RTE and TG4 running overtime

Wheels

I got Sky+ a few months back and am really loving it but does anyone else find it really annoying how RTE and TG4 seem to pay very little attention to programmes running over time when you have it set to record? It's happened a few times of late (I missed most of one episode of ER a few weeks backfor some unexplained reason) and twice on TG4. And while I'm at it has anyone ever used a Series link on E4? It'll record the same episode if your lucky, twice, if not could be as much as five times. Great that!

thrillseeker

Couldn't agree more with regard to TG4. They are often starting programs 5, 10 or 15 minutes after scheduled start time without updating the EPG.
Can't say I watch anything on RTE1 other than the news.

DMC

I blame the ad break in Eastenders....

Mossy Monk

i have noticed this on RTÉ loads of times. sometimes programmes are up to 20 minutes late :mad: meaning it is useless with Sky+ :mad: :mad:

kevmac

Here is some edited email chats I had with RTE and TG4 over this subject last July and August:

Hi,

I have a problem with Sky Series Links not working properly for many programmes lately.

Shows that have a Series Link will register the next episode but sometimes not get the recording to start and then there are other obvious episodic series that have no option to Series Link.

Please can you explain why this is? It makes my Sky+ (or any Sky receiver) system unable to record the programme automatically as it should.

This has happened for all users of Sky+ and must be a RTE problem as you control the EPG for RTE.

Programmes have also overrun and had the recording cut short - the whole point of the Sky system is that you (RTE) update the SKY EPG to take overruns into account.

A case in point is Hollywood Inc on Saturday July 26 which started 20 minutes late and so was useless when the recording was viewed because: One- RTE failed to update the Sky EPG with the late start. Two: RTE failed to update the Sky EPG with the 20 minutes over run so the recording was cut short.

The whole point of being on Sky is that RTE use the intrinsic value of the EPG and make viewers aware of programme changes on-the-fly.

This also has benefits for RTE as it ensures that people watch recordings of shows and hence the advertisements.

The BBC have embraced Series Links to guarantee return viewers to a next episode of a series.

More info here from www.plusworld.co.uk which did an exhaustive one week test on all UK terrestrial stations and their use of the Series Link. http://www.plusworld.co.uk/Bigissue8g.htm

Please can you investigate and rectify these faults?

Reply:

Good morning
Because RTE chs are live public service broadcasts
late changes.early starts,late overruns to news and
sports these changes can not be reflected quick enough
back to the stored epg in the sky boxes.We endevour at
all times to be correct but because of the manual
nature of updates errors occur.Trust that this explains
how these errors occur.


My reply:

Thanks for getting back to me re overrun time not being inputted in to the SKY EPG on a consistent basis.

I understand that it is sometimes difficult to keep up with live broadcasts on the EPG but would counterargue and point you in the direction of the BBC who are exemplary with their updating of the EPG - you can even watch the EPG updated after a programe you're watching overruns by one minute.

And I think you misunderstood my original query; I was not referring to live news and sport feeds overrunning but to regular broadcasts.

But another question in reply to your answer would be: If you are not using the Sky EPG in the way it was designed why bother to transmit RTE TV stations on satellite?

Surely the whole point with being carried on the SKY platform is that you maximise viewership figures by using the EPG in the most efficient way i.e. making sure customers DON'T miss RTE programmes.

As I'm sure you're already aware there are two fundamental ways of doing this on the SKY platform:

TimeReminders; which change the channel to the programme you want to watch, which is useless if RTE have not updated the schedule and you come in on a programme that has already started or nearly finished (not necessarily a Live broadcast).

Series Links: which link on to another episode of the series in the following week (used poorly by RTE even when a programme is obviously part of a series).

You don't seem to address this issue in your reply.

Just now I have roughly checked a few series programmes on RTE and Dallas (a series), the Ipm news (a show on at the same time every day), Murder She Wrote (a series), The Bill (a series) and the 6pm news (a show on at the same time every day) are not Series Linked.

Why not? Surely RTE is not using the Sky platform in the right way and is, in essence, losing viewers who would like to view the next episode of a series and not miss it but are not let use this option because when the programmes are input into SKY's EPG every week by RTE the series link option is not clicked.

I know that all this is not life and death but I am keen for RTE to not fall behind the rest of the main stations on the SKY platform and be seen a technological lagard. If the BBC can do it very well then I am sure so can RTE.

Maybe some of this is down to lack of training for staff about how the EPG actually works - it is not a passive TV guide but an active TV programme organiser that should be continiously updated.

No reply received.

TG4 email:

Hi,
I have a problem with Sky Series Links not working properly for Curb your Enthusiasm every Wednesday night.
The show has a Series Link, but out of the last 4 weeks, it has only series linked correctly once.
Please can you explain why this is? It makes my Sky+ (or any Sky receiver) system unable to record the programme automatically as it should.
This has happened for all users of Sky+ and must be a TG4 problem as you control the EPG for TG4.
The programme has also overrun and had the recording cut short for two weeks - the whole point of the Sky system is that you (TG4) update the EPG to take overruns into account.
Please can you investigate and rectify these faults?

Kind Regards

No reply received.

Have to say that the Series Link issue has improved after Sky sent out a Series Link training package to all Sky platform stations.

JDxtra

Couldn't agree more guys - RTE of late have been terrible regarding keeping to original broadcast times. My Sky+ has missed out on the end of a few programmes thanks to this - even with the padding!

sceptre

RTE have /always/ been terrible with starting shows late, finishing them late, getting show times wrong and so on. It's just that we've noticed it a lot more now that those nice folks at Sky have a handy clock on the screen and an instantly available schedule that we rely on.

Anyone else remember when RTE2 would kick off with cartoons at 6? They had the clock on screen, typically ticking by the 5 past, 10 past, could almost hear someone running upstairs for the tape, quarter past, oh look, it's started. All shows completely of schedule for the rest of the evening.

Time they copped on just a little. Series links too.

Mike 1972

For gawds sake EPG updates are hardly even cutting age technology I mean before digital there was PDC

I suppose RTE dont support this either

Mossy Monk

PDC has never worked for me on any Irish channel

ShaneOC

My VCR reports when a channel is broadcasting PDC and the ony time I have ever seen the indicator on is for Channel 4.

Mossy Monk

only ever had it on BBC1 and BBC2 (both Welsh versions)

Ludo

excuse my ignorance but ... PDC???
Wots that???

Mossy Monk

Programme Delivery Control

very handy it is. if a programme is running late then PDC would adjust your VCR accordingly. it was always very good for when a live sporting event or news ran longer than what was advertised so you didnt miss what was set for recording

DMC

Oh, and this was used on analogue TV, not available on digital, it was driven by teletext.

ShaneOC

Originally posted by DMC
Oh, and this was used on analogue TV, not available on digital, it was driven by teletext.

Actually, it still appears on Channel4 through Sky Digital.

nlgbbbblth

RTE are notorious for overrrunning
they have been the bane of my life for years - anytime I set timer I invariably allow up to 5 mins each side which results in wasted video tape etc

I have emailed them with success

TG4 I emailed before when a film I set vcr to record started 6 mins early and I missed the beginning

they sent me a copy of the film on video

Mossy Monk

Originally posted by nlgbbbblth
they sent me a copy of the film on video

that was decent of them. ad free too i bet

byte

Originally posted by ShaneOC
Actually, it still appears on Channel4 through Sky Digital.

That's quite possible, as 4Tel is available on C4 via Sky Digi (pages start at 300)

Mike 1972

they sent me a copy of the film on video

Possibly the same copy that was used for broadcast :D

nlgbbbblth

Originally posted by Mossy Monk
that was decent of them. ad free too i bet

it was yes!

eirman

The obvious 100% reliable solution to SKY+ & RTE scheduling is to do a manual recording (Services Menu) and add an hour to the start + finish

kevmac

RTE did again last night.

Con Houlihan programme started FIFTEEN minutes late but the luddites didn't bother updating EPG on the fandangled SKY thing.

navi_5445

RTE are indeed brutal. What amuses me is that they get the 6 and 9pm news slots spot on but just can't seem to be bothered with anything else.

If they can do it at least twice a day it must be nothing but sheer laziness on RTE's behalf that stops them doing it for the rest of the schedule.

DMT

Originally posted by Mossy Monk
that was decent of them. ad free too i bet

Decent, but very illegal == state-sponsored piracy....

nlgbbbblth

Originally posted by DMT
Decent, but very illegal == state-sponsored piracy....

hardly
the film is not available on VHS or DVD on this side of the world
and the NTSC VHS has been deleted

if I taped a copy off the air it wouldn't be piracy
so if TG4 give me one of their copies.......it shouldn't be either

or am I missing something here?