BBC's Red Button service avoids closure

Follows petition organised by the National Federation of the Blind of the UK

By Dan Meier

Published: January 29, 2020

Follows petition organised by the National Federation of the Blind of the UK

target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> Follows petition organised by the National Federation of the Blind of the UK

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The BBC has suspended the closure of the Red Button text service a day before the feature was to be phased out.

The suspension follows the handing of a petition to the BBC and Downing Street, organised by the National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK).

The petition expression concerns that the removal of the Red Button service would leave many people, who are already vulnerable, further isolated and marginalised from society.

BBC director general Tony Hall said in a response: People have expressed their concern that the closure of Red Button text service could negatively affect elderly people and people with disabilities.

These are issues which I feel deserve to be explored in more depth so we have decided to suspend its closure pending further work in that area.

He added that the service would continue as close as possible to its current state for the time being.

The NFBUK welcomed the news and said it was looking forward to working with the BBC and the British Deaf Association for a better resolution.

LINK:	https://www.tvbeurope.com/tvbeverywhere/bbcs-red-button-service-avoids...
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