SP
Not too impressed that they're advertising a premium rate weather phone line service on p100.
PC
I'm not in the slight bit impressed that Teletext is allowed to continue with the sheer commercial parts still operating, which appears to be the way its heading tonight. It makes a mockery of the service if page 100 is just going to link to holidays, premium rate phone lines etc. Does this not breach their franchise? I know the alternative is that the whole thing shuts down, but if they're going to rip the piss then surely it would be better to take the bandwidth off them now.
IS
Yeah, I'm quite surprised that there's anything left on analogue, I was expecting something more like this: http://teletext.mb21.co.uk/gallery/channel5/ch5-100-20020101.gif
I don't suppose anyone's really bothered though, there's not long left now anyway
I don't suppose anyone's really bothered though, there's not long left now anyway
MA
I'm not surprised at all, Ofcom really are an utterly useless waste of space.
It doesn't really matter anyway, DSO is in full momentum, and another analogue transmitter group vanishes every 4-6 weeks, and will continue to until the end of 2012. There's more important things that Ofcom are ignoring to get worked up about.
Yeah, I'm quite surprised that there's anything left on analogue, I was expecting something more like this: http://teletext.mb21.co.uk/gallery/channel5/ch5-100-20020101.gif
I don't suppose anyone's really bothered though, there's not long left now anyway
I don't suppose anyone's really bothered though, there's not long left now anyway
I'm not surprised at all, Ofcom really are an utterly useless waste of space.
It doesn't really matter anyway, DSO is in full momentum, and another analogue transmitter group vanishes every 4-6 weeks, and will continue to until the end of 2012. There's more important things that Ofcom are ignoring to get worked up about.
BR
Exactly - and them remaining in such a capacity is effectively blocking any other company striking a deal with ITV/C4 to provide some sort of replacement service.
Shouldn't be too surprised though it remains in that form - after all they've always said it's the news and editorial side closing, not Teletext itself.
I'm not in the slight bit impressed that Teletext is allowed to continue with the sheer commercial parts still operating, which appears to be the way its heading tonight. It makes a mockery of the service if page 100 is just going to link to holidays, premium rate phone lines etc. Does this not breach their franchise? I know the alternative is that the whole thing shuts down, but if they're going to rip the p*** then surely it would be better to take the bandwidth off them now.
Exactly - and them remaining in such a capacity is effectively blocking any other company striking a deal with ITV/C4 to provide some sort of replacement service.
Shouldn't be too surprised though it remains in that form - after all they've always said it's the news and editorial side closing, not Teletext itself.
IS
No-one is going to want to set up a replacement service on analogue TV which is a dead duck now. I doubt many companies would be want the 3% on DTT... if the incumbant couldn't make it pay then a newcomer won't
Exactly - and them remaining in such a capacity is effectively blocking any other company striking a deal with ITV/C4 to provide some sort of replacement service.
No-one is going to want to set up a replacement service on analogue TV which is a dead duck now. I doubt many companies would be want the 3% on DTT... if the incumbant couldn't make it pay then a newcomer won't
BR
Well analogue no, but DTT might. After all we've seen with ESPN how they're willing to step in where a previous service failed. I'm sure if anyone did come in it would be a greatly reduced service (unless Sky Text showed an interest and duplicated their service), but if a service basically took already produced stories from an existing website (like ITN for example, though that seems to be largely videos now) some company might be able to make that worth while. There's always some fool willing to have a go where others have failed.
SP
The big question really, is whether enough people need or want a text-based information service on their TV anymore. Now that most households have access to the internet, digital and analogue text services seem limited in what they can provide to say the least.
The only real advantage is that it might be quicker and more convenient to access the latest headlines (or whatever) on your TV whilst you're watching, rather than having to switch your PC or laptop on, wait for it to boot up, etc., before you get what you want. However with internet usage on mobile devices increasing, this advantage is quickly disappearing.
The only real advantage is that it might be quicker and more convenient to access the latest headlines (or whatever) on your TV whilst you're watching, rather than having to switch your PC or laptop on, wait for it to boot up, etc., before you get what you want. However with internet usage on mobile devices increasing, this advantage is quickly disappearing.
ST
Clearly you don't use the text/interactive services on DSat. It's so slow to load that it's probably faster to go online. However, Freeview's text/interactive services seem to be alot quicker.
The only real advantage is that it might be quicker and more convenient to access the latest headlines (or whatever) on your TV whilst you're watching, rather than having to switch your PC or laptop on, wait for it to boot up, etc., before you get what you want.
Clearly you don't use the text/interactive services on DSat. It's so slow to load that it's probably faster to go online. However, Freeview's text/interactive services seem to be alot quicker.
BR
Sky is definitely the reason digital text has a bad reputation. I could never understand the complaints it was slow until I found myself using it in a Sky household a few months back - Freeview is leagues ahead in that regard.
And I completely reject the notion it's obsolete now the internet is around, just like newspapers and magazines aren't obsolete due to the web too, or we suddenly don't want regional news now DSO has arrived. Yes, there is more competition, but there is still a market there to be tapped into - the opportunity to be in 30m homes at the press of a button must surely appeal to some organisations.
Whether or not we'll see a complete service remains to be seen, but I could see ITV and or C4 running a service where third parties provide content for the relevant sections. Wouldn't surprise me actually to see Camelot launch a National Lottery branded text service in the not-so-distant future either.
And I completely reject the notion it's obsolete now the internet is around, just like newspapers and magazines aren't obsolete due to the web too, or we suddenly don't want regional news now DSO has arrived. Yes, there is more competition, but there is still a market there to be tapped into - the opportunity to be in 30m homes at the press of a button must surely appeal to some organisations.
Whether or not we'll see a complete service remains to be seen, but I could see ITV and or C4 running a service where third parties provide content for the relevant sections. Wouldn't surprise me actually to see Camelot launch a National Lottery branded text service in the not-so-distant future either.
SP
I think a lot of it depends on your make of Sky box. On my original, first generation Grundig digibox, it was painfully slow to load text services. On my Pace HD box it's much faster - not as fast as DTT, but probably no slower than it can be loading a traditional teletext page.
Clearly you don't use the text/interactive services on DSat. It's so slow to load that it's probably faster to go online.
I think a lot of it depends on your make of Sky box. On my original, first generation Grundig digibox, it was painfully slow to load text services. On my Pace HD box it's much faster - not as fast as DTT, but probably no slower than it can be loading a traditional teletext page.