Teletext has been fined for closing down

Topics

El Loro

Teletext Ltd (owned by Daily Mail and General Trust plc) has been fined £225,000 by Ofcom for the way that they closed down the public broadcasting part of the service (which was the bulk of it like the news and sports pages). Teletext said that that they were make large losses so had no choice but to close down when they did. Ofcom consider that the making of losses was not an acceptable reason for closing the public broadcasting part so raised this fine.

I don't think many of us will think this unfair as we are now just left with the BBC service (the Sky service on Freeview is so small as can't be regarded as an adequate replacement to the ITV/Channel 4/Channel 5 Teletext).

Ofcom indicate that the Teletext channel is still available for a future replacement.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

BazMember VIP10 years

I used to used Teletext a lot.. had some great holidays booked from there..... and you are right....the Sky version is not very good at all.

5/27/109:35 AM

El LoroMember VIP10 yearsModerator

Bazille - the holidays part of Teletext is still in existence - its on channel 101 on Freeview, or you can get it from ITV Teletext page 200.

5/27/1010:36 AM

Mount Olympus *Olly*Member 10 years

Reference:

Ofcom consider that the making of losses was not an acceptable reason for closing the public broadcasting part so raised this fine

that sounds just plain daft to me. .you make losses you close down before the losses get even bigger, if the drop has been constant and there's no chance of an upturn surely

5/27/1011:17 AM

BazMember VIP10 years

Reference:

Bazille - the holidays part of Teletext is still in existence - its on channel 101 on Freeview, or you can get it from ITV Teletext page 200.

Yes.... but it's not as good El Loro.... IMO

5/27/101:05 PM

El LoroMember VIP10 yearsModerator

Reference:

that sounds just plain daft to me. .you make losses you close down before the losses get even bigger, if the drop has been constant and there's no chance of an upturn surely

I did't go into the full details of Ofcom's reasons as it would be been a very long posting. This is a link to their report where they explain their views that Teletext having given a public broadcasting status were under an obligation to fulfill that obligation. I doubt if the size of the losses being made would have been on the scale that would have caused financial problems for the owners - the Daily Mail group.

5/28/1012:22 AM

Mount Olympus *Olly*Member 10 years

ah right. . thanks El Loro

if there is more to it maybe then it makes a bit more sense

5/28/102:03 AM

kimotaMember 10 years

I used to love Gamecentral on teletext. It was a morning ritual for me for years!

5/29/106:24 AM

Add Reply

<ul id="{%=id%}ButtonGroup" class="button-group h-popup-buttons even-button-group even-1">
    <li id="{%=id%}Okay_buttonContainer"><a id="{%=id%}Okay" href="javascript:void(0);" class="button success no-margin-bottom h-alert-modal-ok-button" role="button">OK</a><script type="text/javascript">
        (function() {
            function {%=id%}Okay_click(event, data) {
            {%=id%}Popup.hide();
        }
        
                $('#{%=id%}Okay').on('click', {%=id%}Okay_click);
        })();
    </script></li></ul><a href="javascript:void(0);" class="close-reveal-modal" aria-label="Close Modal">&#215;</a><div class="last-modal-focus focus-utility-element" tabindex="0"></div>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
        (function() {
            {%=id%}Popup = new SS.Popup.ModalPopup('{%=id%}');
        })();
    </script>

Ad-Free	Search Site	Start Dialogs
Upload Photos	Upload Videos	Upload Audio
Upload Documents	Use Signature	Block Members
View Member Directory	Mark All Topics As Read	Edit Posts Anytime
Post To Walls

Skip to main content

Topics

Add Reply

Membership Required

Remove From Your Block List

Manage Follow Preferences

Block

Premium Membership Required

VIP

Please wait...