Some Questions and Answers
Posted by Mike on July 24, 2008
What is the current status of the EPG provided in the broadcast signal?
All networks, except for SBS, currently provide 7 days of guide information using EIT. This information is poorly formatted, often contains spelling errors, and the naming conventions for shows change frequently. All in all, the data is poor. In addition, due to the lack of specific requirements or conditions for FTA broadcasters to provide useful guide information to the consumer, some appear to be manipulating the data in an attempt to disrupt the use of modern PVR equipment. This is the same equipment which can be used throughout the rest of the world without a problem.
Have the networks delivered what was promised by Free TV Australia?
They have delivered to a point, but as detailed in “1″ above, whilst they could try to argue they now provide guide information, it’s a grossly sub-standard product in its current form. We have no idea which model they used to develop what we have it now, our best guess is that they’ve made it up as they’ve gone along without any reference to industry standards elsewhere in the world.
Is it improving?
No.
How have the networks treated other EPG providers such as IceTV?
Two of the commercial networks have left Ice alone whilst Nine sued them (and won) based on copyright infringement. HWW have continually refused to license program information to IceTV but have recently licensed the same information to TiVo. Given the relationship which has recently emerged between Channel Seven and Tivo, we find this highly questionable conduct and apparently sanctioned by the very organisation (ACMA) charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the Australian consumer enjoys the widest possible freedom of choice.
Aggregators of TV Guide information (i.e. program scheduling and episode information) have existed in this country for many years, TV Week and the daily newspapers being just two examples. As we are now well into the digital age and as a consequence, the Digital Television era, aggregators of digital information are an essential component of the medium. The action against IceTV by Nine was, and still is a clear attempt to try and close down or exercise control over this essential industry. The use of the “very big copyright stick”, whilst agreeing at the same time to guide provisioning is blatant hypocrisy.
The fear now is that other guide aggregators will be targeted with “cease and desist” notices if Nine wins after final appeals. We would not suggest that the copyright act should be changed, copyright is a complex concept and should be left alone. What we do advocate is that broadcasters of free to air television must be made to provide guide information freely, in an unencumbered format and be accessible through whatever recording equipment the Australian consumer wants to use - just like it is overseas. Without this freedom to choose, Australian digital television viewers will be divided into two classes; those who purchase a proprietary device to record FTA TV, and who are consequently provided with accurate guide information - and everybody else.
How does the Australian situation compare to the situation in other countries?
Other countries have operated an open system from the start of digital television. The networks’ EPG data has been freely available to everybody, and accessible on any kind of digital recording equipment. In addition, there are many companies who have taken the opportunity to use the original data as supplied, and then apply their own value added services and extras. This means that in those countries, consumers have a wide range of choice over their guide supplier and the equipment they can purchase to use the guide.
How frustrating is it for Australian owners of PVRs such as media centres?
It is madness that Australian FTA TV broadcasters think that the Australian public deserves so much less than the rest of the world. The fact that the biggest software company in the world, Microsoft, has been unable to negotiate any kind of program guide in Australia demonstrates how much control the television networks have been able to exert over our broadcast spectrum, and as a result, how far behind in this area we are, when compared to the rest of the world.
The ACMA, who’s job is to regulate FTA TV broadcasters seems to only rely on feedback from FreeTV, who of course represent the FTA broadcasters. Now for the first time, we have an independent group which has a clear goal of explaining and raising the profile of this important issue with the Australian public, politicians as well as those who control the media and FTA licensing.
We believe that enabling a free, unencumbered and open EPG must be a condition of being granted a FTA broadcast license in Australia. The licensing authorities must be made aware that by not having control over which recording device we can use, or having to face no EPG at all if we do not choose the proprietary format machines, the Australian viewing public are being subjected to a highly restricted and commercially controlled digital viewing environment which ultimately, can only slow down consumer acceptance of digital television and therefore the overall growth of the medium in this country.
To express your opinion on this issue, please take the time to sign our petition and fire off a few emails or letters to those people with the power to change the current situation. Check out the menu system on the right for links to a selection of pro-forma documents and a suggested contact listing.
The initiative to start producing an EPG, which led to IceTV, dates back to 2003 when I first approached the commercial networks to licence their information.
It’s worth noting that SBS and ABC have been most cooperative from the start.
MyEPG supporters might be interested to read some of this history and my commentray on the unfolding court battle between Nine and IceTV: http://www.vogelross.com.au/vrblog
Peter Vogel