Bbc Wimbledon On Red Button

[diddlydo]

Today was infuriating - I was expecting to see the entire opening match with Federer. Sue Barker kept saying it was on the Red Button - well it wasn't on mine even when I went to the menu. So I couldn't watch the first 2 sets. Later she said that there were 8 matches available on the Red Button but on my TV there were only 3 at most. I don't have a smart TV - is that now an essential to get the choice that the BBC claims to offer???

[Buenchico]

There's only limited capacity available on the transmitters that broadcast Freeview signals, meaning that some rather strange compromises are needed. For example, Talking Pictures TV broadcasts in standard definition but there's only space for it on a high definition 'multiplex' (= 'bundle of channels'), so it's only available to viewers who've got 'Freeview HD' sets (rather than just ordinary 'Freeview' ones), even though it can't be watched in high definition anyway. (There are a few other channels in a similar position).

Similarly, when the BBC wanted to expand their HD services on Freeview, something else 'had to give', and that was the number of streams that could be carried by their Red Button services. So viewers with basic Freeview sets are now limited to just 3 streams (while those watching via satellite can get 8). It's been annoying people ever since the London Olympics:
https://conversation.which.co.uk/technology/olympic-tv-bbc-freeview-coverage-red-button-sky/

I believe (but I'm not 100% certain) that the BBC has now 'solved' the problem by routing Red Button services over the internet. So Freeview viewers who've got the most recent models of 'smart' TVs can now get full coverage of Red Button services. However I suspect that, like me, you're stuck with an older telly, which can't provide the full range of services.

[margarettom]

I was watching Wimbledon this afternoon on an upstairs TV with freeview and could only get BBC1, 2 and one red button channel on 601. What was really annoying was, at one point, there was the same match one BBC1 and the red button. We can get more red button channels on our main TV with Sky, but my OH hogs that one. You can also get more matches online, but who wants to watch Wimbledon on a computer or tablet from choice? I have been forced to on occasion, but it's not very enjoyable. What really annoys me is that they swop some matches from BBC1 to 2 in the middle, so you can't record them if you are going out and their round up program in the evening is rubbish.