BBC to switch off Red Button Text Service

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Mack. View member profile	Sep 17 2019, 07:35 PM Post #1
It's still will be the return of the Mack 4eva Joined: 1 February 2011 Posts: 53,640 User: 12,915	QUOTE The BBC is to switch off the news and sport text services on the TV red button early next year. The decision spells the end of reading headlines, football scores, weather, travel news and more on TV sets, 45 years after the launch of Ceefax. Red button text launched in 1999, taking over as Ceefax was phased out. TVs will still be able to access other red button services, like picking a stage to watch at Glastonbury or a court to watch at Wimbledon. "From early 2020, viewers will no longer be able to access text-based BBC News and BBC Sport content by pressing red," a BBC spokesperson said. "It's always a difficult decision to reduce services, and we don't take decisions like this lightly, but we have taken it because we have to balance the resources needed to maintain and develop this service with the need to update our systems to give people even better internet-based services. What do you make of this?


crazy chris View member profile	Sep 17 2019, 07:37 PM Post #2
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 7 March 2006 Posts: 22,001 User: 53	I think this is sad. I often check the news, weather, travel and entertainment news.


Long Dong Silver View member profile	Sep 17 2019, 07:39 PM Post #3
Buffy/Charmed Joined: 18 April 2013 Posts: 44,037 User: 18,639	That's for old people. We have the internet now. Irrelevant.


lewistgreen View member profile	Sep 17 2019, 07:41 PM Post #4
BuzzJack Legend Pronouns: he/him Joined: 25 July 2013 Posts: 26,008 User: 19,585	I reckon this’ll be bad for people of a certain age range (sorry!) but cant see it being an issue really. It’s just the BBC making the necessary change to everyone getting their news via other means


WhoOdyssey View member profile	Sep 17 2019, 07:42 PM Post #5
A dead mouse (from my cat) Joined: 2 March 2018 Posts: 28,456 User: 67,771	QUOTE(Algernon Monqueef @ Sep 17 2019, 08:39 PM) That's for old people. We have the internet now. Irrelevant. Precisely, there are around 3.7 million over-75s who watch the BBC - many of which will likely not have/use the internet.


Brett-Butler View member profile	Sep 17 2019, 07:42 PM Post #6
Howdy, disco citizens Joined: 16 January 2010 Posts: 12,775 User: 10,455	QUOTE(Algernon Monqueef @ Sep 17 2019, 08:39 PM) That's for old people. We have the internet now. Irrelevant. Yes, we all know about socialism, but what about the BBC Red Button?


crazy chris View member profile	Sep 17 2019, 07:42 PM Post #7
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 7 March 2006 Posts: 22,001 User: 53	QUOTE(Algernon Monqueef @ Sep 17 2019, 08:39 PM) That's for old people. We have the internet now. Irrelevant. Not everyone has the Net. Many old people still don't.


crazy chris View member profile	Sep 17 2019, 07:43 PM Post #8
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 7 March 2006 Posts: 22,001 User: 53	I remember Ceefax and Oracle which of course were much better and more comprehensive than the red button.


Brett-Butler View member profile	Sep 17 2019, 07:46 PM Post #9
Howdy, disco citizens Joined: 16 January 2010 Posts: 12,775 User: 10,455	I like the Red Button as it's a good back-up if the internet goes belly-up, but unfortunately it probably doesn't have enough users to warrant the BBC continuing to pay for its use. It's the last vestige of the old Ceefax service, which I grew up on in the 90s, so it's a double shame.


Steve201 View member profile	Sep 17 2019, 08:35 PM Post #10
Shakin Stevens Joined: 29 December 2007 Posts: 46,140 User: 5,138	I usually don't use it anymore but know my dad certainly does! Isn't the red button ran through the internet?


Mack. View member profile	Sep 17 2019, 09:54 PM Post #11
It's still will be the return of the Mack 4eva Joined: 1 February 2011 Posts: 53,640 User: 12,915	Ceefax and Teletext those were the days. I check the Red Button at.least every day when I wake up or when I come home. I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't have Internet access as this is a service gone.


Steve201 View member profile	Sep 18 2019, 04:47 PM Post #12
Shakin Stevens Joined: 29 December 2007 Posts: 46,140 User: 5,138	Yeh what was Ceefax Football?? Page 302?


Mack. View member profile	Sep 19 2019, 01:51 PM Post #13
It's still will be the return of the Mack 4eva Joined: 1 February 2011 Posts: 53,640 User: 12,915	Yes, Ceefax Football was on pg302, Scores, pg316, Tables, pg324.


Dobbo View member profile	Sep 19 2019, 01:54 PM Post #14
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 4 November 2013 Posts: 30,513 User: 20,053	Oh no! Ceefax football scores takes me right to 06 in my dad's flat...


Steve201 View member profile	Sep 20 2019, 12:09 AM Post #15
Shakin Stevens Joined: 29 December 2007 Posts: 46,140 User: 5,138	QUOTE(Mack. @ Sep 19 2019, 02:51 PM) Yes, Ceefax Football was on pg302, Scores, pg316, Tables, pg324. You never forget lol


Mack. View member profile	Feb 25 2020, 11:21 PM Post #16
It's still will be the return of the Mack 4eva Joined: 1 February 2011 Posts: 53,640 User: 12,915	Has managed to stay for the moment this.