Teletext Holidays nears journey's end on Freeview

Published Jun 15 2012, 16:08 BST  |  By Andrew Laughlin

Teletext Holidays is to finish its long run on television platforms later in the year when the service shuts down as a channel on Freeview, it has been confirmed.

Teletext Holidays will quit Freeview channel 101 at the end of September, as its owners have opted to focus on the website and emerging connected TV apps.

This marks the latest retreat of the once mighty Teletext from the television.

In May 2010, Ofcom levied a massive £225,000 fine on the Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT), the then owner of Teletext, for its early closure of the loss-making service on television.

The publisher shut down the Teletext information service on analogue and digital television platforms in December 2009, ahead of the initially scheduled January 2010 closure.

Teletext Holidays continued as a standalone service on Freeview, but it has now been confirmed to come to an end this autumn.

DMGT sold its majority stake in the long-running Teletext service to its current management (as Teletext Holdings Ltd) for an undisclosed sum in December 2011.

DMGT retained a minority shareholding in the Teletext operation, which includes Teletext Holidays, thisistravel.co.uk and villarenters.co.uk, along with various mobile apps.

In a statement issued to Digital Spy, a Teletext spokeswoman said: "Teletext Holidays has been a television platform for over 15 years, and will continue this trend within digital only platforms developing apps and platforms for Smart or connected TVs, but has decided to relinquish its Freeview 101 channels at the end of September 2012.

"At www.teletextholidays.co.uk, people can search and compare prices from thousands of holiday offers, including packages, cruises and villa deals from the UK's leading travel companies.

"With more than 20 million unique users in 2011, it ranks within the top ten most visited websites for online holiday searches, according to Hitwise. Along with 'all Inclusive' and 'cheap holiday' terms, it is one of the most popular sites ranked within Google and Bing."

The spokeswoman said that the Freeview channel will "continue to operate under the operational ownership of the Daily Mail group, who hold agreements to operate the platform going forward".

DMGT is the parent company of media titles such as the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Metro.

Associated Newspapers Limited - publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday - was awarded a broadcast licence in February 2012 by Ofcom for "Mail Travel TV".

But a placeholder for that text channel has already appeared at channel 106 on the Freeview electronic programme guide, so it is unclear what will be done with the spare channel at 101.

Teletext Limited also owns Freeview channels 102, 103 and 104, but these were taken by the Rabbit, Gay Rabbit and 1-2-1 dating channels respectively.