BBC won’t back down on plan to axe its red button service

ANYONE who uses their television red button for up-to-the minute sports results, weather and current affairs will have to make other arrangements come January – or risk being ‘shut out’ by digital developments.

The BBC is sticking to its guns on ending the service – much to the frustration of many elderly viewers and those with hearing problems who depend on it for keeping up to date with the news without having to log on to a computer.

The red button service was introduced in 1999 to replace Ceefax and is accessed on a television remote control.

The BBC says the money saved will be directed to internet-based services instead. In a statement it said: ‘Viewers can still access this information on the BBC website, BBC News and Sport mobile apps – as well as 24-hour news on the BBC News Channel.’

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, says: ‘It’s easy to overlook the fact that older people have seen the rise and fall of many different high-tech ideas through their long lives, because of the pace of technological change.

‘Millions of older people do not use computers and so for them this is the end of news delivered in this way. This so-called digital divide really is becoming more significant in our society. It is tremendously important that those older people who are on the wrong side of it are not disadvantaged or, worse still, completely shut out as a result.’

The move follows controversial plans to end free TV licences, currently funded by the Government, for all over-75s next June. Only over-75s who receive pension credit will then be eligible for a free licence – paid for by the BBC.