Since yesterday (15 July 2024), people using Sky HD and Sky+HD boxes have been reporting problems with accessing the BBC Red Button Text service.

For many people the service is simply not loading. Others reporting that they receive an error message saying their Sky HD box is not connected to the internet – but this is not needed for the BBC Red Button text service.

It appears that most BBC regions are affected by this problem.

Those BBC regions on Sky channel numbers 952, 953, and 954, the BBC Red Button text service does seem to be working.

According to a Sky Help forms, the problem has been escalated to the Sky support team.

Strangely, it appears to be only a Sky HD box problem, as the service is working fine for Freesat users.

The BBC were scheduled to close their Text Service, but after a public outcry a decision has been made to retain the most valuable elements of the BBC’s red button text service. This means that there will still be access to local, national and international news headlines and stories, main sport headlines and stories, sport fixtures and results, as well as weather forecasts.

The BBC Text Service on the Red Button has been a long-standing source of concise news, sport, weather and information for UK television viewers. Descended from the original Ceefax teletext system, which launched in the 1970s, the digital text service continued the tradition of simple, fast-loading pages designed to work even on older television sets. Accessible via the Red Button on BBC channels, it has been particularly valued for quick headlines, football scores, travel updates and breaking news without the need for broadband or smart TV features.

For many viewers, especially those who prefer text-based information or have limited internet access, the service has offered a reliable and distraction-free way to stay informed. Its clear layout and straightforward navigation have made it popular with older audiences and those seeking accessibility-friendly content.

However, the BBC has announced plans to cease the Red Button text service as part of wider cost-saving measures and a shift towards online and app-based platforms. As audiences increasingly consume news via smartphones, websites and smart TVs, maintaining legacy broadcast text systems has become harder to justify financially. The BBC has said that the information currently provided via the Red Button will continue to be available through its website, apps and connected TV services.