Latest on Microsoft and Oz EPG?

[zehd]

I am new to this forum, but not Media Center PCs and EPGs. I'm from Canada and moved to Australia a few weeks ago. Before I left I started searching for Australian EPGs and recognized that one of the stumbling blocks for an EPG here is the networks (not being allowed) refusing to release Programming data, and Microsoft not offering an EPG with their MCE...

I read that there are several options in place of a Microsoft EPG. Then I read a few weeks ago, that the laws have changed, and that EPG data is no longer copyrightable, and therefore fair game to be distributed.

However, as I search the net and this forum I'm unable to get a clear picture as to the status of the MCE native EPG.

Is Microsoft in negotiations to start providing and Australian EPG?

Perhaps this is actually dealt with in a different thread that I was unable to find. It just seems that many threads focus on the alternatives rather than news of the native EPG. Maybe it's just never going to happen...

I would appriate being pointed in the right direction. Thank you for you patience...

Frank

[dgaust]

I don't think Microsoft will release a native guide for Australia any time soon.

From what I understand, in some (most?) countries the information is provided by the networks to Microsoft.

In Australia, despite the recent court case, our networks don't want this information released and I daresay won't be providing this information. It just means that the provision of a guide is not an offence in itself and that scheduling information is not copyrighted material (show descriptions/reviews etc still are).

The current solutions use different methods to gather the data and compile it into an epg for MCE to use.

[philzgr8]

Have to agree with the above post. A native EPG for MCE just isn't likely to happen in Australia ever. The best you will get is IceTV or one of the free options you will find elsewhere on this forum. The reason is that even though the networks have now started looking at providing an EPG service of kinds it will be limited to devices which conform with some fairly draconian restrictions (no advert skipping etc.)

[danielicetv]

Originally Posted by zehd

I am new to this forum, but not Media Center PCs and EPGs. I'm from Canada and moved to Australia a few weeks ago. Before I left I started searching for Australian EPGs and recognized that one of the stumbling blocks for an EPG here is the networks (not being allowed) refusing to release Programming data, and Microsoft not offering an EPG with their MCE...

I read that there are several options in place of a Microsoft EPG. Then I read a few weeks ago, that the laws have changed, and that EPG data is no longer copyrightable, and therefore fair game to be distributed.

The biggest problem in the past is that the television networks absolutely refuse to license there program guide to be used in a recording device regardless of how much is offered.

The laws were not changed recently, but the court case involving IceTV and Channel Nine did clarify that a program guide is copyrightable and cannot just be copied and re-distributed. More information on this can be found at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/c...2007/1172.html

In most other countries there are other ways that program guides are funded. For example in the US program guide data is payed for by the company making the PVR to Tribune Media Services who compile the guide listings. In the UK it is supplied over the air and payed for as part of the TV License.