What's Going To Happen To Aertel On Sky?

eirman

Will it disappear from sky in October?
Will there be a digital replacement?

The Cush

eirman wrote: »

Will it disappear from sky in October?
Will there be a digital replacement?

There is no information from any of the broadcasters about switching off the traditional teletext in Oct. RTÉ did previously say they would be switching it off at ASO or thereabouts in an early Saorview FAQ but that information has since been removed.

MarkK

It would seem strange to remove it before an alternative is available on Sky and Cable.

The Aertel web page http://www.rte.ie/aertel/ says that the "analogue service will no longer be available on rte.ie from 24 October." which seems to imply they will be switching it off.

The Cush

MarkK wrote: »

The Aertel web page http://www.rte.ie/aertel/ says that the "analogue service will no longer be available on rte.ie from 24 October." which seems to imply they will be switching it off.

That's new information, thanks for posting. So RTÉ are switching off the old teletext service, no information from the other broadcasters. Maybe they'll have a replacement ready for it on Sky/UPC by Oct 24th.

MarkK

It says "analogue service will no longer be available on rte.ie from 24 October."

So it's not 100% confirmation that it will happen on Sky and Cable.

PogMoThoin

Do we really need it? It's a dated technology, everyone has smartphones, tablets and laptops these days

Johnboy1951

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Do we really need it? It's a dated technology, everyone has smartphones, tablets and laptops these days

What nonsense!

xxyyxx

PogMoThoin wrote: »

everyone has smartphones, tablets and laptops these days

We do? I might have a smartphone and a laptop but that doesn't mean that everyone is the same. Hell even I would use Aertel to get something like lottery numbers or a quick glance at the headlines.

Extinction

If teletext does go in October does this mean that a hearing impared person will need to have a Saorview approved TV or box? Or are subtitles transmitted differently?

The Cush

Extinction wrote: »

If teletext does go in October does this mean that a hearing impared person will need to have a Saorview approved TV or box? Or are subtitles transmitted differently?

Separate data stream.

pricewise987

So the Aertel Analogue service is being replaced by the Aertel Digital service on rte.ie

http://www.rte.ie/aertel/

is being replaced by

http://www.rte.ie/aerteldigital/desktopxhtml/100-1.html

What about the Aertel TV service

Will Aertel still be available ON Sky and UPC?

winston_1

pricewise987 wrote: »

So the Aertel Analogue service is being replaced by the Aertel Digital service on rte.ie

http://www.rte.ie/aertel/

is being replaced by

http://www.rte.ie/aerteldigital/desktopxhtml/100-1.html

What about the Aertel TV service

Will Aertel still be available ON Sky and UPC?

God, you'd have thought that RTE, if anyone, would know that there is no such thing as Aertel analogue service. Teletext is and always has been digital.
What's more the traditional teletext service is not restricted to analogue TV. It is, at the moment anyway, used on digital TV, both Saorview and Sky.

Cool_CM

I use aertel digital on my smartphone to check tv and film listings....
Am I the only one?

xxyyxx

I imagine that they use digital to help regular folk differentiate.

areyawell

It will be switched to digital text like as it is on rte 2 hd now

The Cush

MarkK wrote: »

The Aertel web page http://www.rte.ie/aertel/ says that the "analogue service will no longer be available on rte.ie from 24 October." which seems to imply they will be switching it off.

Confirmed by Saorview over on twitter that analogue text will be gone from RTÉ1/2 at ASO but will continue on TV3/TG4

Brian Greene@BrianGreene 4 Oct 12
@SAORVIEW after october 24th will aertel continue as is on digital sat and analogue cable

Tommy & PJ@SAORVIEW
@BrianGreene Analogue teletext will cease on SAORVIEW for RTÉ 1 & RTÉ 2 on 24th Oct. TV3 and TG4 will continue to have analogue teletext.
4 Oct 12

https://twitter.com/SAORVIEW/status/253816229406601216

Brian Greene@BrianGreene 4 Oct 12
@SAORVIEW after october 24th will aertel continue as is on digital sat and analogue cable

Tommy & PJ@SAORVIEW
@BrianGreene Cable & Sat is a matter for those platform providers, so viewers concerned about UPC and SKY, should contact them directly.
4 Oct 12

http://twitter.com/SAORVIEW/status/253816337212768256

watty

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Do we really need it? It's a dated technology, everyone has smartphones, tablets and laptops these days

RSS is the Internet equivalent. But most people don't know how to use it.

