Teletext Turns 50: Past, Present and Future with TARA Systems
It’s hard to believe, but 2024 marks the 50th birthday of Teletext – an important moment in broadcasting history. Half a century ago, the BBC pioneered the first Teletext service, and by 1974, it was officially launched to the public. Over the next decade, Teletext became a key source of information across Europe, with major broadcasters such as Germany’s ARD and ZDF, Austria’s ORF, and Switzerland’s SRG adopting the service. This technology allowed text-based information to be transmitted via television signals, offering a completely new way to interact with television content, and empowering viewers to access information instantly at the press of a button.
Today, despite the rapid advancements in digital media, Teletext remains alive and well in many countries. In Germany, ZDF Teletext is utilized by approximately 1.87 million users daily as of 2023, while ARD Teletext counts around ten million occasional users. Notably, Switzerland’s SRG reported 800,000 daily users in 2023. Thus, Swiss viewers use Teletext more than newer digital platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). In Austria, the story is much the same, with ORF Teletext being accessed by about 700,000 individuals each day in 2023. In the Netherlands, the decision to shut down one Teletext Service even led to a wave of backlash among viewers. In 2022, over 1,000 people protested the shutdown of Omroep West’s Teletext service, ultimately convincing the regional broadcaster in The Hague to retain the service. Even in the UK, where Teletext is no longer widely available, passionate fans remain – some recently gathered for a 50th anniversary meetup, featuring workshops on Teletext art and more!
Teletext Through the Decades
From its modest beginnings, Teletext has evolved to meet the demands of modern audiences. The initial design, which made use of the VBI (Vertical Blanking Interval) – the unused portion of an analog TV signal – was a small revolution in media, laying the foundation for interactive television services that we now take for granted. Over time, the service expanded, offering not just news and weather but also subtitles, live sports updates, and even educational programming.
The endurance of Teletext, despite the evolution of digital media and the internet, shows that Teletext still offers advantages that newer technologies struggle to replicate. As Jürgen Grimm insightfully noted in an in-depth article from the ORF about Teletext, “new innovations in the media sector have never replaced earlier media, but only overlapped with them. […] we have also experienced this with television, which has not replaced newspapers”. This perspective highlights how Teletext has coexisted with the rise of digital media, adapting and evolving while retaining its core audience.
So, what has allowed Teletext to still thrive in 2024? One reason is its accessibility. In the traditional DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) world, Teletext has the advantage of not requiring an internet connection. Instead, it’s part of the DVB Signal, making it available on all television sets and set-top boxes. And even in the Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming landscape, Teletext stands out for its accessibility, providing content for hearing-impaired viewers in a way that other services often can’t fully match.
Furthermore, Teletext is valued for its minimalist approach. With its basic color palette, concise headlines, and easily navigable pages, it stands in stark contrast to the cluttered interfaces of modern apps and websites. In this sense, Teletext offers a valued alternative to the information overload that so often characterizes the internet era. Additionally, Teletext users are free from the distractions of advertisements and the risks of malware, and there’s no need for ad blockers or other security measures. Moreover, the trust that people place in publicly funded broadcasters like ARD, ORF and SRG ensures that Teletext remains a reliable source of information, especially during crises.
Driving Innovation in Teletext Reception
As Teletext celebrates its 50th anniversary, we at TARA Systems continue to lead the way by adapting to changing times while staying true to the essence of Teletext. For over three decades, we have enabled the reception of classic Teletext, the default solution used by millions of TV and set-top box devices around the world. This solution is particularly suited to devices without internet connectivity, where simplicity and reliability are key. Our software is widely used across Europe, with nearly all major TV and set-top box manufacturers – such as Sony, Panasonic, LG, Metz, Loewe, and more – relying on our solution to receive Teletext content.
As user preferences shift towards internet-connected devices, we have adapted our Teletext solution for the streaming age – even though OTT streaming protocols do not natively support Teletext. Our innovative server-based solution lets users access Teletext pages instantly, bypassing the carousel format of the past, where pages rotated in sequence and users had to wait for the desired page to appear. This not only speeds up access to content but also extends Teletext functionality to smart TVs, smartphones, and tablets.
Moreover, our Teletext solution enables instant access to all pages and sub-pages. With traditional Teletext systems, users often experienced delays when changing channels due to the need to reload pages. Our advanced solution eliminates this waiting period by processing thousands of pages per second on server-side. This assures that Teletext content is always available immediately, without requiring any additional page caching on the client device.
Our success stories speak for themselves – TARA Systems is the partner of choice in OTT for leading companies, such as Telekom (Magenta TV), Quickline, and Exaring AG (waipu.tv) who rely on us to meet their needs to continue delivering a smooth and dependable Teletext experience, even as the media landscape shifts.
Recognizing the changing design of modern remote controls, which often lack digit or color keys, we also support an intuitive page-catching feature. This allows users to navigate the page numbers on a Teletext page like a hyperlink on a website by using the cursor keys and select their desired page with the OK button. Furthermore, users can also interact with the color fields on a Teletext page, making sure that they can enjoy the classic Teletext experience with the added convenience of today’s user interfaces.
Another feature that showcases our ability to evolve with technology is our Teletext TrueType Font, which ensures Teletext adapts to today’s high-definition screens. While video resolution has soared from the days of analog TV to Full HD and 4K, original Teletext characters are designed for much lower resolutions and thus needed a refresh. Our TrueType Font is fully scalable and compatible with any screen size or resolution, and therefore remains sharp and visually appealing.
Lastly, it’s possible to implement a split-screen mode, allowing viewers to see Teletext and video simultaneously. Another feature, zoom mode, improves readability by enlarging content, while mixed mode overlays Teletext on live video for real-time updates. These features offer a more convenient and flexible viewing experience.
Teletext’s Next Chapter
While Teletext has certainly evolved over the past 50 years, its core strengths – simplicity, accessibility, and reliability – remain as important as ever. In fact, even as new media platforms continue to capture the attention of younger audiences, Teletext is still an important medium for many TV users. At TARA Systems, we want to ensure that Teletext lives on for as long as possible, maintaining the simplicity and reliability that have made it a beloved part of television history for half a century.
Get in touch with us to learn more about our Teletext solutions and discover how we can support your business in delivering fast, succinct, and accessible information to millions of viewers across Europe!
