[mythtv-users] Zap2It - isn't this a two part problem?

Rod Smith mythtv at rodsbooks.com
Thu Jun 28 20:32:20 UTC 2007


On Thursday 28 June 2007 14:34, John Drescher wrote:
> > If a new solution is needed, the most bandwidth friendly way of
> > downloading
> > would be for the myth-backend to parse the line up and ask for schedules
> > for
> > each channel.  That way my backend would ask for some of the same
> > channels as
> > yours (likely CNN, A&E, etc).
>
> The problem I see with that is my cable provider sometimes shares channels
> (Anamal plannet shows national geographic channels) and I am not 100%
> convinced that all my shows are always shown in the same time slot as
> others. And on top of that I know my NBC affiliate will sometimes preempt
> shows (for local programming) and put the missed shows on at night.

Local broadcast stations are just what you say -- AFFILIATES. There is no 
standard schedule for NBC, CBS, etc., except for prime-time programming -- 
and even that can change depending on what the affiliate decides to do. 
(Affiliates have been known to pre-empt shows because they find the content 
on the national feed offensive in one way or another.) During the day, local 
affiliates will have different shows -- local news shows, syndicated 
programs, etc. Thus, any solution will have to include separate schedules for 
each and every local channel in the country. This could be the most 
challenging part of any TV listings data acquisition scheme.

The issue of cable companies merging multiple channels (Animal Planet/National 
Geographic, for instance) is a minor one in comparison, but it's similar in 
many ways. Presumably the solution would be to create a separate channel ID 
for each such instance, similar to the way each local broadcast station would 
need a unique ID and schedule.

-- 
Rod Smith
http://www.rodsbooks.com


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