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

Matt skd5aner at gmail.com
Fri Jun 22 22:17:08 UTC 2007


On 6/22/07, Mattias Holmlund <mattias.holmlund at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 6/22/07, jedi at mishnet.org <jedi at mishnet.org> wrote:
> > They're already giving it away for free. We're only asking them to
> > provide it in a slightly different format.
>
> 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!
>
> 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.
>
> /Mattias
>

I have more than 13 local channels in my broadcast area.  You'd have
to multiply that 13 out by a few maginitude to get the US alone.
Here's just the ones that start with K (and mine all start with W):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_stations_in_the_United_States_by_call_sign_%28initial_letter_K%29

If it's that hard to manage 13, and none of them can seem to deliver
in a manageable manner, I find it impossible for this to happen even
in one US city.

Matt


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