Electronic Program Guide

As an Electronic Program Guide ( EPG) [ ɪ ˌ ː lɛktɹɑ nɪk pɹoʊɡɹæm ɡaɪd ] ( English for: electronic program guide) refers to electronically disseminated information about the current radio and television. The data is now broadcast in the rule as an additional offer from the transmitters and are free to receive. The electronic program guide offers a replacement for printed program guides, mostly but have a wider range, which is not limited to the pure program information. The official spelling in the ETSI standard (ETSI EN 300 707) Electronic Programme Guide.

• 7.1 Technical Standards
• 7.2 provider pages
• 7.3 Miscellaneous

Operation

With the help of the EPG can show the current and coming television or radio program. The program overview includes at least the title, time and duration of each shipment. In addition, for each program are brief descriptions of the contents - are shown - in some EPG formats with pictures. Due to the integration in the receiving device can switch the program or schedule them to record a selected program from the EPG.

The page range 300-399 in Teletext is a precursor of EPG. This area is used by most German channels to list their own program for the next days. This format could be used by some receivers for simple programming of video recordings. This feature was later expanded by Show View.

The EPG as well as the teletext transmitted in digital binary code. The video text, the digital signal has been modulated, however, the analog carrier, whereas the EPG data are part of the complete digital signal. For the display of each EPG - format special software is necessary. The advantage of the binary transfer is the ability of the automatic evaluation of the data to allow, besides the above -mentioned complex search queries.

In digital TV, the EPG data according to the DVB - SI EIT standard can be transmitted, see Event Information Table. Based on the information provided within the EIT, it is possible to create an electronic program guide that includes the following information:

• Name of the program with short and extended description
• Description of the data streams in multiple languages Picture format: eg 4:3 aspect ratio at 25 Hz
• Sound: Stereo or surround sound (Dolby Digital)

Actually, this is only a theoretical possibility, to create an electronic program guide, since the data that can be sent within the EIT, need not be sent. As a result, each provider is left to itself, which is sent to additional data. Thus, it is not possible to create a consistent electronic program guide. So, for example, sends Iesy no " content_descriptor ". To show the receiver to no program type ( category or classification ).

Digital receivers have usually a built-in EPG that displays this data. External EPG for example by the MHP standard to view pictures and additional information and program a digital video recorder or HTPC.

In analog television, there are several competing standards EPG. Together by many European TV manufacturers an open standard was in the years 1994-1996 developed (ETSI standard ETS 300 707), which is marketed in television sets and video recorders branded Nextview. There are other proprietary methods such as Guide by Rovi.

Known EPG

Guide Plus

The data for the program leader of the firm Rovi Corporation to be transferred in Europe on the following channels ( host) on the vertical blanking interval:

• Germany: Tele 5, Bible TV, Mona TV ( DVB -T)
• Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands: Euro Sport ( analog only)
• England: Euro Sport ( for SKY customers), bid up (DVB -T)
• France: Canal (analog only )
• Italy: MTV
• Spain: only terrestrial

The download of the TV data on the device is automatic usually overnight ( 3:00 to 5:00 clock ). In addition - depending on the device - a download at 10:00 and at 14:00 clock and this takes two hours. During this time updates to the support receivers and other data can be performed. To this end, each device must be programmed off (on standby ) and the host channel. Some devices allow it to specify a priority: either record or EPG update to occur. Most of the Guide Plus capable DVD recorder (except Panasonic) includes an infrared transmitter (so-called G- link), which can be used for the control of certain supported satellite receivers, so that images of the satellite receiver required to program is changed, you must do it manually without the user.

SiehFern INFO ( SFI)

SiehFern INFO, short SFI is the proprietary EPG of the consumer electronics manufacturer Technisat be received in Germany ( in co-operation with Axel Springer Digital TV Guide GmbH and the program guide TV Digital) and can over DVB -S, DVB -C and DVB -T. In addition to detailed program descriptions he offers a seven-day program guide, genre identification and filtering, full-text search and integrated timer programming.

Programming the VCR

The transmitted program details ( station identification, date, start and end point) of the films can be used for programming of hard drives and DVD recorders. It can, in contrast to the manual entry of the shipment data or the VIDEO Plus codes, import with just a few button presses and the data from the EPG in the recorder control for recording and use it.

Economic dimensions of the EPG

Increasing program density and increasing number of TV platforms and transmission paths create a lucrative market for entertainment navigation. While there is according to a study strategy consulting GoldMedia 2009 in Germany, only around five million households that use a high-quality electronic program guide ( EPG). This is 13 percent of the German TV households. But already in 2014 will more than every second German household have an EPG, in Western Europe would be the 2014 even almost three quarters of all TV households.

For the actors in the EPG market for content navigation provides the growing demand high growth potential. The EPG market volume of direct revenue in 2008 was in Western Europe after gold media analyzes a total of approximately 156 million euros. By 2014, these revenues would nearly triple to 450 million euros. Direct EPG revenue entständen especially in the B2B sector, for instance from the technical development, the implementation of the EPGs in terminals of licenses as well as software program or data updates.

In addition, the EPG would win the future as transactional, advertising and communication platform massively relevant. He would become the central interface to the customer and thus for pay-TV and other content providers to retail space for movies, games, music and t- commerce offerings and an interactive advertising medium. However, it is likely that consumers will then switch increasingly to advertising poorer offerings.

For the use of accompanying material of their program information in the EPG VG Media has established a corresponding rates for the view expressed by her station.