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Interactive services |
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What are interactive/"red button" services?
They're on-screen information services, or interactive features that accompany TV programmes. They're available mainly from the BBC, Sky and digital cable companies, but also to a limited extent from other broadcasters.
How do I access them?
Digital viewers (those with Freeview, satellite or cable) can press the red button on their remote control at any time to choose from a number of on-screen extras. So you can read (or watch) news headlines, check the weather or find out the latest football scores.
Additionally, a prompt in the corner of your TV screen indicates that extra features are available specifically for the programme you're watching (Radio Times magazine's listings carry details of programmes with interactive features, while the website offers registered users full listings for the BBC Sport Interactive channel, plus other interactive channels when available).
So what's available?
As well as the basic information services outlined above, a range of extra video, audio and interactive content is available for specific programmes. So, for example, David Attenborough's Planet Earth series offered "making of" documentaries after the main scheduled programme, while The Great British Quiz allowed viewers to answer questions and compete against the studio audience and other viewers across the country.
During the 2005 series of Strictly Come Dancing, judge Len Goodman taught viewers a new dance each week. Since 2006, Doctor Who fans have been able to access episode commentaries by the likes of Russell T Davies and David Tennant. And in 2007 CBeebies stars Charlie and Lola went interactive with a karaoke premiere of a new song.
What about sport and music?
Coverage of festivals such as Glastonbury lets viewers swap between the different music stages, and during the Proms it was possible to watch extra performances via the red button.
Meanwhile, the potential for enhancing sports coverage is huge. Extra features (dedicated football results programmes; alternative commentaries) are available week in, week out but it's during the big sporting events that the red button really comes into its own.
Take the Olympics, for instance. During the Beijing Games, the BBC offered nine interactive channels via the red button so viewers could take their pick from a wide range of sports, at any time of the day or night. And during the BBC's annual coverage of Wimbledon there was red-button access to action on all the courts*, not just those showing on BBC1 and BBC2.
*Note: interactive features occasionally vary according to whether you have digital terrestrial, satellite, cable or broadband. For instance, during Wimbledon, satellite viewers have been able to watch action from more extra courts than those with Freeview.
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