IceTV IceTv getting lazy with program descriptions?

headkaze · **5th June 2007, 07:03 AM**

I've noticed alot lately that series have the same program descriptions that are used over and over. They are not showing information about the particular episode being aired, rather a brief description of the series itself. Are IceTV getting lazy and using the same info over and over?

Eg. The Simpsons
"This yellow family has so captured our imagination that US presidents have appeared on it, Ricky Gervais was honoured to write for it and even Michael Jackson had a look in. On Google alone you get 27,500,000 results in 0.04 of a second. It's safe to say, it's popular. With 385 episodes over eighteen seasons, there's probably a favourite for everybody."

Four Corners
"Exposing scandals, triggering inquiries, firing debate, confronting taboos and interpreting fads, trends and sub-cultures, Four Corners consistently sets high standards of journalism and film-making, earning international recognition."

Cops
"You've heard of race cam. This is cop cam! Join real cops as they chase, apprehend and charge real villains. Witness the victims' trauma, the police officers' danger and the criminals' startling boldness in this adrenalin charged real life drama."

Is this what $100 a year pays for when the free alternatives with no program description are starting to sound just as appealing? Are we supposed to accept that IceTV can simply type up a quick description for a whole series and sit back while the money rolls in? I think it's a pretty lame excuse for a TV guide!

ozbear · **5th June 2007, 10:23 AM**

And of course you have raised this directly with them in their own forums, yes?

Oz

headkaze · **5th June 2007, 11:55 AM**

I'm actually posting this here to see what other people think. Maybe others think this is okay, maybe IceTV are forced to write their own descriptions to avoid Nine's lawyers, I don't know. I think posting it here is quite relevant to the subject since i'm posting in the IceTV forums here. And do IceTV actually have their own forums? If so their conveniently hidden from my searching on their website. The support button at the top of their website would be the obvious button to try, but this just takes you to a FAQ.

I've been quite happy with IceTV's service, I even put up with them making subtle insults at Nine's programs. But now that descriptions are becoming more and more simplified, the edge it's had over free guides is becoming finer. What do other people think?

EDIT: Okay I did find the button to the forums, I must automatically block out anything that looks remotely like a banner ad or something

ozbear · **5th June 2007, 12:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by headkaze

And do IceTV actually have their own forums? If so their conveniently hidden from my searching on their website. The support button at the top of their website would be the obvious button to try, but this just takes you to a FAQ.

Yes they do. I is cleverly concealed under Support | Discuss Support Issues in the Ice TV Forum button

But if even that is too difficult for you, just try http://www.icetv.com.au/iceforum/

Oz

impact · **5th June 2007, 12:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by headkaze

But now that descriptions are becoming more and more simplified, the edge it's had over free guides is becoming finer. What do other people think?

Far from it - still the best service. Yep some items are generic text, but most are not. The generic text is only on shows that are regular one off type things like ACA / Today Tonight / News etc... and realistically, if your going to watch those shows - your typically going to watch them anyway despite any comments in the text field.

Becoming finer ? Far from it. IceTV still update their guide info daily, its the only service that is available that gives you 7 days outlook every day of a fairly accurate nature.

You dont have major outages, no bandwidth limitations, the data is as accurate as you can get. Its the only service that reports repeat shows when known. Its the onyl service which identifies re-runs correctly. ie you can record Chaser, set it to automatically record, and MCE will tell you its not going to record the saturday night repeat of it - as it already has recorded that episode.

But its the features you want or need in your own situation that makes up the mind whether it is a better service than others.

headkaze · **5th June 2007, 12:59 PM**

ozbear: I did eventually find the forum button, I even edited my previous post to say so. But thanks for the link anyway :P

impact: This is really what I wanted to hear. I didn't want to feel like the quality of service was dropping or that they were becoming lazy or complacent. I really just wanted to see if things had changed for the worse, but it's good to hear you don't think so. I wasn't even entirely sure if descriptions had become more generic. It just seemed that way with the last 3 shows I recorded. I was sure they used to summarise each episode of the Simsons at least. Perhaps it was a figment of my imagination.

Rumbaar · **5th June 2007, 05:00 PM**

To be sort of on topic, but I've always wondered what is the benefit of paying for IceTV guide over Free*EPG? Is greater show descriptions about it?

vlad · **5th June 2007, 05:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by headkaze

But now that descriptions are becoming more and more simplified, the edge it's had over free guides is becoming finer. What do other people think?

What about PIMP?

MSurge · **6th June 2007, 12:17 PM**

Rumbaar - If you want to give it a whirl just sign up for the 30 day free trial and check it out.

I tried a couple of free variants and unfortunately FreeEPG doesn't cover my region so I haven't tried these guys.

Personally I like the descriptions that IceTV have on some of their shows like ACA, Big Brother etc. I find myself scanning through the guide to check out any new "comical" descriptions that have been added.

Headkaze - Nine does get a bit of a ribbing by IceTV but I think that they are probably fairly balanced with all channels in these sort of descriptions that seem to rub you the wrong way. (eg check out BB descriptions for channel 10).

Four Corners and some shows typically have a brief title at the start of the descriptor while others have a whole speal. I expect that this depends on the level of detail that IceTV have to work with to write their own guide data - remember that they need to do this to avoid the 'copyright' issues that Nine took them to task about.

logifuse · **6th June 2007, 01:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by headkaze

I wasn't even entirely sure if descriptions had become more generic. It just seemed that way with the last 3 shows I recorded. I was sure they used to summarise each episode of the Simsons at least. Perhaps it was a figment of my imagination.

I've noticed Law & Order SVU & Criminal Intent (more so CI) more often recently get the episode name & generic "another classic off shoot of Law & Order" description. NCIS sometimes goes ep title & generic too.

Other examples:

Life on Mars (ABC Sunday Nights): same description every week.
Time Team (ABC Tuesday Nights): ep name & generic series description.
Chaser (ABC Wed Nights): generic, but fair enough.
Family Guy (7 Some Times When They Feel Like It): title & sometimes a "meet the Griffins" generic description.

I can understand for shows where a weekly descriptor is impossible or irrelevant (Chaser, Rockwiz, Spicks & Specks, etc.), but some recent efforts have been poor.

I'm more concerned with time & show accuracy (including correct repeated episode information) - generally very good with IceTV in my experience.

Justin