{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} '''4TVInteractive''' was an [[Electronic program guide|Electronic Programme Guide]] (EPG), launched in 2002, for television services in the [[United Kingdom]]. The service, which supplied up to 14 days worth of listings data, was available through compatible [[Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom|digital terrestrial television]] receivers. The service was created by [[4TV Limited]], before the launch of [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]]'s [[Digital Video Broadcasting|DVB]] seven-day EPG in 2004,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gonedigital.net/2010/07/14/so-long-4tv/|title=So long, 4TV|publisher=Gone Digital|date=14 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308105014/http://gonedigital.net/2010/07/14/so-long-4tv/|archive-date=8 March 2012}}</ref> and had been operated by [[Inview Technology]] since November 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/tv-broadcast-licences/updates/200611|title=Television Broadcast Licensing Update November 2006|publisher=Ofcom|access-date=16 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704133137/http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/tv-broadcast-licences/updates/200611|archive-date=4 July 2013}}</ref>
4TVInteractive was found on channel 300. Data was broadcast overnight (between 03:00 and 04:00) and stored by the receiver. Compatible receivers relied on this data rather than the "live" EPG broadcast on each multiplex. As a result, receivers dependent on 4TV data lack the ability to react to late schedule changes by broadcasters.
During June 2010, InView Technology ceased updating the EPG and confirmed plans to terminate the service, with the final update providing EPG information until 7 July 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a235494/inview-ends-freeview-box-epg-updates.html|title=InView/4TV ends Freeview box EPG updates|publisher=Digital Spy|date=29 June 2010}}</ref> A representative said that the contract to distribute the updates had ended and therefore had no access to the necessary bandwidth to maintain the service. The companies involved were asked to maintain these services, but were unable to do so.<ref name="reghardware1">{{cite web|url=http://www.reghardware.com/2010/07/15/freeview_digifusion_dvr_epg/|title=Freeview reaches out to EPG-less DVR owners|publisher=reghardware|date=15 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314002731/http://www.reghardware.com/2010/07/15/freeview_digifusion_dvr_epg/|archive-date=14 March 2012}}</ref> However, they continued to offer advanced EPG information to [[Radio Times Extra]] EPG based devices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wotsat.techradar.com/news/4tv-freeview-epg-cut-teletext-extra-unaffected-02-07-10|title=4TV Freeview EPG cut off; Teletext Extra unaffected|publisher=What Satellite & Digital TV|date=2 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721060051/http://wotsat.techradar.com/news/4tv-freeview-epg-cut-teletext-extra-unaffected-02-07-10|archive-date=21 July 2011}}</ref>
The list of affected boxes included: [[Digifusion]] FRT101, Digifusion FVRT100, Digifusion FVRT145, Digifusion FVRT150, Digifusion FVRT200, Digifusion FVRT400, Inverto IDL-7000T, Inverto IDL-7000M, [[Technicolor SA|Thomson]] DHD4000 and the [[Sony]] SVR-S500.<ref name="Which?" /> No new devices using the 4TV EPG had shipped for four years prior to the services closure and none of the boxes were authorised to carry the Freeview label.<ref name="reghardware1"/>
Digifusion and Sony incorrectly featured the "Digital Tick",<ref name="Freeview" /> the [[Digital TV Group]], which represents the digital TV industry, claims that these products were not entitled to carry the Digital Tick badge, and that they were 'self declared', the Digital TV Group has since tightened the licensing system and no longer allows self-certification.<ref name="Which?">{{cite web|url=http://www.which.co.uk/news/2010/07/pvrs-lose-inview-freeview-epg-updates-220295/|title=PVRs lose InView Freeview EPG updates|publisher=Which?|date=12 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702215440/http://www.which.co.uk/news/2010/07/pvrs-lose-inview-freeview-epg-updates-220295/|archive-date=2 July 2013}}</ref>
In July 2010, a petition calling on Freeview to help consumers left without the advance electronic programming guide (EPG) data had attracted over 760 signatures of consumers who didn't want to lose 4TV.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a244536/inview-epg-petition-tops-760-signatures.html|title=InView EPG petition tops 760 signatures|publisher=Digital Spy|date=15 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922042417/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a244536/inview-epg-petition-tops-760-signatures.html|archive-date=22 September 2011}}</ref> In a statement, Freeview said that the situation demonstrates the need for consumers to always purchase Freeview products with Digital Tick. "We have contacted the third party involved to see if a solution can be found."<ref name="Freeview">{{cite web|url=http://www.freeview.co.uk/Press/Freeview-statement-on-the-loss-of-electronic-TV-guide-on-certain-older-Inverto-Digifusion-Sony-and-Thomson-products|title=Freeview statement on the loss of electronic TV guide on certain older Inverto, Digifusion, Sony and Thomson products|publisher=Freeview|date=14 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722004857/http://www.freeview.co.uk/Press/Freeview-statement-on-the-loss-of-electronic-TV-guide-on-certain-older-Inverto-Digifusion-Sony-and-Thomson-products|archive-date=22 July 2010}}</ref>
The Digital TV Group added: "Any product that carries the Digital Tick will have passed the Digital TV Group's rigorous test and conformance regimes. The failure of even a small number of ageing receivers in the market emphasises the need for all manufacturers to co-ordinate their production efforts through the specification and test and conformance procedures of the Digital TV Group to achieve the Digital Tick and Freeview trade mark licence, which are proven indicators that a product is compliant, reliable and robust."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?class=countries&subclass=0&id=3823|title=InView ends 14 day EPG service|publisher=Digital TV Group|date=14 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802173530/http://dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?class=countries&subclass=0&id=3823|archive-date=2 August 2012}}</ref>
On 2 August 2010, 4TVInteractive was removed from the Freeview EPG on channel 300. Viewers who retune the box will lose/remove the channel from the line-up. Old boxes which people doesn't use it anymore still have "4TVInteractive" on the channel list.
==See also== * [[Digifusion]] * [[Digital TV Group]] * [[Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom]] * [[Electronic programme guide]] * [[Freeview (UK)]] * [[Radio Times Extra]]
==References== {{reflist}}
[[Category:Products introduced in 2002]] [[Category:Products and services discontinued in 2010]] [[Category:2002 establishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:2010 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Digital television]] [[Category:Freeview (UK)]]