Forum Topic

Reprieve for BBC teletext on the Red Button

Good news that the BBC have been persuaded to reconsider scrapping this service.

David Marles ● 2466d14 Comments

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51295430Excellent news. Sometimes you wonder whether the mandarins at the BBC have any idea of what their customers want. I use the Red Button on a daily basis and don't find their website an adequate replacement.

Richard Greenhough ● 2466d

Yes it fills in the time when the ads are on - you can quickly switch to the BBC and back again to whatever you are watching.

David Marles ● 2466d

Can you still book package holidays in Benidorm?

Carl Wynne ● 2466d

I'm sure you can, Carl. Sounds just your sort of place. Enjoy !

Richard Greenhough ● 2466d

It's part of the contempt the BBC have for people who access TV solely via a Freeview box.No one can explain to me how a subscription service for the BBC would work for those millions.

Susan Kelly ● 2465d

It won't but it is about moving technology and like DTV people had to move on and upgrade when the analogue was switched off. Many people even have had to upgrade TV due to the phasing out of scart to HDMI on products sold and now its about smart TVs and apps with an internet connection. When the BBC switch to subscription and let us face it, it is only a matter of time and certainly not before 2027 so you have time if not longer. But it will be the case that one day if you want to watch the BBC you will have to access it the same way as other subscription services and that means changing and upgrading over time.

Julian Pavey ● 2465d

Getting my late father to understand the digital switch, let alone how to use the new digital TV I bought him, was a major operation. There are going to be a lot of unhappy old people if they have to purchase and adapt to smart TVs.

Susan Kelly ● 2465d

Agree Susan, for some elderly the only connection to the outside world.

Janice Evans ● 2465d

I am not sure what the (pretty limited) teletext service has to do with smart TVs.  The main point is that you have at your fingertips a summary of news, weather, sport, travel etc. on a device with which you are familiar. Also - assuming you have one - there is no need to switch on your laptop, tablet or smartphone.

David Marles ● 2465d

True, it's when they start talking about changing things and don't stopThere.

Janice Evans ● 2465d

Anywhere in Spain is good for me.

Carl Wynne ● 2465d

Susan asked a question David

Julian Pavey ● 2465d

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-54360998The red button service will continue.

Richard Greenhough ● 2222d

Hurrah! At last the BBC has made a good decision.

David Marles ● 2221d