KD-50X75WL plus YouView: cannot tune into BBC Red Button and all data-driven channels on this device

[addon5566]

Hi there,
Greetings to all the members of this community.
We purchased this set after the New Year, and unbeknown to me it came with YouView. 
The problem that I have might have been addressed before on this forum in another shape or form, but I cannot find a resolution here whilst searching.
Could someone who has had this particular problem give me some words of wisdom, before I say goodbye to this device, please?
For your information: this is what I have reported to Sony UK [and am awaiting a visit... apart from answering questions like 'have you un-plugged it?']

"The TV does not tune to BBC Red Button channel [CH.250] and ALL data-driven channels. [We are in the Northwest region]
The screen tries to load but just stays black [= blank]
The fault persists if you un-plug & power it up again/re-set it to factory settings/rescan channels/connect it via WiFi and/or Ethernet cable [@270Mbps.]
The TV is connected directly to an aerial, the signal level is excellent at 100%.
The fault persists regardless of using YouView App or the TV App.
The software is also updated and confirms it has the latest version." 

Any thoughts?

Thanks.


 

[addon5566]

Hi,
An update on this:
After spending many more hours, I have managed to have access to all the data-driven channels myself.

So, the only remaining issue is the BBC Red Button.

It is very strange to me, but the access to data-driven channels are governed by toggling an option on and off in the channels settings. To me, it should be on by default and it was not.
Anyway, here's how to get the data-driven channels on this set:

You will need to enable interactive applications.
So, go to Settings/channels & inputs/Preferences and enable this option.
Hey presto: all of these channels are now available.

-------------------

Now as for the BBC Red Button issue:
I will attach some images later that hopefully would demonstrate the problem.

[addon5566]

BBC Red Button issue:
Here are some images to demonstrate the problem...[indeed if it is a problem and not some setting somewhere that needs to be on or off]

New Bravia Red Button home pageNew Bravia when pressed RedOld Bravia Red Button home pageOld Bravia Red Button index pageComparison

[addon5566]

BBC Red Button issue:
As you can see the sentence 'Press RED to visit now.' which should activate [and bring up the Red Button Index page] when pressed the red button on the remote control handset is missing from the new Bravia.

Any thoughts/help/advice, please?

thanks.

[daveyh64]

Your TV comes with two remote controls, one IR remote which is small and plastic it should have the red button.

The other remote the Voice Remote is metal, slim with less buttons, you can access the coloured buttons by

pressing the Menu button, from there you can navigate to Colour/ Data broadcasting where you will see the four coloured 'buttons' on screen.

As for teletext, your TV like mine (different Sony model) does not get the text service older Sony TVs have, I have two older Sonys and they receive the text service as does your older Sony TV.

The story goes that in 2019 the BBC announced that they were discontinuing the text service.

TV manufacturers heard this and decided to not include the decoder necessary for showing the text service

on future models. However the pandemic hit and popular demand meant the BBC continued with the service.

Manufacturers continued without the decoder, although I think that 2025 Sony models are bringing it back.

Here is a link to the Sony support site for your TV,

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/televisions-projectors-lcd-tvs-android-/kd-50x75wl

[addon5566]

Thank you for your kind reply.
I really think there's some settings that needs to be tweaked somehow. Something is hidden somewhere.
Failing that, a software patch?

Anyway, please have a look at these other steps that I have taken to get to the bottom of this. You may already be ware of them, but just in case...

1.
I have also tried to contact Youview as per this page:
https://support.youview.com/youview-on-sony/channels/using-red-button-services/

The interesting is that if you expand #5 it gives you the Freeview Advice Line. I did contact them and talked over the phone and via email later on, but did not get anywhere. The gentleman at the end of this line said you will need to get in touch with Youview as your device is loaded with Youview.
Well, of course, my first point of call was Youview. Then they point you to Freeview...

2.
From BBC:
Please have a look at this page:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/help-guides/everything-else/red-button-troubleshooting

By all accounts, the set is then programmed to use Connected Red Button, as per last paragraph on that page.
I hope BBC would not mind if I were to re-produce it here:
"Check whether your television is actually using (broadcast) Red Button
If your Red Button contains text services, like news, then you are not using the Connected Red Button. Try connecting your TV to the internet if you would like to try Connected Red Button. If you still cannot access Connected Red Button, check whether your television/set-top box supports ‘HBBTV’, which is the technology required to run Connected Red Button. You may need to confirm this with the manufacturer."

I do not have any applicable option under the HbbTV settings to try to set it so that I would get the services.
Does this mean that this new TV is not supporting HbbTV?
I have attached another image showing the HbbTV settings on this new set.Showing options under HbbTV settings

[daveyh64]

As per my previous post your TV cannot get the text service your older TVs get as it does not have the required decoder in order to provide the text service.

This is a direct quote from the BBC link you provided.

"It’s possible that your television does not have the technology (MHEG) to support Red Button. This is more common on newer devices. If this is the situation for you, Connected Red Button will be the only option, and the television would need to be connected to the internet."

Your TV like my 2022 XR42A90K can only use the Connected Red Button, which connects via internet and displays options for the iPlayer. My TV like yours does not have the MHEG decoder necessary to provide the text services you are used to.

I explained the reason for that in my previous post.

Your TV is using HbbTV as you are able to get the Connected Red Button service which gives you options for iPlayer. That is why it is showing under the Settings menus.

[addon5566]

Hi there,
Thank you for your kind reply.
I have read what you said about MHEG  and have spent many hours trying to figure this out [including finding that BBC page which seems to explain things much better that the Sony Support could do.]

There's no need to re-iterate what you have said previously.

O.K., let's just say for the sake of argument that the issue is about MHEG.
Now how do you explain the content of the new  Red Button home page on Ch 250?
I re-post the image for you.
According to this page,  I should be able to get the services listed by pressing the red button from 'most' BBC channels.

Now, let's say I am on one of these channels and have pressed the red button on the handset, how do I get those services?

[daveyh64]

O.K., let's just say for the sake of argument that the issue is about MHEG.

It is about MHEG as the BBC quote points out, without an MHEG decoder you will not get the text service, only the Connected Red Button service.

Now how do you explain the content of the new  Red Button home page on Ch 250?

According to this page, I should be able to get the services listed by pressing the red button from 'most' BBC channels.

This is just a general broadcast page it does not know if you are using a TV that has a MHEG decoder or not.

Now, let's say I am on one of these channels and have pressed the red button on the handset, how do I get those services?

You can’t your TV does not have a MHEG decoder in order to display these services.

When your TV is connected via WiFi or Ethernet the TV will default to connect via the Red Button to the Connected Red Button service> the iPlayer services.

If you disconnect your internet connection to your TV and then press the Red Button you will get a warning, as below.

If on the other hand you you have an older TV that does have the MHEG decoder included and you are disconnected from the internet pressing the Red Button will connect you to the text service.

My older Sony TVs 2012 and 2019 and my PVR a Humax 5000T 2018 can all receive the text service,

My newer 2022 Sony TV and Humax Aura 2021 do not.

Here is a link to an article that explains a bit more,

https://rxtvinfo.com/2025/sneaky-withdrawal-of-bbc-red-button-text-gathers-pace/

https://rxtvinfo.com/2025/sneaky-withdrawal-of-bbc-red-button-text-gathers-pace/