Digital TV – Interactive TV
Many digital TV channels have interactive services that you use by pressing the red button on your remote control.
The BBC's interactive service is BBC Red Button, which you can use by pressing the red button when you are watching any BBC channel. For more details and a demonstration, go to the BBC Digital site.
Missing interactive services
If you suddenly lose interactive services, try resetting your set-top box or digital TV.
With satellite TV, you need Freesat or a Sky set-top box to be able to use red button interactive services.
On Freeview, BBC Red Button has slightly fewer interactive features because Freeview has less bandwidth available. For example:
- There are not so many news screens to choose from.
- You can't contact the BBC via Freeview (but we always offer other ways, such as text messaging, email or phone).
- You can't get subtitles on a BBC Red Button channel.
Slow or faulty interactive services
Interactive services are always tested before being transmitted, but occasionally the software in a particular set-top box may not be able to cope with something new. When the BBC learns of such a problem, we tell the box's manufacturer so that they can transmit a software update.
With some older boxes, the original software may no longer be being updated by the manufacturer. In that case, you may need to buy a new box.
Text services
BBC digital text services are available via the red button. Much of the content is similar to what is available on Ceefax on analogue TV, but not all of it. For example, Foreign Office travel advice, blood bank information and regional sports news are not included in the digital text service, because this information is all readily available online and in much greater detail. We are constantly reviewing what content to offer in the digital text service.
The on-screen red dot
A red dot in the top right-hand corner of the picture means there is interactive content for the programme you are watching. To remove the red dot:
- Freeview: press the green button.
- Sky satellite: press the 'Back up' button, or you can programme your set-top box to remove it automatically.
- Cable: press the blue button.
Recording interactive services
With digital TV, you can record anything that appears on the screen, including interactive services. So, for example, you can record extra news or sports coverage to watch later. However, you will not be able to use other interactive features (such as voting) that only function at the time of broadcast.
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