Press Red On Analogue Tv

With interactive TV a favourite for digital TV broadcasts, I'm surprised none of the main networks have gone for a "Press RED" interactive service on terrestrial TV by using teletext.

Obviously the service would only be basic, but I think the existing Teletext services could easily incorporate a basic service by having a programme support page available on the RED button when you tune in.

The info would only be basic - details of the current programme / now/next etc, or details of how to vote in series such as Pop Idol, but I do think it would be a good idea.

Well, not exactly, as on some TV sets (such as ours) the red button has another function when not in teletext mode.

And I think in most cases the red button on teletext is linked to the next text page on the service... for example, pressing red while on page 101 would take you to page 102, then page 103 etc...

Nice idea, but how exactly would the TV companies re-programme all the nations TV sets to use this new function?

It'd be far easier to send out a little tub of red paint with Radio Times for us all to shange the colour of our text key

My TV has the sound settings linked to the red button.

I just want to see it possible for us to be able to access pages directly again - admitedly it's faster now with the second generation Freeview boxes but it would be so much simpler jus to type in 615 for programme info.

A misunderstanding here I think - I'm not suggesting a technological improvement, just that when viewers of a channel tune in to Teletext and then press RED, an interactive facility would be available.

Doing that however would be admitting that 'analogue' teletext is still useful - which is a major taboo. Teletext, along with all of analogue TV, is now being plugged as the poor relation to new digital services, adding more functionality to it just won't happen.

I too would like to see the return of directly accessible pages. We know it's possible on DTT because Teletext uses a similar idea in the TV navigator and Free2Play have codes too.

I would like the current style to stay, but with the ability to 'Press Green' and key in a code.

My Red button brings the Picture settings up.

The original pilot Teletext Digital on DTT (from before they changed their logo) did actually have page numbers in addition to the menu system to allow for direct navigation. Why they got rid of them is beyond me.

I think that many people find the red button on their normal remote confusing - I know that my grandparents sit there 'pressing red' and the picture settings keep popping up.

My red button calls the maid in!