FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks in Verizon FIOS TV http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r19070491 en Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:16:48 EDT Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:16:48 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19178763 noping : Crappy guide info strikes again.

A MythBusters episode that was recorded this afternoon had wildly incorrect info - the actual episode was about "baseball myths" but the guide info stated otherwise.

Multiple shows on SD channels are tagged with "HD" - it's not HD content, there's no HD version of that content.

Guide info is getting cut off. Example off the top of my head: HD Goren and Eames first suspect suicide when a controversial DJ is found dead, but they turn their attention to a female fanatic whe- Available in HD.

There was also the problem of Universal HD's evening lineup being completely wrong several nights ago (listed the exact same shows playing on USA Network).]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19178763 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:01:25 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19096003 Mark F : Despite the problems we had with our Comcast cable box, when the TV Guide onscreen guide was working properly the program and movie descriptions were fairly well detailed. The box itself had problems- if a storm knocked out the power, even briefly, it would show "12:00" for hours and when the correct time did appear, after several days it would be a few minutes slow. Plus, "To Be Announced" replaced the listings for all channels untill the box eventually started working right. But, when it did work right, the listings were the most complete and accurate around. Far better than the TV listings in the newspaper or even the TV Guide magazine itself. And, there are various online sites that have TV listings- you just enter your zipcode, choose your provider, and up comes your complete local listings. By time not by channel, however. Now, I'm sure that Verizon is well aware of the issues that people have with the guide, it's ease of use (or lack thereof), the occasionally missing, incomplete, or inaccurate program/movie descriptions. Now, like most people with FIOS TV, it's the picture quality and channel offerings that initially attracted us. And, although you can't recapture your youth, using the DVR to record shows from back then (I Spy, Man From U.N.C.L.E., My Favorite Martian, Time Tunnel, F Troop, Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, Combat, Andy Griffith, Star Trek, Bonanza, etc) is the next best thing. Of course, news that Led Zeppelin is reuniting to honor Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records (with Jon Bonham's son replacing his father on the drums) and a possible tour, youth doesn't seem that far away. But, back to the guide, it would be nice to have Gemstar as a provider. And, it would also be nice to have more Hi Def channels, for those with HDTV. But, getting better picture quality and more channels than we've ever had before is the main reason that we, and many others, chose FIOS TV. We shouldn't lose sight of that in the quest for more HD and a better, more reliable program guide. Mark F.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19096003 Tue, 18 Sep 2007 02:49:43 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19090778 noping : Well, I called in while stuck in traffic this morning (why do US 202 and I-76 suck so much?) and was able to get partial credit for both boxes which came out to $12.99. I'm surprised that it actually worked.

Same thing is going to happen this week - I'm seeing episodes of "Future Weapons" being listed as "Futureweapons."]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19090778 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:26:50 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19087666 JPL : Yeah, I'm aware that the press release of the agreement with Gemstar didn't indicate that they would be the guide data provider for FiOS TV. The article did mention something about setting up on-line scheduling. I know I'm speculating here, but I believe it's reasonable to assume that Verizon would switch data providers. I can't see the benefit of having an agreement with both Gemstar and FYI. Then again, stranger things have happened. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19087666 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 21:56:07 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19087240 noping : »Re: Incorrect Guide Data at it Again

It's not entirely clear what exactly the Verizon-Gemstar agreement would do:

said by Hajman See Profile :

In reference to Gemstar, the press release describes the agreement as a patent license agreement. Patent license agreements normally cover use of the patents (i.e. a license that says FIOS can practice the invention covered by the patent). Patent licenses normally are NOT services agreement by which data is supplied by the patent owner. That would normally be covered by a services agreement. Of course, the press release also mentions collaboration on online scheduling of recordings so this could be an "oddball" agreement that also covers supply of programming data. In any event, on the basis of the press release alone, I don't think we can conclude that Gemstar is replacing the current provider of the programming data.
said by Hooper See Profile :

But I refuse to shell out $300 bucks for accurate guide data or basic DVR functionality and possibly risk that the device will be a doorstop in a year or two when Verizon switches to IPTV.
IPTV is a few years out. I agree, though - I have much better things to spend my money on.
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# /sbin/reboot]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19087240 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 20:48:42 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19086021 Hooper : JPL,
Where did you hear FiOS was set to change guide data providers?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19086021 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 17:02:57 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19085152 bgtimber75 : Yeah, I saw that. Didn't think anything of it since the Skins were playing on Monday night. Sometimes it seems they aren't even trying to get the information correct.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19085152 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:54:22 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084941 John W : Those of us in the Washington, DC, area have another fine example of the FIOS guide today: On Fox (channel 5) the guides says that at 1:00PM there will be a show called "TMZ" and and 2:00 a program called "Whacked Out Sports" and so on. In fact, as everyone watching Fox now knows, at 1:00 they are showing the Packers vs Giants football game.

