My Amazon Recast displays program data for all of the MeTV channels (WHCT - Hartford, CT - Channels 35.1 to 35.9), however, the Tablo guide has no information. Since they both use Gracenote as the program provider, is this issue really a Gracenote problem?
I don’t know, this is what I get when I google : where does amazon recast get their programming guide
Amazon Recast pulls its programming guide directly from the over-the-air (OTA) broadcast signals it receives through the connected antenna, meaning it uses the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data embedded within the TV station broadcasts themselves.
Key points about Recast and its programming guide:
No external source:
Unlike some streaming services, Recast does not rely on a separate database for its TV guide; it accesses the information directly from the TV signals.
Local listings:
This means the programming guide will always reflect the local listings for the area where the antenna is situated.
Potential limitations:
Occasionally, the EPG data from a station might be inaccurate or incomplete, leading to incorrect listings on Recast.
Does the Amazon recast provide two weeks of guide data?
The Amazon Recast’s program guide is two weeks long. Amazon may also use the embedded EPG data, but it is getting two weeks of data from some other source. On the Amazon forum, people always said the program guide provider was Gracenote.
I used the same address and zip code when signing up for the Amazon Recast that I did when I signed up with the Tablo. If Amazon and Tablo both use Gracenote, I can’t think of a reason why the Recast has full 2 week program guide, and the Tablo has no information.
Is anyone here a professional software developer? If we had a Gracenote API key we could look up what data Gracenote has for the channels in a given zip code.
https://developer.tmsapi.com/Getting_Started
I know, Ive read somewhere that Tablo was looking into alternative companies compared to GraceNote. They mentioned something about certain type of commercial license that is needed.
Here is another mystery. Now, the Tablo program guide is showing data for MeTV channel 35.5, however, the other 8 MeTV channels, show “program not available”. Channel 35.5 has data for two weeks. Why would only one channel have data? Is this really a Gracenote problem?
I see that this is a low powered station. There are several of these in the Portland Oregon area and Gracenote has refused to bother with them.
You are right, it is a low powered station. I too was thinking that maybe Gracenote doesn’t bother with them, but the Recast has two weeks of data for all nine MeTV channels (supposedly using Gracenote); and as I just wrote above, the Tablo Guide does have data for one of the sub-channels, but nothing for the other 8. Why would one sub-channel have data, but the main channel, and all the other sub-channels have no data?
I just noticed that another channel that I receive, channel 27 (WWAX - Hartford, CT - Channels 27.1 to 27.7), is a low-powered station. The Tablo program guide has data for the main channel and its sub-channels for two weeks. However, channel 35 (WHCT - Hartford, CT - Channels 35.1 to 35.9) has no data (“Program not available”).
It is hard for me to understand why I have program guide information for channel 27, but nothing for channel 35. They are both low-powered stations from Hartford CT. Why would one station have data and the other doesn’t?
(As I stated in my previous post, the Tablo program guide does show information for channel 35.5, but nothing for other 8 channels, …another mystery).
My understanding is that Gracenote (and most, if not all, similar companies) do not reach out and get program data, but instead rely on stations to deliver their schedules to them. Exactly how that is done, I don’t know… perhaps they send an email… perhaps there is a digital platform they have to use… it could be telegram for all I know.
Low powered stations are typically small, independent channels with low budgets. It would not surprise me if they don’t have the budgets or staffing to keep all those different services up-to-date.
Gracenote has it faults… but I can see how a small station could slip through the cracks.
1 Like
What you said makes a lot of sense, but my Amazon Recast has program guide information for all 9 MeTV stations (Channel 35). (Channel 35 has had information showing up in the Recast program guide for years). Channel 35 must have sent their schedule to Gracenote for this to happen, …so why is it not on the Tablo?
I’m not in your area, but maybe there is a Tablo OG user out there from your zipcode or nearby that could tell us if the guide data is wrong also on the OG? Might be a stronger message to Tablo support (?) if so.