Teletext @50: The Stories | Documentary (Visual Version) | 2024

Download mp3 version: https://www.podbean.com/site/EpisodeDownload/PB1637DEFGERIT

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.

This is a fan-made, not for profit documentary.

A Byte High No Limit / illarterate co-production

FULL CREDITS: https://teletextart.co.uk/teletext-50-the-stories-video-documentary

#Teletext #retro #Documentary #nostalgia #retrogaming #tech #vhs #Ceefax #Videotext #BBCMicro #Viewdata #Teletexto

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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV1X05EgyOw
“Jumping Jack Flash” by The Rolling Stones, cover by Pixelblip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YudzwK7gV3Y
“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 Timtaj https://pixabay.com/music/dance-dance-off-8843/
“Long Hot Summer” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, cover by Pixelblip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLqWoy3MfSI
“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 (Show 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, Ceefax)
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, Show 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 material courtesy

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

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
9:14 Technical difficulties: teething problems
15:22 Going Global (Keyfax and Russian teletext) 1980-1992
26:29 ORACLE, the UK’s other service (Debbie’s Diary) 1992
31:16 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 1998-2009
1:11:15 Teletext sports and the Ceefax Striker
1:13:59 The end of teletext in the UK 2009-2012
1:19:06 ACT 3: Teletext rises again! Teletext art 2005-2015
1:25:58 Hidden teletext (teletext recovery) 2010-
1:30:46 Recreating Ceefax for the 21st Century 2016-2024
1:39:50 Teletext today 2024
1:43:21 Tributes & memories