What happens when Microsoft ends providing Guide Data??
#1
For the last year or two, I've wondered what we will do when Microsoft finally terminates the guide data, and makes our systems worthless.

Fortunately, someone who was frustrated with MS's recent switch from Zap2It to Rovi has developed a plug-in that will allow you to use Windows Media Center with Schedules Direct. Schedules Direct is a third party guide data service that uses the same source as Zap2It. There's a small fee, but it will allow you to continue using WMC long after MS terminates Rovi.

And if you're fed up with the crappy data that Rovi is providing, you can even switch to this new service today.

The plug-in is called EPG123, and you can download it here:

http://epg123.garyan2.net/
I welcome comments and suggestions for the Kodi (XBMC) Set-up Guide that I wrote.
You can read it here:  http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=193310
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#2
Thanks advocate.
Windows Media Center PVR addon (pvr.wmc) and server backend (ServerWMC)
http://bit.ly/serverwmc
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#3
You're welcome.

I'm finding quality issues with the Rovi guide data, and may well switch to Schedules Direct now. Smile
I welcome comments and suggestions for the Kodi (XBMC) Set-up Guide that I wrote.
You can read it here:  http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=193310
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#4
Switched over a few months back, it's been working great.
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#5
Glad to hear it. I'm still on the WMC Guide data and having issues where programs, particularly local and national news programs, don't record sometimes.

(2016-06-20, 20:38)jdlive Wrote: Switched over a few months back, it's been working great.
I welcome comments and suggestions for the Kodi (XBMC) Set-up Guide that I wrote.
You can read it here:  http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=193310
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#6
Hmm, I have 2 series recordings set for everyday for my local and network newscasts [same channel] and sometimes they do not record. Your post makes me think the guide maybe part or all of the problem.

Have you seen anything in the Guide Description which might make the recording flaky?

Schedules direct based upon your post does seem to be the way to go though.
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#7
I haven't noticed anything in the guide descriptions.

But, I strongly suspect the guide for the followings reasons: When I first notice that a local new show is not recording, I check the guide and find that for the next few days, there is no red light next to the same news show, indicating that WMC does not intend to record it. If I keep going forward in time several days, I eventually will see that the show is set to begin recording.

So, for example, if I notice on Monday that the local news did not record, I'll look through the guide and find that that same show will not record on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. But, starting on Friday and continuing forward (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, etc.), it will be scheduled to record.

However, if I delete the series timer and then create it again, ALL of the days will then be set to record.

This NEVER happened before MS switched the guide data from Zap2It to Rovi, and it only seems to happen on news shows.

The best way to avoid the problem is to use ServerWMC's PrimeTime Recording feature. I just set a PTR rule that says always record whatever's on at 11:00p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and that way ServerWMC will force a timer even if the series doesn't get it.

The problem happens mostly on local news shows, but sometimes also on the national news.

(2016-06-21, 18:26)wurlizer1928 Wrote: Hmm, I have 2 series recordings set for everyday for my local and network newscasts [same channel] and sometimes they do not record. Your post makes me think the guide maybe part or all of the problem.

Have you seen anything in the Guide Description which might make the recording flaky?

Schedules direct based upon your post does seem to be the way to go though.
I welcome comments and suggestions for the Kodi (XBMC) Set-up Guide that I wrote.
You can read it here:  http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=193310
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#8
You both are correct with this issue being completely a guide problem. For many shows like this, particularly local news shows, the guide source should flag the program as generic and part of a series. This way all shows will be considered new and will all be part of the same series for recording. We didn't have an issue like this before Rovi because Zap2it knew how to handle and construct the data.

By the way, epg123 knows how to handle and construct the data as well.Cool
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#9
Schedules Direct has the best guide data on the planet. I am just jealous of you guys in North America.
If I have helped you or increased your knowledge, click the 'thumbs up' button to give thanks :) (People with less than 20 posts won't see the "thumbs up" button.)
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#10
Are there any options for us in Australia?
pvr.wmc TV addon and ServerWMC Backend Development Team
http://bit.ly/ServerWMC
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#11
Schedules Direct does provide data for many other countries, and has recently got EU privacy laws clarified to continue to do so. Epg123 supports this also. Unfortunately, Australia is not one of those markets. I had asked SD a few months back, and the reason was too much cost for such a small market.
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#12
I really appreciate the confirmation. I'm wondering, though, how you were able to make this determination?

(2016-06-23, 08:39)garyan2 Wrote: You both are correct with this issue being completely a guide problem. For many shows like this, particularly local news shows, the guide source should flag the program as generic and part of a series. This way all shows will be considered new and will all be part of the same series for recording. We didn't have an issue like this before Rovi because Zap2it knew how to handle and construct the data.

By the way, epg123 knows how to handle and construct the data as well.Cool
I welcome comments and suggestions for the Kodi (XBMC) Set-up Guide that I wrote.
You can read it here:  http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=193310
Reply
#13
Trial and error, observations, the scientific method. Basically when I was working on a personal version of epg123 trying to understand why generic episode descriptions were not being updated even though the imported data was. The solve for that problem led to identifying the cause and the solution for what is being discussed here.

(2016-06-26, 00:11)advocate99 Wrote: I really appreciate the confirmation. I'm wondering, though, how you were able to make this determination?
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#14
Thanks again for sharing your findings with us. I'm seriously considering switching to epg123 very soon..

(2016-06-26, 00:28)garyan2 Wrote: Trial and error, observations, the scientific method. Basically when I was working on a personal version of epg123 trying to understand why generic episode descriptions were not being updated even though the imported data was. The solve for that problem led to identifying the cause and the solution for what is being discussed here.

(2016-06-26, 00:11)advocate99 Wrote: I really appreciate the confirmation. I'm wondering, though, how you were able to make this determination?
I welcome comments and suggestions for the Kodi (XBMC) Set-up Guide that I wrote.
You can read it here:  http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=193310
Reply
#15
I'm slapping my forehead now. I just realized that YOU are the author of epg123.

So, in addition to my thanks for sharing your findings, a huge THANK YOU for writing epg123.

And welcome to the Kodi forums. If you haven't yet tried ServerWMC, I highly recommend it. Smile
I welcome comments and suggestions for the Kodi (XBMC) Set-up Guide that I wrote.
You can read it here:  http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=193310
Reply

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What happens when Microsoft ends providing Guide Data??1