noping
no route to host
Premium
join:2007-01-09
 ·Verizon FIOS
3 edits | reply to JPL
Re: FYI Television (guide provider) still sucks
said by JPL  :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 :I have had just about enough. Just wait for the inevitable "BUY A TIVO" or "GO FIND ANOTHER PROVIDER" posts. |
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Mark F
join:2007-08-01
Fort Wayne, IN
| 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. |
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JPL
Premium
join:2007-04-04
West Chester, PA
·Verizon FIOS
| reply to noping
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. |
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bgtimber75
join:2006-06-23
Columbia, MD
| 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. |
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noping
no route to host
Premium
join:2007-01-09
·Verizon FIOS
| said by bgtimber75 :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." |
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JeepMatt
Delaware Fios
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Wilmington, DE
·Verizon FIOS
| 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!!" |
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Hooper
Premium
join:2001-10-22
Villanova, PA
| said by JeepMatt :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. |
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JPL
Premium
join:2007-04-04
West Chester, PA
·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | reply to bgtimber75
said by 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. 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. |
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bgtimber75
join:2006-06-23
Columbia, MD
| 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. |
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knarf829
join:2007-06-02
| reply to Hooper
said by Hooper :said by JeepMatt :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. |
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Hooper
Premium
join:2001-10-22
Villanova, PA | reply to JPL
JPL,
Where did you hear FiOS was set to change guide data providers? |
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noping
no route to host
Premium
join:2007-01-09
·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | »Re: Incorrect Guide Data at it Again
It's not entirely clear what exactly the Verizon-Gemstar agreement would do:
said by Hajman :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 :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 |
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JPL
Premium
join:2007-04-04
West Chester, PA
·Verizon FIOS
| 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. |
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Mark F
join:2007-08-01
Fort Wayne, IN
| 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. |
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