Steve, Thanks for replying.
On 24/01/2008, Steve Jolly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Brian Butterworth wrote: > > It seems incredible to me that the BBC is DELIBERATELY providing me (via > > Microsoft) with inaccurate information. > > If you were to start by assuming that inaccuracies in the EPG data > provided by the BBC were there for reasons other than to screw over > Windows Media Center users, you might be more likely to come up with a > reasonable explanation for the behaviour. I'm not looking for an explanation of the behaviour. I know WHY it happens, it so the BBC can gain a small commercial advantage over it's commercial competitors. I'm just musing that the provision of EPG data appears to be inaccurate, which is hardly in keeping with the BBC's new found hair-shirted honesty. > *I* know I can do this, I just wanted to know why the BBC was providing > > poisoned information. Why should people who have paid for Windows Vista > > Ultimate Edition have a poor service on purpose? > > Why should the BBC optimise its schedule services for the benefit of one > particular manufacturer of DTT viewing software? As Martin describes, > there are standard ways of accurately timing recordings from DTT, and if > Microsoft doesn't choose to make them available to users of its > software, I don't think it's reasonable to blame the BBC or any other > broadcaster for this. The BBC should not CHANGE the schedule, and I am not saying it should. I am saying that if the BBC knows that a programme is scheduled at 2202-2232 then it should deliver that data correctly to the EPG providers. Somewhere inside the TVC is a computer system that has some code in it, or is operated by a person, who programmes in the automatic play out of a pre-recorded programme for a time slot which is translated into the published EPG for a slightly different time. And I am sure everyone knows how I feel about the BBC dictating restricted standards to the public. Given how much you know about broadcasting, I am certain that you are > aware of the conceptual and practical differences between programme > schedules published a week or more in advance, and actual playout times, > which can vary considerably, especially (but by no means exclusively) if > live events overrun. I don't know much about Digiguide, but it seems > probable to me that they are only providing you with the former > information. Again, I find it hard to understand how the BBC is to > blame for this. I'm just asking for accurate information to be published. If it's wrong to say that the Queen stormed out in a Huff, then it's wrong to provide imprecise schedules to people's computers, set-top boxes and PVRs, surely? (As I recall the Gypsy Media people just automatically pass on the BBC's schedules, and WMC updates them live.) The reason I asked here is that Microsoft say they data comes from Gypsy Media, and then they say it's from the BBC. But yes, you are right, I did have a hand in designing the computerised schedule system the ITV companies used from 1993 onwards so I do understand how it all works in practice. So I bet that the reason I'm the only person in the whole of the UK who notices these minor schedule errors, and that will teach me to sync all my clocks to the MSF from Rugby. Perhaps it's having the mathematical difference between "precision" and "accuracy" beaten into me at school? S > - > Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, please > visit http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. > Unofficial > list archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > -- Please email me back if you need any more help. Brian Butterworth http://www.ukfree.tv
