BBC Ceefax

ITV Teletext

What Is It?

Ceefax is the world's first TV text service, and was developed by the BBC. It was launched on 23 September, 1974, and is now over 30 years old. It first began with just an experimental service of 30 pages, over the years this has now grown to at least 1,000 pages. They cover a wide range of topics such as sport, world and local news, weather and tv schedules. The original idea behind Ceefax was to provide subtitles for the deaf, but BBC broadcast engineers found a broader use for the service. The teletext service Oracle was first fully launched in 1974, alongside the BBC's Ceefax. It was a commercial service broadcast only on ITV and Channel 4. The length of it's broadcast in the United Kingdom was from 1974 to 1992. Then they were outbid by Teletext Ltd who took over the service. This was also the first time Ceefax would display ITV's and Channel 4's tv schedule and vice versa.

What Are The Benefits?

• Easy access to all the latest news and sport.
• Available on nearly every television set.
• Free.

When Can I Get It?

They have been available on BBC and ITV in the UK for over 30 years. There cant be many adults who have never used the service.

Can I Get iT On Any Television?

Just about every television sold in the UK supports teletext. It's available on terrestrial television through the aerial. But with the conversion to digital television by 2012 this could see the death of the service in the UK.