Facebook and Twitter are really stupid walled gardens and I really wish the Broadcasters would have their own services on their own sites instead of promoting non-standard privacy ignoring garbage.

The Teletext concept is ideally suited to portable devices that don't need expensive mobile phone data contracts. Pity that more use isn't made of RDS and virtually no portable outside a car uses it and that DAB is junk on so many levels (DAB has an equivalent service, but RTE don't transmit it and hardly any DAB sets implement even as much as RDS in a car, despite all having a text display).

MHEG5 can of course emulate Teletext or do many other applications. Teletext with Photos was demonstrated in 1973! Too slow for regular TV.

On Digital the picture only has picture, you have a separate data stream for everything, so very little cost to teletext, RDS, MHEG, DAB info, subtitles etc unless you need to send it very quickly.

Decent modern receivers cache the "carousel" of data (no matter what service it is, except for subtitles) to give apparent instant response.

icdg

Brian Greene@BrianGreene 4 Oct 12
@SAORVIEW after october 24th will aertel continue as is on digital sat and analogue cable

Tommy & PJ@SAORVIEW
@BrianGreene Cable & Sat is a matter for those platform providers, so viewers concerned about UPC and SKY, should contact them directly.
4 Oct 12

http://twitter.com/SAORVIEW/status/253816337212768256

Now that 'I don't get. Surely RTÉ themselves know if they are going to continue to make the "analogue" Aertel service available to Sky and UPC post October? It may be of course the case in this particular case that RTÉ News haven't told RTÉ NL what their plans are...

In the old days

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Do we really need it? It's a dated technology, everyone has smartphones, tablets and laptops these days

Need, no. It is however quicker to load and navigate than the digital replacement. Provides same basic info and news quickly and without bells and whistles. My wife is already in mourning.....It is/was popular.

byte

I would prefer the traditional teletext over the new, slower version also. I think the newer one is to suit broadcasters moreso, as they can have more graphical adverts. Though, of course, BBC don't do ads... *laments Ceefax*

If RTE are pulling the standard Teletext from both RTE.ie and their TV channels, I can't imagine them having it in action for Sky/UPC?

STB

byte wrote: »

I would prefer the traditional teletext over the new, slower version also. I think the newer one is to suit broadcasters moreso, as they can have more graphical adverts. Though, of course, BBC don't do ads... *laments Ceefax*

If RTE are pulling the standard Teletext from both RTE.ie and their TV channels, I can't imagine them having it in action for Sky/UPC?

It'll be gone from Sky and UPC as well.

Its a pity as it is tiny size wise on the mux. Also there will lots of room when the second mux is on.

I suppose it is just confirming their commitment to MHEG driven text. And you know what, all that allows for is more colourful adverts!

In the old days

byte wrote: »

If RTE are pulling the standard Teletext from both RTE.ie and their TV channels, I can't imagine them having it in action for Sky/UPC?

Can't see RTE just pulling aertel from SKY satellite without an immediate replacement. Half their programmes say "for more info go to aertel page xxx for more details". Presumably the MHEG5 version on Saorview could also be made work on SKY satellite via the red button or text button?

STB

In the old days wrote: »

Can't see RTE just pulling aertel from SKY satellite without an immediate replacement. Half their programmes say "for more info go to aertel page xxx for more details". Presumably the MHEG5 version on Saorview could also be made work on SKY satellite via the red button or text button?

Only boxes that can interpret the data would be able to display it.

Sky use Openepg and WTVML for interactive, not MHEG5.

icdg

In the old days wrote: »

Can't see RTE just pulling aertel from SKY satellite without an immediate replacement. Half their programmes say "for more info go to aertel page xxx for more details". Presumably the MHEG5 version on Saorview could also be made work on SKY satellite via the red button or text button?

Sky uses a completely different platform, OpenTV. At one stage RTÉ actually announced that they were going to develop an Aertel service for Sky, but that was the guts of ten years ago and nothing ever came of it.

STB

icdg wrote: »

Sky uses a completely different platform, OpenTV. At one stage RTÉ actually announced that they were going to develop an Aertel service for Sky, but that was the guts of ten years ago and nothing ever came of it.

Makes a mockery of the claims that if you have Sky and UPC, that you have to do nothing, doesnt it.

