TELETEXT holiday bargain-hunters will not be able to book breaks using an interactive system when the service goes digital later this year because the correct software has not yet been developed.
When the capabilities of digital television were first made public, the notion that viewers would be able to view travel products on TV and then buy them at the touch of a remote control button was heralded as the most exciting aspect of the technology for the travel industry.
But Teletext says ONdigital, which is required to provide the software for digital TV text services, has not yet had the software developed that is needed to connect modems to screen information.
Teletext commercial director Lawrence Lawson said: “This is really cutting-edge stuff and the UK is leading the world when it comes to digital television. We don’t have the capability yet to allow interactivity, but we are hoping we will have by this time next year.”
The advent of digital TV will also create an incentive for travel advertisers as pictures can be featured for the first time and texts can be represented in a number of different fonts and designs.
Lawrence said: “The service will be attractive to the consumer and the advertiser because it will be easier to use and nicer to look at.”
Teletext’s digital terrestrial service does not have a final date for going live – it is currently being tested – but Lawrence hopes it will be by the end of the year.