Background
Teletext utilises the spare lines of the analogue 625-line UHF picture to transmit textual information and data to domestic TV sets equipped with a teletext decoder. In 1973 the IBA, the ITC’s predecessor, announced a new type of broadcast ‘teletext’ service which had been developed as a result of research into digital transmission. The IBA system was known as ORACLE (Optional Reception of Announcements by Coded Line Electronics). The BBC had been working on similar research and launched its system, CEEFAX, the following year. Both services had subtitling facilities for programmes for hearing-impaired viewers. The contract held by Oracle Teletext Ltd, which was jointly owned by the ITV companies, expired on 31 Dec 1992.
Initial proposals in the Broadcasting Bill (1989) had been to sell to the highest bidder all ‘spare capacity’ of the television signal on ITV and Channel 4, a large proportion of which was being used for publicly available teletext services. These would have meant an end to those services, if providers of lower cost commercial subscription data services had bid higher sums for the licences. After representations made clear the public support for the public teletext service (then provided by Oracle), the Government agreed that a proportion of the capacity should be set aside for this service.
Broadcasting Act 1990
Sections 48 to 55 set out the conditions for providing ‘additional’ (or teletext) services on spare lines. Schedule 5 covers the special provisions relating to the public teletext service which is required to supply high quality international and national news, regional information and diversity.
Licence Award
The single Public Teletext Service licence on Channels 3 and 4 (including S4C in Wales) was awarded to Teletext UK Ltd by competitive tender in April 1992. There were four other applicants but Teletext UK Ltd (later renamed Teletext Ltd) submitted the highest bid of £8.2m. The first part of the tender was set at 2% of qualifying revenue (i.e. advertising, subscription and sponsorship income) for the first three years and at 8% for the remaining seven years of the 10-year licence which started on 1 January 1993. This was renewed for a further 10-year period in Jan 2002.
Performance Review
In 2002 Teletext had provided high quality coverage of all the major news stories, as well as a diverse range of information. In-house production had been expanded and regional interests served
Digital Terrestrial Television and Teletext
Under the Broadcasting Act 1996, the public teletext service for Channel 3 and 4, run by Teletext Ltd was offered guaranteed capacity on the digital terrestrial multiplex which is run by Digital 3 and 4 Ltd. The MHEG-5 system is used, offering improved text and graphics compared to conventional teletext. Other digital terrestrial programme services also use MHEG-5 to offer enhanced teletext and interactivity.
Subtitling
The Broadcasting Act 1990 required Channel 3 licensees, as a licence condition, to provide a minimum amount of subtitling for the deaf and specified that in 1998 at least 50% of the channel output per week on average must be subtitled; after 1998, the greatest number of hours that the ITC considers practicable must be subtitled. The subtitling provision in the Act does not cover Channel 4 but the Channel agreed to work towards the same targets as for Channel 3 in 1998 and this was incorporated into the Channel 4 licence. Following a public consultation, the ITC issued minimum requirements for subtitling on Channel 3 from 1998. These provide for annual increases reaching 90% in 2010. In 2002, 72% was achieved by both Channel 3 and Channel 4 and 50% by Channel 5.
Channel 5 and subtitling
As a licence condition, C5 Broadcasting is required to implement proposals contained in its application in relation to subtitling. Five’s licence requirement is to subtitle 23% of programmes in the first year. Thereafter C5 will increase the number of hours at least in line with specifications set out annually by the ITC. By 2008, Channel 5 will be subtitling at least 80% of broadcasting hours.
Subtitling and Digital Terrestrial Programming
The 1996 Broadcasting Act provided for the ITC to draw up a code relating to provisions for deaf and visually impaired people on digital terrestrial services. The code requires that, as from the 10th anniversary of the date of the commencement of any digital programme service, 80% of the service will be subtitled. This figure of 80% was introduced by statutory order in 2001
Commercial Additional Services (CAS)
These are licensed separately by the ITC, in addition to the Public Teletext Service, on spare capacity within the main signal carrying the main broadcasting services on Channels 3, 4 and S4C. A proportion of the overall capacity is allocated for non-public commercial use. Provided that the technical plan is acceptable and that the ITC is satisfied that the service would be maintained for the 10-year licence period, the licence is normally awarded to the highest bidder. There is no quality threshold to be satisfied. A single bid was received by the ITC for the service on Channel 3 and the licence was awarded to Data Broadcasting International Ltd (DBI) in 1992, for a 10-year period starting 1 January 1993. DBI has a number of sub-licensees, approved by the ITC, whose use of the capacity in conformity with the conditions of the licence remains the responsibility of the licensee. DBI’s licence was renewed in 2002 for a ten-year period.
No bid was initially received in 1992 for the equivalent service on Channel 4/S4C. In June 1994 the ITC readvertised a CAS licence for the spare capacity on Channel 4/S4C. Two applications were received on 3 August 1994 but on 16 September 1994, Members of the Commission announced that the application by Skytext Ltd should not be treated as valid because it was received at the Head Office of the ITC after the noon deadline specified in the Invitation to Apply. On 25 October 1994 the ITC awarded the licence to the remaining applicant, SimpleActive Ltd, for a ten-year period. SimpleActive started its service on 1 July 1995.
Channel 5 and teletext
In November 1996 the ITC advertised a single licence to provide an additional service or services on all of the available spare capacity on the Channel 5 signal. Applicants were free to propose any mixture of teletext or similar services on an open access (either free-to-air or subscription) or closed user group basis. The ITC received two applications for the licence. Sky Five Text Ltd (BSkyB and C5B), with a bid of £1,500,557, and Text5 Ltd (Teletext Holdings) with a bid of £313,000. In July 1997, the ITC awarded the licence to Sky Five Text Ltd ] In 2001 Sky Five Text surrendered the licence to the ITC. After a competitive bidding process in which the ITC received only one bid, the Channel Five Text Licence was awarded to Teletext Ltd in 2002.
The 1996 Broadcasting Act amended the 1990 legislation to allow the system of consumer protection regulation to apply to the teletext service on Channel 5. There are no ‘public service’ requirements for Channel 5 teletext service, unlike Channel 3 and Channel 4.
Sanctions
The ITC has the power to impose financial penalties, shorten or (in extreme circumstances) revoke a company’s licence if licence conditions are breached. Fines may be imposed of up to 3% of the licensee’s annual qualifying revenue (advertising, sponsorship and subscription income) or up to 5% for subsequent breaches.
Other Text Services
Enhanced teletext and interactive services are available on digital satellite and cable.
Further References
ITC Publications
Public teletext service licence granted to Teletext UK Ltd. 1992.
Commercial additional service licence granted to Data Broadcasting International Ltd. 1992.
Commercial additional service licence granted to SimpleActive Ltd. 1994.
ITC Code for Text Services
ITC guidance on standards for subtitling. .
‘Switched on’ - deaf peoples’ views on television subtitling. ITC/BBC report. (Available to order, cost £20).
News releases: 70/94, 42/96, 92/96, 61/97, 62/97, 17/97, 52/97, 18/98, [PG please check for more recent releases]
Dial 888: Subtitling for deaf children. ITC research. 1996.
The Broadcasting (Sign Language) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/167) London: Stationery Office, 1997
June 2003
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