RTÉ’s Teletext Service, Aertel, Ends Its Nearly 40-Year Run
After nearly four decades of operation, RTÉ’s Aertel teletext service has been switched off. Aertel was initially introduced on an experimental basis in 1986 before being formally launched in 1987, and it transitioned to digital operation in 2019.
Aertel offered viewers real-time news updates, television schedules, sports scores, and the convenience of watching shows with subtitles. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it also played a role in disseminating crucial updates.
RTÉ explained that the decision to discontinue Aertel had been part of its long-term strategy, outlined in its Strategy 2024 document published in 2019. The broadcaster views this move as a vital step in its transformation into a modern public-service media organisation.
Resources previously devoted to Aertel will now be redirected towards enhancing RTÉ’s online services. The decision was also influenced by the growing difficulty in maintaining Aertel due to diminishing technical support for the platform. Many of its technical components were no longer manufacturer-supported, with more elements expected to become obsolete later in the year.
Additionally, the enactment of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 last year removed the legal requirement for RTÉ to provide a teletext service, further supporting the decision to discontinue Aertel.
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