November 30, 2024, 06:15:50 AM

Author Topic: Comcast TV guide infoboxes  (Read 1922 times)

Offline TWCJim

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Comcast TV guide infoboxes
« on: April 12, 2012, 07:07:31 PM »
On the guide, I've seen several shows that just tell you the info of the show and not the show episode. For example, for a syndicated run of the sitcom "Two and a Half Men," the infobox will tell you "A hit sitcom built on often-raunchy material starring Charlie Sheen and, later, Ashton Kutcher."

Does this come from a source, or are the cable headend techs just too lazy to enter in the episode info in the infobox of the shows on the guide?
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Offline toxictwister00

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Re: Comcast TV guide infoboxes
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2012, 07:17:17 PM »
Maybe it comes from multiple sources, on our program info guides with most shows it lists what the episode is about, the season and episode number. Sometimes it only gives a summary of what the show is about as you said.


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Offline Eric

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Re: Comcast TV guide infoboxes
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2012, 10:49:27 PM »
The cable techs don't enter this information themselves.  The cable company subscribes to a service that does this for them.

If specific episode information isn't entered yet for an upcoming show, these services usually post a generic description of the whole series as a filler until more specific information is programmed into the guide.

One reason the information might not be there yet is because it's too far in the future for the guide service to have entered more specific information.  Another reason would be that the channel the show is airing on hasn't yet provided the service with more specific information other than the fact that this show is airing in its regular timeslot.

Offline twcclassics

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Re: Comcast TV guide infoboxes
« Reply #3 on: April 13, 2012, 10:32:02 AM »
The cable techs don't enter this information themselves.  The cable company subscribes to a service that does this for them.
Really? Then Cox needs to hire a new service. The one they currently use sucks. I've never seen so many examples of poor grammar! :nono:
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Offline toxictwister00

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Re: Comcast TV guide infoboxes
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2012, 10:43:54 AM »
I'm not sure how many other shows listed on Comcast's program guide has this mistake or not, but I noticed once when scrolling through the program guide they listed the wrong names in episode descriptions. For example, American Dad! they listed the characters as Stan and Lois instead of as Stan and Francine.


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Offline Eric

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Re: Comcast TV guide infoboxes
« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2012, 11:05:08 AM »
LOL!  That's funny!  :)

Offline TWCJim

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Re: Comcast TV guide infoboxes
« Reply #6 on: April 13, 2012, 11:30:12 AM »
One reason the information might not be there yet is because it's too far in the future for the guide service to have entered more specific information.  Another reason would be that the channel the show is airing on hasn't yet provided the service with more specific information other than the fact that this show is airing in its regular timeslot.

Some shows never have episode info and instead it's always the show info. For example, The Simpsons on my local FOX channel as well as Two and a Half Men never have episode info on them. Other examples I see are on the PBS Sprout channel, where I see that the kiddie shows on that channel never seem to have episode info and are always the show info for every show on the channel.

That always got me thinking, why subscribe to a service if that service is too lazy to enter episode info for shows on a TV guide?   :unsure:
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Offline TWCJim

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Re: Comcast TV guide infoboxes
« Reply #7 on: April 13, 2012, 11:34:56 AM »
Also, I forgot to point out, that when Matlock aired in syndication on my local FOX channel (not anymore as of now) the show info started out with "Grandpa Simpson's favorite series..." Kinda stupid to be referencing to a character on another series who likes this show...  :nono:
« Last Edit: April 13, 2012, 01:19:47 PM by TWCJim »
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Offline Eric

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Re: Comcast TV guide infoboxes
« Reply #8 on: April 14, 2012, 11:09:35 AM »
It could be that the station that airs these series in syndication doesn't provide information about which specific episodes will be airing to the guide service, or the guide service just ignores this information.  Either way, there's a lack of communication somewhere.

LOL @ "Grampa Simpson's favorite series" !!! :rofl2: