Teletext 50: The History of the first 50 years

Teletext50: The Stories

A Byte High No Limit / illarterate co-production

 

In 1974, a brand new technology called teletext was being rolled out. It would, over the next few decades, have far-reaching implications, not only in the UK but worldwide.

 

These are the stories of those involved in the production, restoration and art of the blocky medium that graced UK TV screens until 2012. You’ll hear from the pioneers, those who made teletext tick, and the newcomers keeping the medium alive 50 years after its inception.

 

This is a social record of teletext, and these are the teletext people.

Sonic credits

Sound effects courtesy Pixabay

“Seesaw” by Aretha Franklin, cover by Pixelblip

“Tip Toes” by Myuu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJKeIzPzrWE 

“Waltz For a Cat” by MondayHopes https://pixabay.com/music/introoutro-waltz-for-a-cat-8089/

“Wicked Annabella” by The Kinks, cover by Pixelblip

“Jumping Jack Flash” by The Rolling Stones, cover by Pixelblip

“The Ballad of Sir Clive Sinclair” by Mr Biffo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVnv1tVmmjk 

“The Wozniak Song” by Mr Biffo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZvoFHkmolk 

“Ambient Classical Guitar” by William King https://pixabay.com/music/solo-guitar-ambient-classical-guitar-144998/ 

“Dance Off” by All-rights-reserved https://pixabay.com/music/dance-dance-off-8843/ 

“Long Hot Summer” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, cover by Pixelblip

“Resistance” by Gvidon https://pixabay.com/music/beats-gvidon-resistance-170918/ 

“Orange Juice on the Table” by MondayHopes https://pixabay.com/music/bossa-nova-orange-juice-on-the-table-8024/

“Cognoscenti vs Intelligentsia” by The Cuban Boys (light mashup) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXJ5oaU940U 

“Road to Nowhere” by Grand Project https://pixabay.com/music/dance-road-to-nowhere-long-188064/ 

“A Villain’s Redemption” by Katzen Tupas https://pixabay.com/music/solo-guitar-a-villain39s-redemption-12976/ 

“Bossa Nova Dreams” by HD-Studio https://pixabay.com/music/bossa-nova-bossa-nova-dreams-182163/ 

“Clock Cracker” by Caboose https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBcCts2nlbA 

“Road Rash” by Octosound https://pixabay.com/music/rock-road-rash-172665/

“Heroes” by David Bowie, cover by Pixelblip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_HzlaIxnHg 

“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” by Elton John, cover by Pixelblip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ_Ed-d2dD8 

 

The Teletext People

Carl Attrill (Episode presenter)

Mort Smith (Ceefax, Intelfax)

Julie Morton-Smith (Intelfax)

Ian Irving (Ceefax, Intelfax)

Colin McIntyre (Ceefax) - via archive interview from Channel 4

Steve Rosenberg (Intelfax, Russian Teletext, BBC)

Gareth Herincx (ORACLE)

Graham Lovelace (Ceefax, Teletext Ltd)

Paul Rose (Teletext Ltd)

Sara-Scott Rivers (Teletext Ltd, Videotron, Datasolve)

John Earls (Teletext Ltd)

Ricardo Autobahn (The Cuban Boys)

Ian Westbrook (Ceefax, BBC News)

Paul B Davis (VBI Microtel)

Dan Farrimond (Teletext Artist, Episode Editor)

Jason Robertson (The Teletext Archaeologist)

Alistair Cree (ZXNet browser-based teletext editor)

James Domestic (artist)

Count Binface (Space Politician)

Nathan Dane (NMS Ceefax)

Additional clips courtesy

 

BBC, ITV, WFLD Channel 32, Teletext Holidays, Peter Kay Live at the Top of the Tower, Q Radio, Hit n’ Run

Misc.

 

Eleven Labs (synthesised voices)
All interviews from Teletext People by Byte High No Limit

Steve Horsley Teletext Holidays segment from the Teletextr Podcast

Colin McIntyre Interview courtesy Channel 4

Timecodes

 

0:00 ACT 1: Ceefax, the world’s first teletext service (Beginnings) 1974-1980

15:22 Teletext expands abroad (Keyfax and Russian teletext) 1980-1992

26:29 ORACLE, the UK’s other teletext service (Debbie’s Diary) 1992

31:15 ACT 2: Deregulation (launch of Teletext Ltd) 1992-1993

40:13 Digitiser and sick worms 1993-2003

47:25 Teletext Holidays 1993-2009

51:30 Emergence of the Web and Interactive TV 1993-1999

59:07 Princess Diana 1997

1:04:17 The Music Men: Planet Sound 

1:11:15 Teletext sports and the Ceefax Striker

1:13:50 The end of teletext in the UK 2009-2012

1:18:06 ACT 3: Teletext rises again! Teletext art 2005-2015

1:25:58 Hidden teletext (teletext recovery) 2010-

1:30:46 Recreating teletext (Ceefax for the 21st Century) 2016-2024

1:39:50 Teletext today 2024

1:43:21 Tributes & memories