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pcernie
Legend
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:30 pm
Posts: 45931
Location: Belfast
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 http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.c ... d=3206223& | | | | Quote: Nearly half of Brits (45 percent) have never used the Red Button interactive digital TV service, says Moneysupermarket.com.
According to research by the comparison website, 13 percent of UK TV viewers claimed they had no idea what the Red Button service offered, while 19 percent said they didn't use the service because they thought they would be charged for it.
James Parker, manager of mobiles and broadband at moneysupermarket.com, said: "Most people still associate the red button on their remote with the traditional teletext. But since the boom in digital TV take-up, the red button has opened up a whole new world for viewers.
"It is a shame that almost a third of users don't understand what going interactive is, and as a result they are missing out on some great services. Providers should do more to educate their customers on what extra services and additional programmes are available if they hit the red button."
Moneysupermarket.com said that of those currently using the service, 28 percent claimed it was one of the best TV innovations ever.
"The red button has revolutionised the way TV works in the UK. I would urge customers who haven't embraced the button to check with their provider what's available, or if you already have a digital TV subscription to check the types of services on offer," added Parker. | | | | |
It came up the other day on something I was watching and I just thought 'That's annoying' and 'Chances are it's a load of fluff', so does anyone here actually use it? 
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:49 am |
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cloaked_wolf
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:46 pm
Posts: 10022
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I think I did when we first got our freeview digibox but since I spent my days at uni with plain old terrestrial television, I learnt to ignore the red button, so now, despite having integrated freeview, I don't use it.
_________________ He fights for the users.
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:02 am |
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finlay666
Spends far too much time on here
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:40 pm
Posts: 4876
Location: Newcastle
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 My red button! I use it for sport or the F1 for highlights if I missed some of it.... that is about it really _________________TwitterCharlie Brooker: Macs are glorified Fisher-Price activity centres for adults; computers for scaredy cats too nervous to learn how proper computers work; computers for people who earnestly believe in feng shui.
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:07 am |
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veato
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:17 am
Posts: 5550
Location: Nottingham
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I use it on BBC sometimes to check a sport or news story. Thats about it I think.
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:44 am |
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Paul1965
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:29 pm
Posts: 5975
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I've only used it twice to vote on X Factor  
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:40 am |
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timark_uk
Moderator
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:11 pm
Posts: 12143
Location: Belfast
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Not me. I've tested it, just to see what it was all about, but I found it slow and the interface frustrating, so I've never gone back to it. Mark
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:46 am |
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l3v1ck
What's a life?
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:21 am
Posts: 12700
Location: The Right Side of the Pennines (metaphorically & geographically)
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Never used it once.
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:01 am |
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HeatherKay
Moderator
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:13 pm
Posts: 7262
Location: Here, but not all there.
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I've used it occasionally but, like Mark, found it slow and frustrating. I have found, though, that this varies between different machines. It's slow on our old freeview pvr, but speedy on our freeview telly. It's also got quicker as the pace of change increases. I think once the digital switchover is complete it might make a difference.
It's still pretty pointless, though. Most of the time, I just press the green button to clear the red button flag so I can watch without hindrance.
_________________My Flickr | Snaptophobic BloggageHeather Kay: modelling details that matter. "Let my windows be open to receive new ideas but let me also be strong enough not to be blown away by them." - Mahatma Gandhi.
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:16 am |
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AlunD
Site Admin
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:12 am
Posts: 7011
Location: Wiltshire
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occasionally use it but not regularly by any stretch of the imagination.
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:34 am |
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Geiseric
Doesn't have much of a life
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:35 pm
Posts: 1657
Location: Ipswich
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I use it for - F1, football focus, football results program. Used it the other day when Jonathan Ross interviewed Robbie Williams and he did a couple of extra songs after the show which you could view via the red button.
The electric proms was viewable via the red button
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:48 am |
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John_Vella
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:55 am
Posts: 7935
Location: Manchester.
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I have used it a few times to switch between footbacll matches and Mrs. V. uses it when the Athletics Championship type things are on to switch to different events.
I think that's about it, but it can be useful for the reasons mentioned above...
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:57 am |
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tombolt
Spends far too much time on here
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:38 am
Posts: 2967
Location: Dorchester, Dorset
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I use it a fair bit. Mainly on BBC as they're the only ones to really use it properly. I use it on the snooker to watch alternate matches, on the rugby to get other commentary and also to check news and results. If cricket comes back to the BBC, it will be good as I expect you will be able to watch the game with TMS commentary.
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:44 am |
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oceanicitl
Official forum cat lady
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:04 am
Posts: 11039
Location: London
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I've only ever used it during Glastonbury. I find it slow and annoying too.
_________________Still the official cheeky one
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:56 am |
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TheHobgob
Occasionally has a life
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:33 pm
Posts: 491
Location: UK, England.
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As a rule no, my laptop is on 90% of the time and anything I can do using the red button I can do faster and easier online without having to disrupt my/others TV watching.
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:04 am |
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jonbwfc
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:26 pm
Posts: 17040
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Depends if you actually mean digital teletext or the 'alternate coverage' thing. I use the teletext very occasionally - traffic or weather usually - but I use the alternate coverage quite a lot. Both for sports coverage and I also, bizarrely, use it to watch Danny Baker's radio show on a Saturday morning. However I don't switch to them via the red button - they're just channels 301-305 on freeview, so I just go to them direct.
Jon
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| Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:06 am |
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