[mythtv-users] MythWeb/SchedulesDirect - everything's a rerun

[Robert Eden]

On 8/5/2009 2:34 PM, steve.lawrence at comcast.net wrote:
> Type: 	series (EP01083561)
> Original Airdate: 	2008-09-08
> Program ID: 	SH010835610000
> Hosted by: 	Rachel Maddow
> Length: 	1 hr
> Recording Group: 	Default
> Playback Group: 	Default
>   
As Michael said, the fact that the program ID begins with SH means 
Tribune (and hence MythTV) has no details on the program other than the 
title.  Mostly likely MSNBC doesn't provide the episode info..

For a SH* Program ID, the Original Air Date field is the date the show 
premiered. (not the air date of the episode, since it doesn't know the 
episode!).  That doesn't help us here.

Now here's where it gets *really* interesting.  Check out the raw data...

<schedule program='SH010835610000' station='16300' 
time='2009-08-06T06:00:00Z' duration='PT01H00M'/>
<schedule program='SH010835610000' station='16300' 
time='2009-08-07T01:00:00Z' duration='PT01H00M' new='true'/>
<schedule program='SH010835610000' station='16300' 
time='2009-08-07T03:00:00Z' duration='PT01H00M'/>
<schedule program='SH010835610000' station='16300' 
time='2009-08-07T06:00:00Z' duration='PT01H00M'/>
<schedule program='SH010835610000' station='16300' 
time='2009-08-08T01:00:00Z' duration='PT01H00M'/>
<schedule program='SH010835610000' station='16300' 
time='2009-08-08T03:00:00Z' duration='PT01H00M'/>
<schedule program='SH010835610000' station='16300' 
time='2009-08-11T01:00:00Z' duration='PT01H00M' new='true'/>

While episode information isn't available, they do seem to know when a 
new episode shows up!  I suspect the showings between the "new" episodes 
are a repeat of the previous "new" episode, but it could be the previous 
year.  The data doesn't tell us.

This is an interesting case for scheduling algorithms.  I'm sure the 
authors never considered a <new> episode w/o a unique program id.

Incidentally, if you look at Rovi's data at tvguide.com,  *ALL* episodes 
are flagged as new.  Tribune wins this round. :)

Robert