BBC Red Button HD

The press red prompt seems to be on BBC1 HD all the time, rather than just during related programming, which is a pain, although at least it disappears quickly.

It's also the slightly dated design with an "I" in the red circle which I think is from the BBCi days.

Noticed it last night during Question Time, I thought that Question Time had its interactive features back for a moment but having pressed it, the menu comes up for BBC Red Button HD. It looks circa 2003 doesn't it?

Issues with BSB have resulted in Red Button HD disappearing off both Satellite platforms.

30.
Alix Pryde Director, BBC Distribution
18th June 2013 - 18:40


As @DragonQ and @Bargain dave point out, sadly, BBC Red Button HD is not currently available to Freesat viewers either. I hope you'll understand if I don't go into detail on ongoing conversations about listing on Sky except to say that we're working with Sky on both matters. I can confirm that Red Button HD remains available on Freeview HD at channel 303 and Virgin Media at channel 994.

Doesn't really make sense why it would vanish of Freesat as presumably it was on BBC leased space.

It is likely that there are issues surrounding the data being sent alongside the Red Button HD service. Simply put, there needs to be two different sets of data on the same satellite transponder, enabling both Sky and Freesat receivers to access the channels via their respective Electronic Programme Guides (EPG), with Freesat data needing to pass through an adaptation hub, operated by Sky. This is because both platforms use different systems and technologies. Although Freesat operates as an independent platform, the adaptation hub stage can affect how services are launched on both Freesat and Sky. Often, new services appear on the Sky channel list first.

There have also been reports that the BBC is unwilling to pay extra platform fees for carriage on Sky. The BBC, alongside other public service broadcasters, are charged additional fees by Sky on top of the typical EPG fees charged by all digital TV platform operators. Media reports often call the extra Sky fees "retransmission fees", although Sky uses the same signal uplinked by the BBC and other public service broadcasters to satellite and used by Freesat. The BBC recently began receiving a discount from Sky after the Corporation allowed Sky to carry its catch-up portal BBC iPlayer.