[3toons]

Originally Posted by Nightdeamon

In the world of the internet - Teletext is not needed. Lets hope Gay Rabbit, Rabbit, Holidays and games die in the future.

Absolutely not true! I have the internet and I use teletext news several times per day. My parents don't have the internet and they use teletext as do loads of my friends and workmates. I think that this will be a step back in time. Teletext is so easy to use and fast too, without having to fire up the computer or log on to certain sites to read the news.

[dolmenman]

I agree...I use teletext all the time...even when watching the news channel as its useful to catch up on regional news, sport etc...Its much handier than the internet (my PC's in a different room..LOL) and it will be a pity if it disappears...I'm sure I'm not the only one..

[Ray Cathode]

Originally Posted by chrisy

Sub-page 2 of P139 says that the Teletext Extra news service will close.
http://i29.tinypic.com/5n3k7d.jpg

This suggests that the Teletext Extra EPG will continue as will Betfair TV and anything else running on that platform.

It is not at all clear. Your assumption could be right. But the Teletext Extra News Service could mean the entire Teletext Extra service as it is all broadcast in one data stream on Mux 2.

And I did get a Teletext Extra download upgrade yesterday.

[Brekkie]

p139 also reveals although they're closing down all the news and sport pages on TV, online and on the mobile site, you'll still be able to get SMS news alerts after January. Pure greed!

[LostFool]

The end of an era - but not really surprising.

I used to know all the page number off by heart (and get really annoyed when they changed them) but now I can't remember the last time I used Teletext/Ceefax.

Much easier to reach for my mobile or laptop...

[3toons]

Hopefully the BBC teletext will continue or maybe even another company will take over teletext on ITV. Personally, and I know I'm not the only one, I find teletext much more convenient, much faster and easier than going upstairs, switching on the laptop, waiting for it to switch on and boot up and connect to the router and looking up news on ther internet. Why do that when I can switch on the tv and look up the news on teletext, while I'm lying on the sofa drinking a cup of coffee?

[Brekkie]

Originally Posted by 3toons

Hopefully the BBC teletext will continue or maybe even another company will take over teletext on ITV. Personally, and I know I'm not the only one, I find teletext much more convenient, much faster and easier than going upstairs, switching on the laptop, waiting for it to switch on and boot up and connect to the router and looking up news on ther internet. Why do that when I can switch on the tv and look up the news on teletext, while I'm lying on the sofa drinking a cup of coffee?

Exactly.

I'd like to see ITN have a crack at it, certainly providing the basic news and sport service (the 100+ page service isn't needed, just a sport headlines, football headlines and scores/stats would do, to start with anyway). Then perhaps third parties could come in to provide other content - e.g. Racing Post could provide a racing service for C4 or something.


I think Teletext have basically taken their eye off the ball in launching things like Rabbit etc., rather than concentrating on the core service and making it more appealing.

Most of all, I think it needed to be more current, so as well as the main service, having special "interactive" (which are still basically just text) sections for events like Wimbledon, The Ashes, Elections etc. which stood out as a bit different - rather than just the standard bland purple text page.

[TV King]

I use digital Teletext on my Topfield 5800 Freeview pvr to read Game Central which is on page 805 and Motor Sport which is on page 480.

So when Teletext ceases in January 2010 how will I be able to read these pages?

[Ray Cathode]

Originally Posted by Brekkie

Exactly.

I'd like to see ITN have a crack at it, certainly providing the basic news and sport service (the 100+ page service isn't needed, just a sport headlines, football headlines and scores/stats would do, to start with anyway). Then perhaps third parties could come in to provide other content - e.g. Racing Post could provide a racing service for C4 or something.

ITN used to do the news for Oracle and couldn't make it pay even then. But who is going to provide a new text service that will not be permitted to function by Ofcon after 2014?

[chrisy]

Originally Posted by Brekkie

I'd like to see ITN have a crack at it, certainly providing the basic news and sport service (the 100+ page service isn't needed, just a sport headlines, football headlines and scores/stats would do, to start with anyway). Then perhaps third parties could come in to provide other content - e.g. Racing Post could provide a racing service for C4 or something.