Both should have been told that if they couldn't replicate the muxes then forget about asking for it under the must offer. They are already picking and choosing the services they want.

watty

Lots of people have 2nd or 3rd or even 4th TVs not on Sky box or UPC cable (though that's less common)

sligotrain

In many cases integrated "Smart" or Net TVs make teletext completely redundant. HTPCs where TV and internet content are mixed easily make it irrelevant.

watty

Only 22% of households have Broadband.
Over 60% use Mobile Internet via dongle or tethered phone. Which is not Broadband and not suitable for a so called "Smart TV".

Also "Smart" or "Internet" features are too complicated for many people. Teletext or an MHEG5 based replacement has simple navigation only needing a normal remote.

Just like many people will never buy a Smart phone. They only want to make phone calls and maybe texts and simple Photos. A lot of people are happier with a Feature Phone with real buttons than a Fruity Fondle gizmo.

Cantona's Collars

Most people who have Sky are well used to the Red Button feature by now,even a friends father who used to turn off his tv by using the tv remote instead when prompted to "press red button now".

As usual RTE are way behind in bringing in a decent interactive service.

Aertel has served it's time & now people should embrace new technology.The interactive menus on satellite are easier to navigate than Aertel anyway.

zg3409

I presume the new aertel guide is available to Sky and it's Sky who has not implimented it.

The new style guide has been available off air for years and has been available from RTE's website for just as long. MHEG5 is well known and understood.

http://www.rte.ie/aerteldigital/desktopxhtml/100-1.html

It works great on Saorview if the TV is able for it. It is a little obsolete for those who have decent internet access but it is a valuable step up from traditional aertel and even fast-text where the TV could handle it.

Remember the RTE service on Sky is totally paid for by Sky. It is paid out of Irish Sky subscriptions, no TV licence money. It's up to Sky to take the information and make it compatable with their box. They already have had a 7 day guide and series link for years which I assume is partly created by information from RTE and combined and broadcast by Sky. So my question is will Sky's RTE be inferior to RTE via Saorview. Saorview had RTE2 HD long before Sky. Saorview has channels not on Sky and radio stations and the new aertel.

Sky claim to be a premium service, they should provide a premium product.

downwiththatsor

zerks wrote: »

Most people who have Sky are well used to the Red Button feature by now,even a friends father who used to turn off his tv by using the tv remote instead when prompted to "press red button now".

As usual RTE are way behind in bringing in a decent interactive service.

Aertel has served it's time & now people should embrace new technology.The interactive menus on satellite are easier to navigate than Aertel anyway.

You surely cant expect equivalent advances in interactive services on Rte when you compare Skys revenues / subscriber base vs Rte's licence revenue, not a fair comparison imho.

pricewise987

Put the question to RTE - Received the following reply

"...The analogue switch-off on 24th October should have no impact on the availability of Aertel services on both the Sky and UPC digital platforms.

Regards,

Technical Support
RTÉ Transmission Network...."

Does this mean Aertel stays the same after the switchover....???

Traditional analogue text is still available on the AtTheRaces and Racing UK channels....

Cantona's Collars

downwiththatsor wrote: »

You surely cant expect equivalent advances in interactive services on Rte when you compare Skys revenues / subscriber base vs Rte's licence revenue, not a fair comparison imho.

As zg3409 linked to,they have a service of sorts which could easily be used.They don't need all the bells & whistles of Sky's own interactive service.
My point was that they knew ASO was on the way yet sat on their hands & did nothing,typical of RTE.

zg3409

pricewise987 wrote: »

Does this mean Aertel stays the same after the switchover....???

I would suggest yes, no change, for Sky and UPC users. I expect for Saorview viewers the option of old text may be gone?

Antenna

pricewise987 wrote: »

Traditional analogue text is still available on the AtTheRaces and Racing UK channels....

A number of other channels on Sky too...

TV5, Eurosport, Zee TV (FTA) come to mind.
The standard definition FTA Channel 4 and Channel 4+1 have a traditional teletext service too (though the Sky versions for Rep of Ireland do not have it)

BBCs, ITVs and many other channels have P 888 teletext subtitles available.

Its a pity that Skyboxes with HDMI out cannot themselves decode traditional/WST teletext, as HDMI does not pass traditional teletext to the TV's teletext decoder. (The viewer also needs an RF or SCART connection to the TV to access WST teletext). Cable boxes can do this. The cheapest FTA satellite boxes in Lidl etc can all do this.