TELETEXT AROUND THE WORLD
While the UK's Ceefax is obviously the most famous, teletext technology spread across the globe. Each country adapted the concept to their own needs and style. It wasn't just a British thing.
FRANCE: ANTIOPE
France developed ANTIOPE, which stands for Acquisition Numérique et Télévisualisation d'Images Organisées en Pages d'Écriture, bit of a mouthful that, in the 1970s. It evolved into the Minitel system, which was actually more advanced than teletext, offering interactive services like banking and messaging years before the web. Ahead of their time, really.
GERMANY: VIDEOTEXT
Germany's Videotext launched in 1980 and became incredibly popular. ARD and ZDF both ran services, and Germans really embraced the technology enthusiastically. The service continues well into the digital age, though it's not as popular as it once was and lots of compromises have been made. Still, proper commitment, that.
NETHERLANDS: TELETEKST
Dutch Teletekst, run by NOS, was famously reliable and well-designed. It remained popular even as other countries abandoned analogue broadcasts, with the Dutch service continuing online. I think they understood the value of keeping it going.
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Antipodean teletext services provided local news, weather, and TV listings. Australia's services were particularly useful given the vast distances and time zones across the country. Made a lot of sense for them, obviously.
THE WORLD SYSTEM TELETEXT
Various standards existed: UK's Level 1, enhanced Level 2.5, and the more advanced Level 3. While Europe standardised on the ETSI specification, minor variations meant international compatibility was never quite perfect. Always the way with these things, isn't it?
RELIVE THE NOSTALGIA
QFAX brings back the teletext experience for modern football fans. Live scores on PAGE 316, Vidiprinter on PAGE 350, and On This Day on PAGE 381. Download now and step back in time.
