The EPG Unit
Here's what the EPG Unit does, in their own words (taken with thanks
from their internal web page):
What we do
The Unit compiles and amends all the BBC’s digital
public service programme information, currently for 13 TV channels
and 11 Radio networks.
This is sent to the EPG providers - BSkyB , ONdigital and from early
2000 the digital cable providers too. We provide programme synopsis
information, allocate programme genres/sub-genres, flag programme format
such as widescreen/stereo/sub-titles etc, flag editorial issues, such
as strong language/violence etc. and provide the most up to date information
on actual on air times and programme content and changes.
We provide
a rolling schedule service 10 days before transmission. We get the
schedule data at TX minus 12 days, compile and amend it
as necessary, sending it to the EPG providers 10 days before TX,
for the information to appear on the guides at 7 days before TX. We
then
constantly amend that data to keep it as accurate as possible. In
extreme circumstances we can get a schedule change through to the guides
with
10/15 minutes notice or less (tried and tested on Digital satellite
only!) Genres and sub-genres
These are allocated in line with the individual
programme’s content
and marketing needs. This means the genre is hugely adaptable and can
take into account considerations such as competitive advantage, individual
platform demographics, transmission channel, originating and repeat
slot etc. etc.
Programme titles
The amount of room allocated to the display of programme
titles on the EPG grid, is governed by the duration of the actual
programme. A programme can have a maximum title length of 40 characters
- yet
if it is only 30 mins. long, only approx.10 of those characters
will appear on the grid listing; if it is 3 hours long, all the characters
would be displayed. This is the basis for the satellite guide and
as yet little is know about the how the full terrestrial guide
will
operate, or what the cable guides plan, but it would be wise to
assume they may be subject to the same restrictions
What we need
We need as much programme information as possible - a
soon as possible. Individual programme billings, format - such as whether
it’s
stereo, subtitled or widescreen, is particularly important. It is
often very difficult for us to get accurate format information, so
please tell us!
If the information is late we can still get the changes through -
although DTT and Dcable are NOT as reactive as D.Sat. To be safe, we
need the information the day before transmission, though in extreme
circumstances, we can get the information to digital satellite only
much later than this.
SID (Schedule Interface for Digital)
Sounds simple enough, but is
not entirely the whole story!
When it became obvious that EPGs were an integral part of the soon
to be launched digital services, Phil Layton and team at the BBC's
Research and Development arm at Kingswood Warren, set about building
a specific piece of technical wizardry - a sort of gearbox, to enable
us to send our EPG info to the various providers. To cut a long story
short, SID sucks raw information from PICS - the Pres. scheduling system,
PRDB, and BDS, to compile basic schedule information for TV and Radio,
which we then add to and amend to turn it into EPG friendly information.
It also provides all sorts of technical information such as programme
format, triggers and conditional access status.
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