View source for Sbectel

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''Sbectel''' ({{IPA|cy|ˈspɛktɛl}}) is the name of [[S4C]]'s former ancillary [[teletext]] service. It was named after the [[Welsh language]] S4C programme magazine called ''Sbec'' (Welsh for 'peek') which was originally a pull-out of the ''[[TVTimes]]'' in the [[HTV Wales]] area.

==Content==
Sbectel provided listings and information about S4C's programmes, such as previews of programmes and further information related to the programmes. Pages were provided in both [[Welsh language|Welsh]] and [[English language|English]]. The programme was separate from the auxiliary and separately-licensed teletext service also available on the channel. Sbectel also provided [[subtitles]] for S4C's programmes on page 888 in English and page 889 in Welsh.

==History==
Sbectel was first run in conjunction with [[ORACLE (teletext)|ORACLE]], the auxiliary teletext provider on [[Channel 4]] in the 1980s. Sbectel occupied pages 410-499 within the page space.

When ORACLE lost its licence and was replaced by [[Teletext Ltd.]] in 1993, Sbectel moved to its own page space on pages 300-399 and became directly run by [[S4C]].

In 2003, Sbectel moved to pages 400-499 (which replaced pages 300-399 as S4C's page space). This was due to [[Channel 4]] (the equivalent of S4C in the [[United Kingdom]] outside [[Wales]]) closing their Sbectel equivalent, [[FourText]] (formerly ''4-Tel''), and launching a new teletext service in conjunction with Teletext Ltd, [[Teletext on 4]], on pages 400–499.

In September 2007, the bilingual digital text service available on S4C Digidol was launched only to [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] viewers in Wales.

When the first area in Wales (most of South West Wales) completed its [[Digital switchover dates in the united kingdom#Wales|Digital Switchover]] on 9 September 2009, 'Sbectel' also ceased.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/production/rm/news_view/newsid/460/language/eng/|title=Sbectel Service|publisher=S4C|date=2009-06-03}}</ref> Partly it has been replaced by service pages from S4C and BBC on the internet.<ref>[http://www.s4c.co.uk/production/rm/news_view/newsid/460/language/eng/ announcement s4c]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Téacs TG4]] – Irish language teletext service

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://teletext.mb21.co.uk/gallery/ancillary/c4-s4c/ 4-Tel and Sbectel gallery]

{{S4C}}
{{Teletext}}
{{Television in Wales}}

[[Category:Teletext]]
[[Category:BBC]]
[[Category:S4C]]
[[Category:1982 in British television]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 2009]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Wales]]
[[Category:2009 disestablishments in Wales]]

{{Wales-tv-stub}}