[mythtv-users] EIT vs XMLTV - Formula 1 and adhoc rescheduling

[John Veness]

On 14/06/2011 23:45, Richard Morton wrote:
> I have been using EIT since starting with Myth a few years ago now
> (thanks - and congratulations - for putting up with me for so long).
>
> I have been toying with using xmltv for the superior data that is
> supplied by xmltv radio times feed in the UK, this weekend changed that.
> Because the Canadian Grand Prix went on for hours longer than expected
> during the transmission they rescheduled, first extending the broadcast,
> then moving it from BBC1 to BBC2. MythTV worked flawlessly picking up
> the extensions and then newly scheduled programme on BBC2.
>
> XMLTV just couldnt do that with its current implementation in MythTV.

As a XMLTV Radio Times user, I agree that it is not great for 
last-minute changes like the above. I was watching my recording of F1 
just a few minutes behind live, so I could keep up to date with the 
channel changes, but that was just luck. The BBC in the past have even 
changed some sporting things, such as Wimbledon matches featuring UK 
players, from BBC2 to BBC1, just when they start getting exciting, in 
order to gain a bigger audience!

> It seems to be that simple matching of xmltv id and programme based on
> start/end date and time using the xmltv guide to update the other
> attributes such as title, subtitle, description and whether it is a
> repeat or other pertinent details. I just looked at the radiotimes feed
> and was surprised to see that the url is xmltv.radiotimes.co.uk..... but
> the file is actually csv format. Maybe I am looking at the wrong file?

You're looking at the correct file. My understanding is that the files 
from xmltv.radiotimes.co.uk aren't actually directly in XML format, but 
they have been put there for the benefit of the XMLTV project (and XMLTV 
end-users), hence the URL. They need post-processing by the 
tv_grab_uk_rt program before becoming XML.

> I remember seeing mike mention there are challeneges with merging the
> data but I am happy to work through the logic required if there is
> appetite from the developers or other contributors as coding it to a
> reasonable standard would be a serious challenge!

I would be very happy if MythTV could use both XMLTV (for its better 
long-term data and better descriptions) and EIT (for last-minute 
changes). In fact, a few years ago I'm sure it did do that reasonably 
successfully, but maybe that was just a fluke.

Cheers,

John

-- 
John Veness, MythTV user, UK, DVB-T