I agree. ITN could produce a basic news/sport/weather service, after all they are already "out there" gathering news for ITV and C4, and it is likely to be a lot less costly than running a 24hr TV or radio station (both of which they have tried and failed)

Originally Posted by Ray Cathode

It is not at all clear. Your assumption could be right. But the Teletext Extra News Service could mean the entire Teletext Extra service as it is all broadcast in one data stream on Mux 2.

I never said it was clear, but Teletext Extra is split into two distinct parts (with two colour schemes last time I saw it) - the EPG and the information service.

AIUI the information service uses the same broadcast data as Teletext's MHEG services., so it stands to reason this would go. I think they would have just said "Teletext Extra" or "Teletext Extra EPG" if the EPG part was going - it is the most prominent bit of Teletext Extra after all.

(whether it will remain on mux 2 is another matter)

Chris

[chrisy]

Originally Posted by Ray Cathode

ITN used to do the news for Oracle and couldn't make it pay even then. But who is going to provide a new text service that will not be permitted to function by Ofcon after 2014?

Ofcom aren't banning text services, just not subsidising them by giving them free spectrum.

[Steinman]

..you could on Freeview get rid of the tv picture (video on/off) & so actually read the text without a bloody annoying tv channel picture running alongside it like for the vast majority of BBC's digital text service you have to put up with.
Shame it's going

Why can't they do an "read on blank screen background" option on the BBc digital text?

Also, those of us who don't want to read BBc dig text there is always SKY text on the Freeview channels. Press text on SSport News, Sky News, Sky 3.

To be honest I'd rather watch analogue text. Digital freezes too much.
You can't eat your brekky & log on to a pc very easily, but a remote control button press is a piece of ....

[Nightdeamon]

This maybe the end of teletext "the service" - but in the future and via digital interactive connected to the internet more and richer services will become availiable. Its only a matter of time and then you'll wonder how you ever got on without it.

More efficient compression and advancements to the file formats of the interactive services will mean that more and more content can sent, enabling the digital services to contain much more information than they do now.

But with the internet and other things like mobiles people clearly are not using Teletext. If they were the service would remain profitable.

[Brekkie]

Originally Posted by Nightdeamon

But with the internet and other things like mobiles people clearly are not using Teletext. If they were the service would remain profitable.

Too easy an excuse. As others have said, you can read all the news headlines on Teletext while the ads are airing, yet in that time your PC won't have even booted up.

I certainly stlll use Teletext far more than the likes of the BBC website.


If it had been the BBC closing Ceefax and Digital Text, I don't think people would be so quick to agree with their reasoning.

[IanDF]

Originally Posted by Brekkie

Too easy an excuse. As others have said, you can read all the news headlines on Teletext while the ads are airing, yet in that time your PC won't have even booted up.

The more I hear, it does increasingly sound like an excuse. It appears that Teletext are also closing their Web and mobile news services. All that seems to be left after that are Teletext Holidays and a pile of dating and gambling services, that I have never quite seen as having a long term future.

For example, why bother with Teletext Casino when there are a pile of channels providing the same thing?

It looks to me increasingly looks like an excuse to wind teletext up to me.

[Christopher2]

Originally Posted by justpootling

This is sad news. I don't like digital text at all, mainly because aside from it being slow, you still can't get TV listings on it.

I assume that BBC Teletext will remain until analogue is switched off?

Now there's a quality text service.

The closure of teletext on ITV, Channel 4 and Five is just a commercial decision by Teletext UK LTd. Ceefax will remain until analogue closedown in 2012.

Ofcom won't be concerned about the vacant VBI because it's practically worthless today. It only had value in the late 80s as an information carrier because ORACLE was making millions of pounds worth of revenue. The Internet has in essence made us not use Teletext like we used to.

Had there been proper memory banks inside your TV to store EVERY page so that we can call on demand would have made teletext last a bit longer I reckon - this is a luxury feature only found on high-end TV sets unfortunately, because memory was expensive years ago. Today its cheap and accessible.

Ceefax and ORACLE had personality, something I never connected to with Teletext UK. Mind you, at the time I was a loyal child, now I'm aged 29 and only use analogue Ceefax to read the news pages every morning. TV guide is available on EPG now, so I rarely use that service.

[chrisy]

Originally Posted by Brekkie

Too easy an excuse. As others have said, you can read all the news headlines on Teletext while the ads are airing, yet in that time your PC won't have even booted up.

