Funny how the focal point of DSO has become Ceefax. I'm sure when the provisional switch off date of 2010 was announced way back when, few would have even considered it.
Well done to all involved in marking it.
With regards to BBC2 closedowns, I hope that isn't the end - there's no reason an ident couldn't lead in to the barker loop the same way they did with Pages from Ceefax.
Quick question regarding the generation of Ceefax pages - I'm sure I read on here it's been entirely automated (with content derived from BBC Sport and BBC News online) for some time now, is that correct? Or is there still somebody/a team styling pages for the last day today?
And it's quite weird that they had to switch off Ceefax in the first place. Here in Finland we switched to digital in September 2007 and our teletext services are going stronger than ever. 2.2 million of the nation's 5.4 million people takes a peek at Yle Teletext every day. Simply put - weird.
Off-topic I know, but if statmuxing really can't cope with too much simulcasting, what happens next time there's a significant obit and "BBC Television from London" mode.
Was reading through the obit document the other day (don't worry, not for any particular reason) and this is mentioned. It's just accepted that there'll be a loss of quality on fast moving shots, no other choice, really.
I'm very sad that Ceefax is going. Particular so as one New Years Eve we didn't realise Jools Holland had finished and we were actually dancing to the Ceefax music.
And it's quite weird that they had to switch off Ceefax in the first place. Here in Finland we switched to digital in September 2007 and our teletext services are going stronger than ever. 2.2 million of the nation's 5.4 million people takes a peek at Yle Teletext every day. Simply put - weird.
Really? That surprises me what with smartphones and all that.
I can make sense of the reason for closure. Teletext was invented to provide on-screen subtitles for the hard of hearing, you can argue that subtitles on DVB are superior since they render in a more readable font - and so for the vast majority* it's original reason for being is no more.
* - there's still the issue on S4C viewers being unable to receive Welsh subtitles, as used to be the case on Sbetel 889
Then, with the carriage of information on-screen, it can be done better with digital teletext - I think the mistake made at the introduction of DVB services was the boxes were woefully underpowered. You could argue that ONdigital boxes were completely unfit for purpose, original C&W/nlt:/Telewest boxes were not much better and Sky's original spec digiboxes are actually now limiting the number of channels which can possibly appear in their EPG due to their lack of memory. In any case, none of them could process/cache information sufficiently to make a digital text service usable.
Really? That surprises me what with smartphones and all that.
I can make sense of the reason for closure. Teletext was invented to provide on-screen subtitles for the hard of hearing, you can argue that subtitles on DVB are superior since they render in a more readable font - and so for the vast majority* it's original reason for being is no more.
The UK (and possibly Ireland) is the only country in Europe where "digital" teletext has been successful to the point where the old teletext service could be closed down. That may be down to the fact that the British Isles used MHEG-5, which is nearly universal in DTT boxes, while the rest of Europe used MHP, that was usually not supported by STBs.
There have been some "teletext replacement" services run with MHP, but AIUI, most of them have been closed down as no viewers had the hardware needed to access them. The ones I've seen were never really as good as BBC Red Button. The only country where MHP has really taken off is Italy.
Does anyone know if the DTT BBC Red Button text service is likely to be added to BBC One HD and BBC HD? I'd use it a lot more if it was available there. I think I saw the green "book me" icon pop up on a trailer the other day on HD so I presume the capability is now there.
BBC Northern Ireland and UTV will tonight screen a simulcast reviewing the era of analogue TV and Dame Mary Peters - 1972 Olympic gold medallist in the pentathlon - will push the button ending the transmission at 11:30.
Viewers can check Ceefax itself during the evening to see a special graphics countdown on page 100.
So a special graphics countdown... which none of us will get to see!
If I'm not mistaken, for 70s and 80s Ceefax was like the Internet, And it deserves to be called the GrandPa of the internet.
Even though teletext wasn't so important in Russia, and it appeared on our screens in mid-90s(along with subtitles), it gave some opportunity to people to find out lots of useful information.
Nowadays, only one channel now have teletext, it's the Channel One, other channels have subtitles only
What about Red Buttion
Some people say they will miss Ceefax a lot, and Red Button's idea of integration into the tv programme itself, is not good, some people say that it's just an evolution, and absolutely natural process. With some good graphics, compared to pixel Ceefax.
So, today is very important date, and it's date of the beginning of new era
