[mythtv-users] Let's get our heads straight here on listings solutions

[Jay R. Ashworth]

On Fri, Jun 22, 2007 at 08:30:34PM +0200, Mattias Holmlund wrote:
> Let me give you some perspective from Sweden. I run the tv.swedb.se
> backend that provides listings for MythTV users in Sweden via xmltv.
> We have contracts with all major tv-stations in Sweden (currently 13)
> which gives us access to TV-listings via their press-services. I
> aggregate this data and publish it in xmltv-format.
> 
> The format and quality of this data varies wildly. Some provide data
> in CSV-format. Some in html. A few in XML. But the most common format
> is Microsoft Word. Someone at the TV-station manually types their
> schedule into Microsoft Word and sends it out via e-mail!

Someone suggested that this is very manual in the US as well.  Dot eh
Swedish broadcasters not use playout automation yet?

> Asking the TV-stations to provide data in a common format is useless.
> I know because I have tried. They have no idea how to generate another
> format. I am happy as long as they provide data in a consistent format
> that doesn't change every week.
> 
> I don't know if TV-stations in the US have more technical knowledge,
> but I doubt it. That's why TMS has a business converting all these
> formats into a common format that everyone can use.

Yup.  But again, I propose to leverage their vendors.

Cheers,
-- jra
-- 
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