[Merged]Interactive and the Red Button - Page 4

danielf · 03-06-2004, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tod

I think the Red dot should be shown if there is some related interactive content available (for example extra feeds/camera angles for BBC sport), but think it should disappear after a while like it does on freeview on the bbc.
Channel 4 are just having a laugh with their red dot coming up with content completely unrelated to the programs being shown - this I think is wrong, but it is channel 4 who are at fault, not NTL.

Good point. And that is why it annoys me. The only 'interactive' content on C4 is two silly games. And in order to flog this, the red dot is there on all their programs. So, you have to hit 'tv' after every break regardless of the program or put up with the red dot. This I find very annoying.

ian@huth · 03-06-2004, 15:46

There are red spot zappers on the market which send a repeated "clear" signal to the STB.

One advantage of Sky+ is that you can briefly enter live pause and then play and you do not get the red spot.

JonSav1 · 03-06-2004, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdean

In truth the broadcasters could be more effective in the way they did this
eg for Wimbledon they could have bbc1a bbc1b bbc1c etc for the different courts with navigation via the epg.

Unfortunatly, regardless of whether ntl: have done it before or not, this cannot be done. If the BBC did this, it would mean that they are broadcasting extra channels without permission of the government.

The way that they get round this, is to provide the extra feeds through an "Interactive" service.

With regard to ntl: viewers getting Sky multiscreens, I believe it will be a while until this happens as, IMHO, sky see them as a lucrative tool for getting viewers to choose Sky over their competitiors. However, people said the same about ntl getting Sky sports Extra. So we shall just have to wait and see.

~Jon

Tristan · 03-06-2004, 17:55

I don't have any problem with red button prompts, provided:

a) they disappear after a little while of their own accord so as not to spoil recordings, and;

b) I can press a button to get rid of them, and it won't reappear until I switch channels, and;

c) I have an option to switch them all off forever.

The current B3.1 software gets it exactly right in all these cases. Sadly the new Langley software seems to have taken a couple of BIG steps back.

danielf · 04-06-2004, 00:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianathuth

There are red spot zappers on the market which send a repeated "clear" signal to the STB.

One advantage of Sky+ is that you can briefly enter live pause and then play and you do not get the red spot.

After another night of annoyance. Do you have a link for those zappers? I'll probably be disappointed in thinking I can pick one up for a couple of quid, but I live in hope...

ian@huth · 04-06-2004, 01:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

After another night of annoyance. Do you have a link for those zappers? I'll probably be disappointed in thinking I can pick one up for a couple of quid, but I live in hope...

I have only seen them for Sky but no doubt they will become available for NTL if a market for them develops. Some people have manufactured their own zappers with all sorts of Heath Robinson gadgets.

There are possibly none available for NTL systems because they are so far behind with interactive that there was no need for them. The red spot will increasingly appear on NTL as they develop their interactive (wonder what the few who used to say that NTL was far better than Sky because it didn't have the pesky red dot will have to say then?) . It will be there because it will generate revenue for NTL with some of its uses and advertisers will want to take advantage of it (even more revenue for NTL from them). They will probably remove any opportunity to turn it off that they can in order to protect the possible revenue streams.

foddy · 04-06-2004, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

After another night of annoyance. Do you have a link for those zappers? I'll probably be disappointed in thinking I can pick one up for a couple of quid, but I live in hope...

I doubt you'll have much luck - these work by repeatedly sending the same IR code to the STB. Unfortunately, if you do that with NTL it won't work as if there is no red dot on the screen, it'll either bring up the mini guide menu (when you press TV) or switch channels (when you hit back).

It seems to me that NTL have done this intentionally to stop people cancelling the red button automatically. I can't see any other reason for it (e.g. the blue button could be used to cancel it.)

Let's face it, NTL must get a cut from these adverts, they're not going to stop blasting them out for our benefit and their loss.

Foddy

mdean · 05-06-2004, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonSav1

Unfortunatly, regardless of whether ntl: have done it before or not, this cannot be done. If the BBC did this, it would mean that they are broadcasting extra channels without permission of the government.
~Jon

Why do they need permission from government?? Its not a new channel its different content on the same channel. like regional variations- there is no reason why they could not deliver in the way suggested

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tristan

I don't have any problem with red button prompts, provided:

a) they disappear after a little while of their own accord so as not to spoil recordings, and;

b) I can press a button to get rid of them, and it won't reappear until I switch channels, and;

c) I have an option to switch them all off forever.

The current B3.1 software gets it exactly right in all these cases. Sadly the new Langley software seems to have taken a couple of BIG steps back.~Tristan

Totally agree so would http://www.logofreetv.org This is the choice which customers should demand

Steve W · 07-06-2004, 00:21

Tonight a stupid text message bar has started to appear on the E4 live coverage. It takes up far too much of the screen and is distracting!

Have ntl started using a different feed from before or have E4 suddenly decided to inflict it upon us?

Nikko · 07-06-2004, 00:25

That must be so annoying.....you settle down to a few wasted hours of mind numbing space wasting, only to be confronted with distractions like that. Shocking.

Steve W · 07-06-2004, 00:31

Yes, I can only cope with so much mind-numbingness at once

danielf · 07-06-2004, 00:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve W

Tonight a stupid text message bar has started to appear on the E4 live coverage. It takes up far too much of the screen and is distracting!

Have ntl started using a different feed from before or have E4 suddenly decided to inflict it upon us?

I'm surprised you haven't posted in here

Same thing really...

Steve W · 07-06-2004, 00:50

I did spot that thread before posting, but as it was mainly about the red dot rather than the text bar I thought it deserved a different thread. I get your point though so maybe this can be merged.

Tezcatlipoca · 07-06-2004, 00:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve W

I did spot that thread before posting, but as it was mainly about the red dot rather than the text bar I thought it deserved a different thread. I get your point though so maybe this can be merged.

Makes sense to me to, so....

Done. Threads merged.

Andy C · 07-06-2004, 13:12

The dot is there permanently on Ch4. Although it never bothered me at first, now it's becoming annoying and we should have the option of either turning it off completely or having it disappear after a set delay.

Being a TiVo user I find it more annoying as the ntl: remote has been sat in a drawer for over a year as all channel changes are done via the TiVo remote. Now I have to grab the ntl: remote just for one button.

Andy.