Has there ever been a worse guide than the FIOS one?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084941 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:08:19 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084842 knarf829 :
said by Hooper See Profile :

said by JeepMatt See Profile :

Here is why having a Tivo is great.

I agree. But I refuse to shell out $300 bucks for accurate guide data or basic DVR functionality and possibly risk that the device will be a doorstop in a year or two when Verizon switches to IPTV.

Why did Verizon have to skimp here? Pay the extra money, get real guide data, and nobodoy will complain.
TiVO releasing a cost-effective box at the same time Verizon is releasing a functionality obliterating new IMG AND maintaining a relationship with an inaccurate guide data provider is the DVR "perfect storm."

The more people that upgrade to a TiVo over the unreliable Verizon DVR, the louder a voice customers will have in getting get either Verizon to rethink IPTV or TiVo to find a way to support it.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084842 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 12:46:51 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084547 bgtimber75 : What I mean is that I'm not sure that FYI is using an identifier or using it properly. I know that most DVR's record based on the identifier and not the episode title.

Point being that the Verizon DVR is set up to know repeats from new episodes (or that option wouldn't even be there) so they're obviously expecting to get that information. They just aren't getting the right information. And that goes back to FYI.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084547 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 11:40:05 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084528 JPL :
said by bgtimber75 See Profile :

I'm not sure there is any type of identifier. I know there is the New/rerun setting on the DVR but does that work with any kind of accuracy? I don't think the data provider is properly suppling that information. If they're not even suppling that basic info I don't think they're suppling unique identifiers for shows.

Keep in mind this is the same provider that had the same episode of 'Studio 60' running for 3 weeks in a row. That seemingly changes the names of shows indiscriminately. For once I don't think I can blame the DVR on this one.
There most definitely is a unique identifier, at least in most guide data streams. That's how DirecTV works with their DVR. Their R15 has one mother of a limitation that I don't understand - you can't set up the same series on two different channels. But you CAN set up two separate series that have the exact same name. So if there are two totally different series that use the exact same name (there are cases of this - there being a british version of a show that's also in the US), you can still set up both series, even though they share the same exact title.

The reason they're able to do all that is because they key their Series off of that unique ID. Someone on a DirecTV forum even posted the XML that's used to represent the guide data.

And I'm most definitely not trying to exhonerate the guide data provider here. I believe that Verizon is set to change data providers though. I was simply pointing out that all these types of mismatches may not be due exclusively to that guide data provider. All those providers get their data initially from the channels themselves, and then they repackage that data and ship it off to the TV service.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084528 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 11:33:35 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084348 Hooper :
said by JeepMatt See Profile :

Here is why having a Tivo is great.

I agree. But I refuse to shell out $300 bucks for accurate guide data or basic DVR functionality and possibly risk that the device will be a doorstop in a year or two when Verizon switches to IPTV.

Why did Verizon have to skimp here? Pay the extra money, get real guide data, and nobodoy will complain.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084348 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 10:44:03 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084141 anon : About my Mythbusters post above. For my SP for Mythbusters I have those 2 episodes.

I just went and did a search and added a SP for Myth (space) Busters and that has 8 shows coming up.

Looks like you need 2 SP's to make sure you keep up.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084141 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 09:49:22 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084107 anon : I have noticed that the MTV HD channel does not have more than a day or so of guide date and hasnt for a while.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084107 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 09:39:52 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084105 anon : My DVR SP has two Mythbusters episodes set to record. Today is 9/16 and it has 1 Wed at 9pm and another Thurs at 7pm.

Not sure if that is all of them but thats what my DVR is showing.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084105 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 09:38:18 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084049 JeepMatt : Here is why having a Tivo is great.

I taped episodes of Top Chef while I was away.

On my VZ HD-DVR, all it gives for a description is "Watch What Happens". Are you f'ing kidding me?? The only program info is Bravo's tagline??

So, I check the Tivo, a complete description of the episode, what will be cooked, and what the challenge is.

This is a perfect example of how screwed up their guide provider is.
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"ONE team - ONE city - ONE dream!!"]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19084049 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 09:17:53 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19083377 noping :
said by bgtimber75 See Profile :

I know there is the New/rerun setting on the DVR but does that work with any kind of accuracy? I don't think the data provider is properly suppling that information.
It seems to work when the guide data is correct/episodes are marked correctly. There was that whole issue a few months back with new episodes of Psych (or was it Monk?) being improperly marked as reruns.

While flipping through earlier, the shows on Boomerang were listed as "To Be Announced" or something to that effect. Tribune/Zap2it says it's something called "Boomeraction."]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19083377 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 01:30:37 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19082607 bgtimber75 : I'm not sure there is any type of identifier. I know there is the New/rerun setting on the DVR but does that work with any kind of accuracy? I don't think the data provider is properly suppling that information. If they're not even suppling that basic info I don't think they're suppling unique identifiers for shows.

