Digital TV – Interactive TV

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 fewer interactive features because Freeview has less bandwidth available. Alongside the digital text service, there is only one main Red Button video channel. In addition, you can't contact the BBC via Freeview (but we always offer other ways, such as text messaging, email or phone).

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.

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.

A red dot or logo* will appear in the top right-hand corner of the picture. This means there is interactive content for the programme you are watching. To remove the red dot or logo:

• Freeview: press the green button.
• Freesat: press the back or green button (see your instruction manual)
• Sky satellite: press the 'Back up' button, or you can programme your set-top box to remove it automatically.
• Cable: press the blue button.
  

* examples of logos include the CBeebies 'come and play'
or 'CBBC extra'.

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.