Just how proprietry is $ky's EPG

Ulsterman 1690

I was always under the impression that the $ky dodgybox EPG was based on some kind of proprietry EPG software but recently I noticed that on some Hotbird channels the digibox will display "now and next" programme details.

On the other hand my the "EPG" function on my FTA box doesnt work on most Astra 2 channels and for those it DOES work on it only seems to do so after one has been tuned into the relavent channel for about a minute.

Does anyone out there know more about how these EPG's actually work

L1011

Most Sky channels send Now & Next using the standard DVB 7 Day EPG - but send their actual 7 Day EPG using Sky's own system, which is presumably something proprietary written in OpenTV.

watty

Open TV is in theory not proprietary, but Sky is about only Europe Pay TV using it (Sky Italia is the same EPG and box of course).

However I think Sky has proprietary extensions.. Not sure.


Now & Next is part of the standard DVBs spec. So The sky channels all have this on a non-Sky box and lots of non-Sky channels transmit it.

Most non-Sky boxes will pickup a more standard 7 day EPG from amny Austrian, German and Swiss channels. Also most PC Card satellite programs.

It is hoped that when BBC/ITV launch their branded boxes in 2006 that they will add the full 7 day non-Sky EPG.

Ulsterman 1690

So lets see If I have this right

Each channel transmits "now and next" (and potentially up to 7 days forthcoming) programme data alongside its video and audio streams on the same transponder/multiplex (DVB standard)

Additionally there is a second stream of data transmitted which

1) Allocates each channel to an EPG position e.g. BBC1 to101 etc (presumably this function has to be duplicated for each region/territory)

2) Duplicates (some or all of) the programme listing data from the DVB EPG listing so that one can view the now/next programme details for each channel WITHOUT having to select each channel and wait for the info to download
this second stream of EPG data is Open TV (possibly with some $ky proprietry features tacked on) ?

Is it carried on the "default transponder" or does it have to be duplicated on each transponder/multiplex utilised by the platform ?

L1011

At least the data for the next 6 hours has to be available in each of the 4 "quarters" of the IF band - HH, HV, LH, LV, so that you can access it through Search & Scan. I believe the 7 days is carried only on the default transponder.

Sponge Bob

It will be interesting to see what proposals the BBC have for their 'own' EPG in conjunction with ITV next year . Of particular interest is how they will do a 'multiscreen' as SKY do.

Knowing the Beeb they will have a (good) plan and will most likely release it as an open standard to allow it to gain traction in the FTA space .

2 British standards trying to dominate Europe ehhh Ulsterman

L1011

Sponge Bob wrote:

It will be interesting to see what proposals the BBC have for their 'own' EPG in conjunction with ITV next year . Of particular interest is how they will do a 'multiscreen' as SKY do.

Knowing the Beeb they will have a (good) plan and will most likely release it as an open standard to allow it to gain traction in the FTA space .

2 British standards trying to dominate Europe ehhh Ulsterman

"Interactive" is likely to be done using MHP, the beeb's interactive is already platform abstracted - same content feeds web, 'analogue' Ceefax, NTL and Telewest boxes (2 standards), MHEG-5 on DTT, and OpenTV on Sky - so its just another platform abstraction layer away.

watty

Some of the German stations use MHP, but sadly most FTA boxes inc the Lidl ones don't, though a SW upgrade might be made possible (even over air from 19E, or via PC serial cable).

The 7 day EPG though may work on FTA boxes depending how they implement that. MHP would be more for "Interactive" which is mostly a waste of time. I prefer Teletext for news etc. I'm not interested in Interactive if actually watching TV, nor do I want a TV picture in 1/4 of the screen while I read text. I'm simple and can only do one or other unless it is subtitles, even then, French or German dialog with volume at normal helps. Much harder to watch Polish TV with English Subtitles.

Sponge Bob

watty wrote:

Some of the German stations use MHP, but sadly most FTA boxes inc the Lidl ones don't, though a SW upgrade might be made possible (even over air from 19E, or via PC serial cable).

Anothe point Watty, the Beeb will have to ensure that boxes capable of handling 'its' and ITVs FTA EPG and Interactive Systems are updated thru 28E same as Sky does.

The 7 day EPG though may work on FTA boxes depending how they implement that. MHP would be more for "Interactive" which is mostly a waste of time. I prefer Teletext for news etc. I'm not interested in Interactive if actually watching TV

But people are used to that and in my opinion the Beeb had better have a consistent 'experience' across all platforms like cable/sky/freeview and now fta sat extracted from sky .

Its a look and feel thing Watty

watty

An update channel bandwidth is not expensive.