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The end of Pages from Ceefax

1980-2012 (October 2012)

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IS
Inspector Sands
Markymark posted:
Why does the BBC 1 schedule need to be filled up 24/7 ? It's wasting bandwidth, which as it is is at a premium on DTT.

Surely it only wastes bandwidth if there's something else that could be utilising it?

Unless they can find something to use it at 4am then it makes no difference what they put out
MA
Markymark
Inspector Sands posted:
Markymark posted:
Why does the BBC 1 schedule need to be filled up 24/7 ? It's wasting bandwidth, which as it is is at a premium on DTT.

Surely it only wastes bandwidth if there's something else that could be utilising it?


No, it degrades the quality of the other channels on the BBC mux, because they're all stat muxed, and is double trouble because BBC 1 and the News Channel are grabbing peaks simultaneously.

Remember back in July when the Beeb were forced to remove the Olympic opening ceremony video from Ch 301, because BBC 1 and News Channel were also simulcasting it (again pointlessly).
IS
Inspector Sands
Markymark posted:
No, it degrades the quality of the other channels on the BBC mux, because they're all stat muxed, and is double trouble because BBC 1 and the News Channel are grabbing peaks simultaneously.

That is true, but at 4am there's only 2 TV channels left on air sharing that bandwidth and very few people watching
MA
Markymark
Inspector Sands posted:
Markymark posted:
No, it degrades the quality of the other channels on the BBC mux, because they're all stat muxed, and is double trouble because BBC 1 and the News Channel are grabbing peaks simultaneously.

That is true, but at 4am there's only 2 TV channels left on air sharing that bandwidth and very few people watching


That is also true Cool
JA
jamie1992
James Vertigan posted:
But hey - you never know. Someone at Red Bee might just read this and prove me wrong - and I would love that! It would also be nice, when the last PFC transmission does come, if it got a little recognition either side from the Network CA and not just a bog standard "Pages from Ceefax and some music" announcement - it will be a moment in TV history after all!


It would be equally nice if someone at the BBC were to scroll through the entire range of Ceefax pages at least once during the final broadcast (for those of us who are recording it for posterity), instead of just leaving the decoder on P152 with the usual (very limited) page selection repeating over and over again.

I suppose it might be worth emailing ceefax@bbc.co.uk with our requests Smile
Last edited by jamie1992 on 19 October 2012 12:49pm
BR
Brekkie
Markymark posted:
Brekkie posted:
I see no reason to drop the overnight simulcast - it's decent schedule filler and that's all they need overnight.


Why does the BBC 1 schedule need to be filled up 24/7 ? It's wasting bandwidth, which as it is is at a premium on DTT.

I can't think of any other European PSB that feels to need to do so, if there's nothing to show, they just show a caption, or PFC style rolling pages.

Exactly - would you rather the BBC lease out the space for Babestation 27?
WE
Westy2
Brekkie posted:
Markymark posted:
Brekkie posted:
I see no reason to drop the overnight simulcast - it's decent schedule filler and that's all they need overnight.


Why does the BBC 1 schedule need to be filled up 24/7 ? It's wasting bandwidth, which as it is is at a premium on DTT.

I can't think of any other European PSB that feels to need to do so, if there's nothing to show, they just show a caption, or PFC style rolling pages.

Exactly - would you rather the BBC lease out the space for Babestation 27?


No one said yes yet then? LOL
MA
Markymark
Brekkie posted:
Markymark posted:
Brekkie posted:
I see no reason to drop the overnight simulcast - it's decent schedule filler and that's all they need overnight.


Why does the BBC 1 schedule need to be filled up 24/7 ? It's wasting bandwidth, which as it is is at a premium on DTT.

I can't think of any other European PSB that feels to need to do so, if there's nothing to show, they just show a caption, or PFC style rolling pages.

Exactly - would you rather the BBC lease out the space for Babestation 27?


No, I'd rather it used any unused bandwidth to improve the technical quailty of their other services.

Mind you if leasing out the space, reduced my licence fee....... Wink
TH
Thinker
Markymark posted:

I can't think of any other European PSB that feels to need to do so, if there's nothing to show, they just show a caption, or PFC style rolling pages.


The major PSBs in Europe are mostly 24/7 these days. Many of the medium-sized ones have at least one channel running 24/7, and those that haven't also do not have a 24/7 news channel to simulcast with.

TVE La 1 has an early morning slot that simulcasts TVE 24h. Many countries show Euronews in the early morning. SVT1 did simulcast with its news channel BBC One-style until it went 24/7 some years ago. There are also other innovative ways to fill airtime in the small hours, the German PSBs show train tracks for an hour or two in the early morning, and Arte used to have its jumping sheep.

As has been said, the nightly simulcasts are an acceptable way to make sure the lights are on at BBC One through the night, exposing night owls to a good alternative. It also helps justify keeping the news channel running through the night, its UK viewing figures are most likely multiplied in these time slots. And the statmux problem is non-existent, as has been explained.
RO
robertclark125
As has already been mentioned as well, the sign zone could be extended.
MI
Michael
I see no-one's suggested "Pages From BBCi" yet then?
JV
James Vertigan Founding member
Michael posted:
I see no-one's suggested "Pages From BBCi" yet then?


That's because it doesn't exist... It would be "Pages from BBC Red Button" now...

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