Channels and Programming

[MichiganMark]

Hi, we have a Panasonic TV with a CableCard, and it also has the TV Guide On Screen for our channel guide.

For the last couple months, this has not been working, and has not been providing us with the channel listing. We had a tech out not long ago and he could not figure out what the problem was.

We are in the Flint, Michigan area, ZIP CODE 48439.

Hope someone can help.

Thanks.

Mark

[JayInAlg]

First go to Panasonic's support site and check if your TV has the latest firmware.  Check the version in your TV's diag page and if you do not have the latest version, then follow Panasonic's instructions on updating it.

[MichiganMark]

Hi Jay,

Yep I upgraded all the firmware about 2 weeks ago. Sure enough it was out of date. But still getting the same results.

Mark

[MichiganMark]

Hi Jay,

All my firmware from Panasonic was updated almost 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately, I am still not receiving any TV Guide On Screen program listings. Prior to the non-receiving of these listings a few months ago, we did have periodic issues with TVGOS listings and them not updating, but eventually they did come back. Isn't there a specific channel/frequency that broadcasts these listings?

I wish that there was better support when it comes to the CableCards.

[JayInAlg]

Here's a list of stations that carry the guide information http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=tvgos

Did I ask you if you can hook up a rabbit ears or some OTA antenna to see if you can get the guide information on the local channel for your area if you can receive that channel?

As a side note, this has nothing to do with the cable card, it would break if you were just using clearQAM on the cable.

And so you know, there is a large problem with TVGOS not working, I believe 60% of people with this guide don't work properly.  Firmware helped for many, but there is still alot of trouble with it.

[MichiganMark]

Hi Jay,

Thanks for your answer. I haven't hooked up rabbit ears to my TV. I did, however, just perform a diagnostic of the TVGOS. Sure enough, the Host Chan says none, therefore, I am unable to download any information at all. Looks like it is a TVGOS issue. Count me in that 60%!

Thanks for your help and that link too. I will see what I can find on that Host Chan: NONE issue.

[-JP]

I too have lost the information for updating the TV Guide On Screen that is built into my Pioneer TV. I first noticed it right after the channel line up was recently updated and all the channels moved.

After waiting a few weeks for the information to update (with no results) I called Comcast and found out that because I have a CableCard instead of a set top box, the TV Guide information is no longer being passed through to my TV. Comcast said if I had a set top box it would still come through but they blocked it from passing through all CableCards.

I have tried to contact the company that distributes the TV Guide information (Roxi) to see if they can be of any help as I believe this action is in violation of the FCC rulings where all people are entitled to have a CableCard if they choose and be provided with the same content as a person with a set top box. The only exception to this rule is the ability of two way communication with the service provider as this is a limitation of the CableCard in that it can not allow information to be sent back from the customer to the service provider. This basically prevents CableCard users to access on-demand features and it prevents the service provider from monitoring what the customer is viewing.

I like the feature of the TV Guide system built into my TV and I hope this was just a software oversight by Comcast and they get this corrected soon. Could be this was intentional as the cable providers do not like the fact they are forced to provide CableCards which eliminate an additional source of income due to the lack of ability to sell on-demand movies.

[dc_billm]

I lost my TV Guide On Screen (TVGOS) on my Samsung TV (with Cable Card) over a year ago after the digital switch. The company that handles TVGOS is Rovicorp.com. Follow the link and then click on the "Next Steps" tab for an email address for support.

I was actually in contact with Rovi's customer support folks for about 6 months trying to resolve the problem of no TVGOS data. The Rovi folks were relatively helpful and verified with Comcast that TVGOS data had been lost shortly after the digital transition. However, they confirmed that Comcast would again be passing TVGOS data on an analog channel of the local (Washington, DC) CBS station soon.

Unfortunately, after all of the time spent trouble shooting, I was not able to get my TVGOS working again. Comcast did eventually carry the analog station but I have not tried again to get my TVGOS working. One thing I learned from the experience, every situation is little different and you might be one of the lucky ones to eventually get yours working again.

The ultimate point of this reply is: I believe Comcast gave you bad information about them not passing TVGOS data.

[-JP]

dc_billm: I have contacted Rovi but never got a response. This issue has nothing to do with the switch from analog to digital. I had been receiving the TVGOS signal for over a year after they made the switch to digital. This issue (as I described in my post) is all about the use of a TV with a CableCard. I agree that getting bad information from Comcast is a typical event when talking to customer support but after being transferred several times during my call I think the person I spoke with did in fact offer factual information based upon their knowledge of the TVGOS system and CableCards.

[dmach]

"As a side note, this has nothing to do with the cable card, it would break if you were just using clearQAM on the cable"

This has EVERYTHING to do with your Cable Card. As an example, if I pull my Comcast/Motorola CC from my Sony HD DVR and use my external OTA antenna, the Gemstar(now Rovi) TVGOS updates itself and the Channel Lineup works perfectly for all OTA broadcast channels only. If I leave the CC in, the Channel Lineup is completely wrong for my Comcast Cable location. Apparently Comcast in my area (Crystal Lake, IL) is sending out the wrong Gemstar TVGOS data to their CC subscribers.