EXHIBIT 99


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                     NTL INCORPORATED ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION
                            OF EASTERN GROUP TELECOMS

New York, New York (December 22, 1998) - NTL Incorporated (NASDAQ: NTLI; EASDAQ:
NTLI.ED)  announced  today that it had agreed to acquire  Eastern Group Telecoms
("EGT") from Eastern Group plc for 91 million pounds sterling.

EGT comprises two business  divisions.  The telecoms division utilizes a 1,800km
SDH  fibre-optic  network  across the SouthEast  and East of England.  The radio
sites  division,  consisting  of 121 radio masts across East Anglia,  serves the
UK's major mobile phone network operators.

EGT has  headquarters  in Ipswich and has 54  employees.  EGT will  operate as a
wholly owned subsidiary of NTL. Under the terms of the acquisition, NTL will pay
60 million pounds  sterling in cash and 31 million pounds  sterling in a new NTL
preferred stock which is redeemable for common stock or cash.

Commenting on the  transaction  Barclay  Knapp,  President  and Chief  Executive
Officer of NTL said: "This  acquisition is great news for both companies.  EGT's
telecom  network  completes  NTL's  network in the south and east,  and gives us
several additional  strategic  connections to international cable landing sites,
Heathrow and Gatwick airports, and major areas around London. Our sites business
picks up significant  additional  reach as well.  EGT's  impressive  performance
attests  to  management's  excellent  reputation.  Couple all of this with NTL's
position as the leading national integrated communications company and we have a
winning combination."

Paul Marsh,  Finance  Director  at Eastern  Group  said,  "EGT is a  profitable,
thriving business.  Telecoms is not part of Eastern's core energy business,  and
as such we have explored a number of options and we are  confident  that we have
found the best solution for EGT in its sale to NTL as a going concern."
 
                                   * * * * * *

For further information contact: In the U.S.: John F. Gregg, Managing Director -
Corporate Development;  Michael A. Peterson, Director - Corporate Development or
Richard J. Lubasch,  Senior Vice President - General  Counsel at (212) 906-8440;
in the UK: Bret Richter,  Director - Corporate  Development at  171-227-8700  or
Alison Smith at 01252-402-662; or via e-mail at investor_relations@ntli.com.