UK EPG Licence Expiring

[sjr56stn]

..and same here. With less than one week of downloaded EPG, have switched to the OTA guide.

[njc]

I've created a new thread on the MS feedback site on the current lack of data:

https://connect.microsoft.com/site1145/ ... ls/2916144

[IT Troll]

Thanks, voted it up. I also sent Jon from MS a PM but I don't think he visits here anymore.

[technodevotee]

me too.

I have guide data until Saturday on terrestrial, Astra 28.2 and Astra 13.0 but 51 days worth on Astra 19.2.

Don't understand why.

[IT Troll]

51 days worth on Astra 19.2.

I am guessing that should read 15. Otherwise you have something very strange going on.

[technodevotee]

According to the info page, there are 51 days of listings available but there is only a few days left on terrestrial, Astra 28.2 and Hotbird (not Astra as previously stated) 13.0 and at least a month's worth on Astra 19.2. I haven't actually checked the actual expiry date but, suffice it to say, there is plenty to be going on with.

This is not the first time that Astra 19.2 has had a month or so's worth of listings when the others are rapidly approaching empty. I guess there must be a big difference in the way the data is supplied to Microsoft.

[IT Troll]

Interesting. I thought 14 days was the maximum available in advance.

[jelockwood]

In the UK at least and I suspect for much of Europe the EPG data is provided to Microsoft by a company called BDS (Broadcasting Data Services). They also seem to be known as Red Bee Media. They also seem to have been acquired by Ericsson although whether this is still valid I don't know.

Anyway I found the following contact details for BDS if anyone wants to try them since sadly Microsoft never seem to respond themselves.

BDS
54-58 Uxbridge Rd, London W5 2ST
Phone: 020 8280 2000

The details I find for Red Bee Media are as follows

Ericsson Broadcast and Media Services
Broadcast Centre, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TP
Phone: 020 8495 5000

[iankb]

Repeating a post I made on the Microsoft Connect thread ...

You can register on the Red Bee site (http://www.bds,tv) for a free non-commercial download of guide data. My account had expired and I've just re-registered. Waiting for approval before being given access to the downloads again.

I will then need to remember how to convert and import this data into MCE. Anybody wanting to stir my failing memory is welcome.

[IT Troll]

I don't recall anyone trying previously. What format do they come in? I also just registered and they send all your personal details back to you in an email, including your password in plain text. Awesome.

[kennyken]

EPG problem is back, this must happen what every six months or so now I guess. So what do we do just wait ?

[jack_kelly]

EPG problem is back, this must happen what every six months or so now I guess. So what do we do just wait ?

I'd definitely encourage you to go to the bug report on Microsoft Connect started by njc: https://connect.microsoft.com/site1145/ ... ls/2916144

And, crucially, do two things on the bug report:

1. upvote the bug report
2. click on "Repros: I can too" to make it clear that you are experiencing the issue.

The more upvotes and "repros" the bug report gets, the more likely it is that it will be acted upon quickly.

At least, that's the theory!

[IT Troll]

Well this latest outage was the final straw to push me to EPG123.
http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/viewforum.php?f=99

All is working perfectly. In addition to actually having listings, the EPG is further enhanced with:

- Thumbnail pictures for all shows/movies in the guide.
- Correct series and episode numbering.
- Better First Run identifiers.
- Better Series identifiers.
- HD flags.

The Schedules Direct subscription does cost $25 a year but it is well worth it for reliable, quality data and active support.

[STC]

Welcome back to TV land!

[mrbarty]

Well this latest outage was the final straw to push me to EPG123.

Lucky you. I would have done the same had I not still been using XP MCE.

[iankb]

I don't care about Microsoft EPG data for the UK now.

I've now moved to Schedules Direct and EPG123, and it's so much better than Microsoft's EPG data ever was.

And the developer of EPG123 sorted out a glitch with UK data within a couple of hours or so. If only Microsoft bothered to read their Bug Reports.

[IT Troll]

Lucky you. I would have done the same had I not still been using XP MCE.

You really are operating on borrowed time with XP. After last big outage MS said XP was difficult fix.

Is there no way you can upgrade? The Windows 7/8 version is much nicer.

[iankb]

The Windows 7/8 version is much nicer.

Can you get the Windows 8 version anymore? I thought Microsoft had withdrawn it, however much money you throw at them.

[IT Troll]

True. I bought my MC8 key in the forums here. But Media Center is included with Windows 7 and that is still easy to get hold of.

[rmeden]

Well this latest outage was the final straw to push me to EPG123.

Lucky you. I would have done the same had I not still been using XP MCE.

I'm still on Vista!