Webfax is produced using software that emulates the 1970s teletext standard.
Teletext is widely regarded as being the forerunner to the internet.
It involved the use of spare capacity in the analogue TV signal to transmit text and low-resolution graphics which could be displayed as “pages” on suitably equipped TV sets.
The pioneers of teletext were Ceefax (BBC) and ORACLE (IBA), launched in 1974 and 1978 respectively.
At its peak in the mid-1990s teletext attracted 10 million viewers a week in the UK.
Webfax is a non-commercial operation. It is a tribute to teletext services such as Ceefax, ORACLE and Teletext (Ltd), that have long since ceased transmission.
Thanks to software written by Peter Kwan, we’re able to keep teletext alive for a new audience on the internet.
Just like the broadcast services of the past, Webfax offers a mix of the latest news, sport, weather, features, TV/radio listings and more.
Webfax is managed by The TV Room but is a collaboration with Alistair Cree and Nathan Dane, both of whom provide bespoke software and technical support.
Our thanks also to the late Terence Burridge for hosting vital Teletext Viewer elements during Webfax’s first year.
Webfax utilises a number of data sources:
- Clean Feed: thetvroom.com
- Engineering: Freeview and 2RN websites
- National/regional news: itv.com/news (via software managed by NMS)
- On This Day: thetvroom.com
- Rewind: thetvroom.com
- Showreel: thetvroom.com
- The Teletext Files: teletextarchive.com
- TV/radio schedule listings: Freeview EPG (via software managed by NMS)
- Weather: The Met Office (via software managed by NMS)
The Webfax website provides access to other live teletext services: Chunkytext, NMS Ceefax and Teefax. Links are available on our home page.
If you are interested in having your content included on the Webfax teletext service, please get in touch via our contact form.