                         <C>              <C>
Deposits
        In domestic offices ..............................................   $105,879
        Noninterest-bearing ........................        $ 39,175
        Interest-bearing ...........................          66,704
                                                            --------
        In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement, 
             subsidiaries and IBF's ......................................     79,294
        Noninterest-bearing ........................        $  4,082
        Interest-bearing ...........................          75,212

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to 
repurchase ...............................................................     32,546
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury .................................        629
Trading liabilities ......................................................     36,807

Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness 
        and obligations under capitalized leases):
        With a remaining maturity of one year or less ....................      4,478
        With a remaining maturity of more than one year
               through three years .......................................        213
        With a remaining maturity of more than three years ...............        115
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding .................      1,209
Subordinated notes and debentures ........................................      5,408
Other liabilities ........................................................     10,855

TOTAL LIABILITIES ........................................................    277,433
                                                                             --------

EQUITY CAPITAL

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus ............................          0
Common stock .............................................................      1,211
Surplus  (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) ................     11,016
Undivided profits and capital reserves ...................................      6,762
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities ...        279
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ......................         16

TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL .....................................................     19,284
                                                                             --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY CAPITAL .....................................   $296,717
                                                                             ========
</TABLE>

I, Joseph L. Sclafani, E.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby
declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the
instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true
to the best of my knowledge and belief.

                                      JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of
Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our
knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions
issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

                                      WALTER V. SHIPLEY       )
                                      THOMAS G. LABRECQUE     )   DIRECTORS
                                      WILLIAM B. HARRISON, JR.)


                                       -5-

<PAGE>   1
                                   ----------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549
                                   ----------

                                    FORM T-1

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                    UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF
                   A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
                                   ----------
               CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF
                A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________
                                   ----------

                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
               (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)


NEW YORK                                                              13-4994650
(State of incorporation                                         (I.R.S. employer
if not a national bank)                                      identification No.)

270 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                                         10017
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                               William H. McDavid
                                 General Counsel
                                 270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                               Tel: (212) 270-2611
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                                   ----------
                            NTL COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
               (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE                                                              52-1822078
(State or other jurisdiction of                                 (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                               identification No.)

110 EAST 59TH STREET, 26TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                                         10022
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                                   ----------
                  12 3/8% SENIOR DEFERRED COUPON NOTES DUE 2008
                       (Title of the indenture securities)
<PAGE>   2
                                     GENERAL

Item 1.  General Information.

         Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

         (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to
which it is subject.

             New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York
             12110.

             Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.,
             20551

             Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty
             Street, New York, N.Y.

             Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.


         (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

             Yes.


Item 2.  Affiliations with the Obligor.

         If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such
affiliation.

         None.
<PAGE>   3
Item 16.   List of Exhibits

           List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of
Eligibility.

           1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee as now in
effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of Amendment
dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September 9, 1982,
February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1
filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

           2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence
Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration
Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in
connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank
(National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed
The Chase Manhattan Bank).

           3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being
contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

           4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

           5. Not applicable.

           6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act
(see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No.
33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in connection
with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed The Chase
Manhattan Bank).

           7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published
pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

           8. Not applicable.

           9. Not applicable.

                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the
Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in
the City of New York and State of New York, on the 29th day of April 1999.

                                        THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

                                        By  /s/ Andrew M. Deck
                                            -------------------------------
                                            Andrew M. Deck
                                            Vice President


                                      - 3 -
<PAGE>   4
                             Exhibit 7 to Form T-1


                                Bank Call Notice

                             RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
                       CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

                            The Chase Manhattan Bank
                  of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
                     and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
                     a member of the Federal Reserve System,

                 at the close of business December 31, 1998, in
        accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
        District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Dollar Amounts
                   ASSETS                                            in Millions

<S>                                                    <C>          <C>
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
        Noninterest-bearing balances and
        currency and coin .......................................      $ 13,915
        Interest-bearing balances ...............................         7,805
Securities:
Held to maturity securities .....................................         1,429
Available for sale securities ...................................        56,327
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under
        agreements to resell ....................................        21,733
Loans and lease financing receivables:
        Loans and leases, net of unearned income       $131,095
        Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses         2,711
        Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve                 0
                                                       --------
        Loans and leases, net of unearned income,
        allowance, and reserve ..................................       128,384
Trading Assets ..................................................        48,949
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized
        leases) .................................................         3,095
Other real estate owned .........................................           239
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
        associated companies ....................................           199
Customers liability to this bank on acceptances
        outstanding .............................................         1,209
Intangible assets ...............................................         2,081
Other assets ....................................................        11,352
                                                                       --------
TOTAL ASSETS ....................................................      $296,717
                                                                       ========
</TABLE>


                                      - 4 -
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  LIABILITIES

<S>                                                         <C>              <C>
Deposits
        In domestic offices ..............................................   $105,879
        Noninterest-bearing ........................        $ 39,175
        Interest-bearing ...........................          66,704
                                                            --------
        In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement,
        subsidiaries and IBF's ...........................................     79,294
        Noninterest-bearing ........................        $  4,082
        Interest-bearing ...........................          75,212

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to 
repurchase ...............................................................     32,546
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury .................................        629
Trading liabilities ......................................................     36,807

Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness 
        and obligations under capitalized leases):
        With a remaining maturity of one year or less ....................      4,478
        With a remaining maturity of more than one year
               through three years .......................................        213
        With a remaining maturity of more than three years ...............        115
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding .................      1,209
Subordinated notes and debentures ........................................      5,408
Other liabilities ........................................................     10,855

TOTAL LIABILITIES ........................................................    277,433
                                                                             --------

                                 EQUITY CAPITAL

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus ............................          0
Common stock .............................................................      1,211
Surplus  (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) ................     11,016
Undivided profits and capital reserves ...................................      6,762
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities ...        279
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ......................         16

TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL .....................................................     19,284
                                                                             --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY CAPITAL .....................................   $296,717
                                                                             ========
</TABLE>

I, Joseph L. Sclafani, E.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby
declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the
instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true
to the best of my knowledge and belief.

                                      JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of
Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our
knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions
issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

                                      WALTER V. SHIPLEY       )
                                      THOMAS G. LABRECQUE     )   DIRECTORS
                                      WILLIAM B. HARRISON, JR.)


                                       -5-


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