BBC to close Red Button service

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34851369

So is that the end of BBC text, and everything will be on the website?

Also, I wonder if the £35 mill is basically the live races portion of the F1 rights, and its all highlights from then on?

Sport slashed by £35m? Could snooker be dropped?

I presume this is the closure of 'Red Button' rather than 'Red Button+' (formerly Connected Red Button).

I'm not sure about Sky but with Virgin's TIVO service the original red button has been essentially replaced by the connected version. Freesat appears to also offer the iPlayer as standard, so I presume it's potentially able to support the red button+ service if it doesn't already. Therefore it's only the standard Freeview platform where the audience would loose out. I guess they'll argue the rise of smartphones makes it easier to access the text-based content, and that some of the content will still be streamed live via the iPlayer.

It's the lot I understand.

I've heard it said that, as far as non-sporting content is concerned at least, putting something on the Red Button channel is the best way to make sure no one sees it. Certainly some of things they've put on there, particularly the music content, I've thought would be better served by being shown on a proper scheduled channel, for example the occasional Radio 2 In Concerts they show could quite easily air on BBC Four instead.

However it will be a big loss when it comes to the big music festivals; with BBC Three expected to go online, it'll only leave BBC Two and BBC Four, and BBC Two coverage tends to be quite limited.

As for the text service, it now seems quite archaic in this day of internet and mobile devices, and quite surprising it's even lasted this long.

The Red Button video streams are only smoke and mirrors loopholes to avoid PVT etc assessments, there's
nothing technically to just make them standard TV channels, brand them accordingly, and promote their EPG positions. Indeed on DTT they are just that anyway, Ch 601/2/3.

Of course they require playout facilities, and they consume bandwidth, so that's presumably why they are being considered for closure ?



Don't overestimate the use of 'the internet' and its various delivery devices. There are still millions that are not consumers, although some could argue as the over 75s don't pay a licence fee, why should they be served ? !

I do love the headline on the BBC website:



Blimey, I'll pay for it myself if the situation is that dire.

Edit: they just fixed it.

I think it should mark the return to programming overnight. People record and play later, so why not allow these shows to go out overnight to record or even watch?!

Yep, many a time there's a sports event on there when all BBC2 are showing are repeats of antique shows, a bit of a waste really

The Red Button channel also has an EPG entry and channel number on Sky and Freesat these days. The main reason it didn't have an EPG position on Sky was the additional cost... (Not a PVT reason)

Presumably the BBC have done the market research on the Red Button services, and see it as an easy cut. I'm hoping they put some of the additional sports/festival coverage on the linear channels to compensate for the loss. I think the reduction in the sports rights budget might be more easily spotted, F1 the obvious target methinks!