10 Fun Facts about Teletext That’ll Only Interest 90s Kids

Last Updated on 2022-04-26 , 7:40 pm

Remember the good old times when digital TV did not exist and the internet seems like a myth?

Then exists the Teletext, a form of information source for many. Think of it as the great grandfather of Google Chrome.

Here are some 10 fun facts that may make you miss Teletext and the good ol’ times.

It ended in 2013

Mediacorp’s Teletext service ended in 2013, and according to Mediacorp, they stopped this service due to “declining usage”. This same reason was used throughout countries that stopped Teletext usage service too.

After Teletext is Digital Teletext

What we remember of Teletext is its classic form – it is very pixelated, and often has black backgrounds. However, after Teletext emerged digital Teletext, where the entire Teletext system operated with Java-based applications that allow more interactions.

Here’s how it looks like:

Pretty cool, isn’t it?

It displays all kinds of information

The Teletext displayed all kinds of information ranging from the News to financial news and stocks, to trade exchange, financial information, general information, leisure, vehicles and overseas information. Can you imagine all these were readily available from the TV? Now they are gone! Or maybe not, if you’re using Smart TV (coz, you know, you can go to the Internet with your TV)

There has been outcry

Before its service stopped, there were many unhappy people who questioned how there were going to get information on the go. Well, you want fast information? The internet is your one stop place. This is a challenge for older people who aren’t too well versed with the Internet.

It has been killed by the Internet

Not surprisingly, it was due to the rise of the internet that brought down this amazing service. With the internet, you can get updated on your phone on the go, and no need to rely on the television.

Each channel has specific information

For Mediacorp’s Teletext, Channel 5, Channel 8 and Channel NewsAsia has their own to offer on the Teletext page. Each of these channels has different types of news to offer. Bet you’ve forgotten about this, eh?

Singaporeans were only given one month’s notice

Before MediaCorp called off its service of Teletext, people were given a one month’s notice before it was officially scraped from the television. Within this month, people had to find new sources of information. Can you imagine how the elderly would have felt then?

It was created in the UK

Teletext was invented in the UK, as the television can offer more than just dramas and news. The Teletext was a product the brand name Phillips. It was invented by John Adams, designer of Phillips for Visual Display Units (VDU).

It started out in the 1970s

Teletext may have started in the 1970s, but they persisted then till now, a total of approximately 40 years. That’s a lot of years for an electronic service!

Technically, it still exists

What occurs behind closed captioning (CC), which are, essentially subtitles, is actually the fundamentals of Teletext! Technically, Teletext hasn’t exactly ceased because its electronic fundamentals are used in producing CCs. You know, like those in YouTube and Facebook videos.