Whilst I don't doubt that the WWW has had an impact, also PVRs probably have too. These affect the entire TV industry, not just Teletext!

I also tend to check Teletext during the ad breaks, and I see advertisements on the quarter-screen TV picture and within Teletext's interface that I wouldn't have seen if there was no text service available (I would wander off, make a tea, channel hop, whatever).

I think Teletext's decision will impact on ITV and C4's advertising revenues somewhat. We will see whether it will be noticeable (do BARB monitor whether the ads are being watched?) or linked to this event.

[Ray Cathode]

Where are all these new boxes preloaded with Teletext Extra that we've been promised for at least a year now? I suspect no manufacturer is interested.

[Brekkie]

Originally Posted by chrisy

Whilst I don't doubt that the WWW has had an impact, also PVRs probably have too. These affect the entire TV industry, not just Teletext!

That's a good point. Mine is always telling me off for trying to read text whilst watching recordings.

I also tend to check Teletext during the ad breaks, and I see advertisements on the quarter-screen TV picture and within Teletext's interface that I wouldn't have seen if there was no text service available (I would wander off, make a tea, channel hop, whatever).

Completely agree.

[TelevisionUser]

Originally Posted by ney

Its a shame for I use digital teletext from time to time.

Darren

I'd agree there, Darren, as I too think it is unfortunate that it is going. I suspect that there is a space for a slimmed down teletext service showing main news, sports and a TV guide that is advertising funded and I hope that bidders do submit tenders when Teletext closes down.

I am, as ever, disappointed by Ofcom and their obsession with all thing market forces and not public service ('In addition, Ofcom has indicated that it is not persuaded of the need for public intervention in the delivery of a public commercial Teletext service beyond 2014 and this has also contributed to the decision to discontinue the public service').

[Miss C. DeVille]

I'll miss it. Not for the news so much but for peoples opinions on programmes and news, lottery results , premium bonds and general chat. I know it's good on here but I haven't always got my computer on.

[AngusMast]

Having a text service must be an advantage to a channel, I often find myself wanting to check the news, sport or weather, and so switch to the BBC and away from something I was kind of enjoying, especially during the adverts.

[welshgit]

Originally Posted by justpootling

This is sad news. I don't like digital text at all, mainly because aside from it being slow, you still can't get TV listings on it.

Errrm, freeview teletext on 3 (and 4) - page 110

has TV listings for most of the freeview channels

[marclt]

Do we have to use digital teletext on freeview?

Are we forgetting what teletext was set up to achieve? Provide 'text' based news and information services that essentially complimented the sound and vision service of the tv channel.

So why then do we need pictures etc... why compete with the internet when it never will (in terms of depth and capability). Provide a bread and butter service that people can dip in and out of when they wish, whilst they watch tv?

It is technically possible to run 'analogue'/old style teletext on freeview... HOW MUCH SPACE DOES THAT TAKE UP?

And then the people that like receiving 'text' based information - without the bells and whistles get what they want... without the need for a slow and clumsy system on digital.

I have freeview and Sky, and the digital text application on both is far from smooth. BBCi often goes to a blue screen, teletext often makes the sound go off on ITV.

I recall Ofcom (ITC) pushing for digital text not so long ago... now they are fed up with it, so they are happy to see it go - all when the 'analogue' version worked and continues to work very well.

[T. Tanilsoo]

Originally Posted by marclt

It is technically possible to run 'analogue'/old style teletext on freeview... HOW MUCH SPACE DOES THAT TAKE UP?

It is. Many Europeans do it, including Estonia. Here on local DTT, the analog TV's teletext is emulated, and the set top boxes insert the VBI signal to their analog outputs enabling to read teletext pages on the TV. The STB's themselves have teletext browsers too, and the teletext is readable even with USB dongles. I just analyzed our public broadcaster's teletext feed, and it takes up 27-28 KB/s(ca 216-224 kbps) of capacity.

I wouldn't be so eager to dismiss other services like teletext, because of WiFi and the Internet... They can fail(like in emergencies), and if you depend too much on them you're asking for trouble. Teletext is broadcast only one way, and therefore doesn't get overloaded unlike the internet sites do.