Editing BBC Red Button (section)

==Availability==
BBC Red Button is available on all digital television platforms in the UK, including [[digital cable]] through [[Virgin Media]], digital [[satellite television|satellite]] through [[Sky (United Kingdom)|Sky]] and [[Freesat]] and [[digital terrestrial television]] through [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]]. On Freeview interactivity does not permit users to submit data (such as answering questions in a quiz or requesting [[video on demand]]), as the platform does not provide a [[return path]].

The BBC currently provides one video stream to all platforms, which can be accessed directly from Freeview channel 601, Freesat channel 980, Sky channel 970 (UK only) and Virgin Media UK channel 991. Until mid-February 2023, the feed provided was only in standard definition, with a high-definition version of RB 1 (the primary feed) used for high-profile sporting events, which included the Olympics and Wimbledon. Since 15 February 2023 the standard definition feed has been replaced across all platforms with a high-definition version, as part of the BBC's plan to upgrade its channel offering into high-definition.<ref name="bbc_hd" /> One advantage of the feed is the DVR ability as the conventional Red Button interaction restricts DVR record / pause / rewind functions, and is a major caveat for many.

Prior to 2023, the BBC had the ability to increase the amount of streams during major events and had done so on numerous occasions, as follows:

:*[[2012 Olympics]]: For the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in [[London]], the BBC provided 24 live streams in standard and high-definition for the duration of the games.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18071080 |title=London 2012: BBC launches 'Digital Olympics' coverage |work=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2012 |access-date=17 April 2015 |archive-date=25 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725015129/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18071080 |url-status=live }}</ref> Additional online streams could also be accessed through the internet-connected BBC Red Button+.
:*[[2016 Olympics]]: eight red button video streams were broadcast to all platforms during the [[2016 Olympics]]. This was in addition to [[BBC Four]] continually broadcasting Olympic coverage and either [[BBC One]] or [[BBC Two]] broadcasting main coverage during the course of the each day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio Olympics 2016: Times for BBC TV, radio and online coverage |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36908117 |work=BBC Sport |date=3 August 2016 |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-date=22 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822213143/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36908117 |url-status=live }}</ref>
:*[[The Championships, Wimbledon]]: six additional channels were provided for a variety of outer courts. Red Button 1 was duplicated in high definition, with RB 2 to RB 6 only in standard definition. The 2022 edition of the tournament was the last to offer this functionality.

As of 2023, the BBC will no longer be providing additional Red Button streams for any events. Instead, it will be directing viewers to watch additional feeds via the BBC iPlayer. [[2023 Wimbledon]] was the first major tournament not to provide any additional feeds on linear television.

BBC Red Button 1 HD (originally launched as SD only) is a channel available on [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]], [[Freesat]], [[Sky UK|Sky]], and [[Virgin Media]]. It showcases many live events, such as live music (especially from [[BBC Radio]] live shows) and sports like football and rugby. It also features an extended version of Final Score, offering more in-depth analysis of the matches they cover. When the BBC announced the closure of all their SD channels on satellite, BBC Red Button 1 became permanently HD for the first time in its history (it was occasionally in HD for certain events like [[Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]]). Virgin Media followed suit by adding BBC Red Button 1 HD to their service and removing the SD version.