Teletext Content and Page Structure
Before the ubiquity of the modern internet, Teletext served as a vital digital information service delivered via the television broadcast signal. It provided viewers with real-time updates and a wide array of data, ranging from global news to local weather, all accessible through a numbered paging system.
Comprehensive Information Services
The service was designed to be a one-stop hub for daily information. It carried extensive World and New Zealand news, alongside detailed weather information that included specialized marine and coastal forecasts. For those following the markets, it provided business news and financial market information.
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Beyond hard news, the service catered to leisure and logistics. Users could check international and domestic flight arrivals and departures, view TV schedules, and find lottery results. It also hosted lifestyle content, such as horoscopes, and provided essential accessibility through captions for most recorded programmes.
Sports enthusiasts relied on the service for news, results, and statistics. Specifically, the TAB horse racing and sports betting odds and results were a staple of the service; while the broader Teletext system closed, this specific data remains available on the Trackside Channel on page 600.
Key Facts
- Provided a mix of global and New Zealand-specific news and weather.
- Included specialized data for marine and coastal forecasts.
- Offered real-time flight tracking for domestic and international travel.
- Served as a primary source for TV listings and lottery results.
- Integrated accessibility features via captions for recorded shows.
- Maintained a dedicated section for TAB betting odds and results.
The Page Index System (2006 to Closure)
To navigate the vast amount of data, Teletext used a structured numbering system. This allowed users to jump directly to a specific category of information using their remote control.
Index and Navigation
The 100-series pages acted as the primary directory. Page 100 served as the general index, while pages 101 through 106 provided specific indices for News, Sport, Weather, TV, Business, and Travel. An A-Z index was also available on page 109 for easier searching.
Content Categorization
The bulk of the content was organized into numerical blocks. News occupied pages 110-139, while weather forecasts were found between 140 and 149. Sports coverage was extensive, spanning pages 200-299.
Television and Lifestyle
TV listings were meticulously organized: pages 301-304 covered the four main terrestrial channels for the current day, page 310 provided "Now/Next" updates, and pages 311-314 listed tomorrow's schedule. Daily highlights were found on pages 331-337.
Lifestyle and specialized data were grouped in the higher ranges. Business and Travel were located on pages 400-499, while the 500-series covered lifestyle indices, horoscopes (page 510), newsreels (550-552), and Lotto results (555). Finally, page 600 was dedicated to Tabtext (Trackside) and page 801 provided captions.
| Page Range | Content Category |
|---|---|
| 100-109 | General and Category Indices |
| 110-149 | News and Weather |
| 200-299 | Sports News and Statistics |
| 301-337 | TV Listings and Highlights |
| 400-499 | Business and Travel |
| 500-555 | Lifestyle, Newsreels, and Lotto |
| 600 | Tabtext (Trackside) |
| 801 | Captions |
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of news did Teletext provide?
Teletext provided a comprehensive mix of both World and New Zealand news, ensuring users had access to both global events and local updates.
Where could users find TV schedules?
TV listings were found in the 300-series. Pages 301-304 listed today's terrestrial channels, 310 showed current and upcoming programs, and 311-314 listed tomorrow's schedule.
Did Teletext offer accessibility features?
Yes, Teletext provided captions for most recorded programmes, which were accessible on page 801.
Is the TAB betting information still available?
While the general Teletext service closed, TAB horse racing and sports betting odds and results are still available on the Trackside Channel on page 600.
How were the pages organized for navigation?
The service used a numerical index system. General indices started at page 100, followed by themed blocks such as 200s for Sport and 400s for Business and Travel.