Keep in mind this is the same provider that had the same episode of 'Studio 60' running for 3 weeks in a row. That seemingly changes the names of shows indiscriminately. For once I don't think I can blame the DVR on this one.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19082607 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 22:24:28 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19082585 JPL : My point was that the DVR s/w, I believe, is partly to blame here. If every series has a unique identifier as part of the data stream, shouldn't the DVR key in on THAT when setting up a recording, instead of the title of the episode? I would think it should.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19082585 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 22:18:43 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19080653 Mark F : Despite the anguish that Will Ryker shows above, I'm not that upset with FIOS. Maybe I'm too easy going, but I haven't had any DVR problems caused by bad guide info. But, the new TV season has yet to start. And, yes, the guide has problems, like poor program and movie descriptions, occasionally incomplete, inaccurate, and missing info. No search by channel, which is one feature I really miss. Now, Verizon FIOS listings are online at zap2it.com, titantv, and I have Verizon with MSN Premium, with MSN TV listings. I can't say that those online listings are any more accurate than the FIOS guide, but they may be worth checking out. We left cable because the PQ was poor and the cable box sometimes acted up and needed to be reset, and other issues. I'm hoping the FIOS guide gets fixed up, enhanced, better info, easier to use, and all that. Mark F.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19080653 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:32:59 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19079010 noping :
said by JPL See Profile :

I have to ask, though - is this really the fault of the guide data provider?
[...]
I seem to remember another one that's like that too, but it's escaping me right now.
When other guide data providers (Tribune) are able to get things right and give accurate, non-generic descriptions to episodes, yes.

Another show that comes to mind is "How It's Made" and "How It's Made 3."

I'll think about calling in about getting a partial refund for the DVR. I'm surprised that they would actually do that. I'd half-expect a reply of "Why can't you set the device to record the 'Myth Busters' show as well? I don't see the problem here."

said by Hooper See Profile :

I have had just about enough.
Just wait for the inevitable "BUY A TIVO" or "GO FIND ANOTHER PROVIDER" posts.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19079010 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 09:29:57 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19077779 Hooper : According to the guide tonight there was a Boise State game on channel 707 at 8pm ET.... the game is tomorrow night 9/15 at 8pm ET.

I have had just about enough.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19077779 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 00:01:46 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19076711 anon : This problem seems MUCH worse since they "upgraded" the stb software last month. In fact, I called and yelled at them until they acknowledged they had broken something and refunded my DVR fees for August and September. (They claim they will have a fix in October).]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19076711 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:10:31 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19076462 JPL : Yeah I hit that one too. I noticed the same thing some time ago. And this isn't the only show affected by this. I've also hit it with a show my daughter watches - Backyardigans. Sometimes it's 'The Backyardigans' Sometimes 'Backyardigans'. Ditto for Future Weapons, which is either 'Future Weapons' or 'FutureWeapons'. I seem to remember another one that's like that too, but it's escaping me right now.

I have to ask, though - is this really the fault of the guide data provider? Well, the bad program names definitely are. But all guide data providers are fed by the actual channels themselves. Other DVRs don't seem to have this same issue. I know that DirecTV's DVR keys off of a unique identifier assigned to each series. Then again, their DVR, for some stupid reason, won't let you set up the same series on two separate channels.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19076462 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:27:15 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19074156 mjwedeking : I don't know what you are talking about. Didn't you see this quote from their website: "Never miss a show again with our dual-tuner HD/DVR box." (»www22.verizon.com/content/fiostv···ices.htm) It says NEVER :)
Get you $12.99 back for this month because you DVR does not work.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19074156 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:29:15 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19070756 jgantert : No Mythbusters here either. Oh well. Atleast there's a cool coffee maker on selloff.woot.com today. :)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19070756 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 22:22:02 EDT Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19070509 bgtimber75 : I thought we all realized that we were paying $12.95 a month for a glorified VCR? All that we are missing is setting the clock. I still have to babysit mine everyday and even that doesn't help all the time.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19070509 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:40:36 EDT FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19070491 noping : I have one of my DVR units set to record MythBusters.

I checked the DVR on Tuesday or Wednesday to get my daily fix - guess what? Nothing recent had recorded. I checked the "Scheduled" section of the DVR menu and no upcoming episodes of "MythBusters" were listed. Went through the channel guide and a show called "Myth Busters" is listed instead at 11AM and 4PM.

tl;dr: Guide data provider still sucks. Why are we paying $12.99/mo. to babysit the DVR, why won't anyone in management do something about this?

edit: spelling

dvr + bad guide data = fail
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19070491 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:38:21 EDT