Forum Archive Index - September 2001

[Adam Rands <adamlist@iguana2.com>]

Isn't it amazing

People think Teletext is great.

Why? 

The web offers a whole lot more information (especially in the
finance/news area) than the Teletext service and its far more
interactive.

So what makes Teletext so compelling?

Its the delivery mechanism!

The PC has been widely available for about 10 years but it still does not
have anywhere near the penetration of the TV. The PC is still a difficult
piece of equipment to operate whilst  most people can easily operate
a TV. 

Replicating the Teletext sharemarket service on the web would be very
simple. Iguana could easily develop a web service that rotates delayed
prices at the same frustratingly slow rate as Teletext.. But would anyone
use it?..... My guess is no... Why... because it is not delivered via the
TV

Another interesting thing to note about Teletext is the number of
advertisers they attract. When I last looked at Teletext (about a year
ago) they always had their sharemarket service sponsored by XYZ broking
firm or finance company.

Try convincing the very same companies to advertise online! In most cases
they don't want to know about it. Net based advertising is a much more
attractive proposition than Teletext. 
There is far more opportunity to get your message across, you can
actually click to go to the advertisers page and its the most accountable
advertising medium available. (Try asking Teletext/TVNZ or any old school
publisher for accurate stats on the number of people who viewed an
ad)

Why is it that companies still choose to advertise on Teletext and not on
the web?

Because its the TV and that's all the advertiser and the ad agencies
understand. 

So... What has this got to do with shares....Think SKY TV.

If SKY TV ever actually manage to get their Interactive TV services off
the ground they maybe able to establish a significant new revenue
stream.


Adam Rands

At 10:19 AM 3/09/2001, michael gore wrote:

Yes Gerry, I too think that Teletext is great but only when it is working properly.  I will be looking forward to reading the email from Teletext.
Michael

----- Original Message -----

From: G Stolwyk

To: sharechat.co.nz

Sent: Monday, September 03, 2001 11:53 AM

Subject: [sharechat] The current status of Teletext.

 

Reference: " Teletext and the 40 index." of 1 April 2001.

 

1. Introduction.

Teletext is useful because one can look quickly at a vast array of share prices, while watching TV.

 

Updates appear every 10 minutes or so and the investor does not have to contact his/ her broker, trying to find out the latest price of a stock, before placing an order.

 

Frequently, the quoted price may not be satisfactory and he may have to contact the broker again for a further update.

 

Or, he feels that he should not worry the broker too often and he places an order at the wrong time.

 

He does not want to switch on his computer - if he has one - for extracting a share price. To do so will contribute to higher power usage and depreciation and should be avoided.

 

2. Past delivery by Teletext.

I have been in touch with Teletext over the years. First, when there was a financial editor who was stationed in Christchurch.

 

I had to implore him to include a new company at listing time as this was the time when fortunes could be made or lost.

 

( Frequently, the reader did not see the stock on the Teletext Board till some six hours after listing by the Stock exchange or the next day or later, and then only after I mentioned it ).

 

Later, the responsibilities were shifted to Auckland. For a time, the delivery was satisfactory although Teletext was still not proactive in the preparation of space for a new listing.

 

Some time ago, breakdowns became more frequent and I contacted them again. Teletext explained that there was new equipment on the way and that would solve the problems.

 

Summary: The teletext system, when working, will save a lot of money. I have spent time and money contacting them from time to time. I don't think that Teletext was sufficiently aware of any financial costs incurred due to malfunction or inattention.   

 

3. Latest developments.

I contacted Teletext this morning and asked the Business Manager about the ongoing problems.

 

After some discussion, she said that she would send an email . She is aware that it will be published on this Forum.

 

Gerry