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Channel4 recording always missing last minute |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 863
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Channel4 recording always missing last minute
I had a quick look through the threads and found nothing related to this.
I am having problems with recordings on Channel4. Everything I record at the 9pm till 10pm slot misses the final miute of the program. This happens for me with 'The Event', 'Pillars Of The Earth' and 'Coppers'. Its a right right bloody pain in the arse and confusing when I sit down to watch the next episode of 'Pillars Of The Earth' to find that it starts with a funeral of a main charater that I never saw die. I thought I missed an epsiode. Who do I complain to to get C4 to sort out the accuracy of the epg program switchover? If I am not alone a complaint in numbers would be useful. I also get a similar problem with films on Five when a film is interrupted for the news, I lose the last minute of the first half of the film. I get around this now by recording the news. I know I can set my Foxsat to record for one minute extra but I shouldnt have to and I fear that this would increase the chance of recording clashes. |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,556
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Ive notice a few channels delay the start of a program so you have to watch or skip the ads, so the actual program will start at 1003 and finish later than usual.
Both 4 and 5 seem to do this. |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,766
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I record the NFL on Channel 4 at 1am to 4:45am, I also have an extra 2 mins added to the end of all recordings. Quite regularly I am missing the last few minutes of a game because the show either overruns or Channel 4 don't start the show until later than advertised.
It is very annoying, especially when the whole convenience of "pressing a button to record a whole series" doesn't work because you're mising parts of every episode and manual recordings have to be set up so you can watch all of the programme.
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#4 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,556
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i recorded the 1st game and it went down to the last play, which was cut off.
I never bothered again. Its not exactly great for increasing their viewing figures. |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 722
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Channel 4 always do this to the 9pm slot. Your best bet is to just set a manual timer, that's what I've had to do.
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Singapore
Posts: 709
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Last bit of Coppers was chopped off last night. I assume C4 are using the going home clock to set up their timings.
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1,684
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I had the same problem with Pillars of the Earth so this week before watching the latest episode I thought (Clever Me!) I'll just watch the last couple of minutes of the previous week on 4oD. But it wasn't available because 4oD only keeps its recordings for a week!
At least I've now watched the last minute of this week's episode on 4oD. Next week's final one is a double from 9pm to 11.15pm so it will be interesting to see how much they manage to mess that up. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: My House
Posts: 844
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C4 are known for this, always miss the last bit of Grand Designs!
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,766
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Watching recordings from weeks ago that I'm only getting around to watching now and am surprised to find that a lot fo recordings are missing the end. Programmes on BBC 3 and Channel 4 are the most repeat offenders for this. Not a happy camper. What good's recording a programme when the end is cut off because broadcasters can't start/stop a programme on time or give the wrong listings details.
Example - American Dad / Family Guy on BBC 3, if two episodes are on in a row, usually the first or second episode is billed as being shorter than the other, so if you were only recording one you're going to get the ending chopped off, or get the ending of the previous episode taking up space on the recording for the following episode, meaning the end of the episode you want goes missing. Completely amateurish on the broadcasters part. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hants (New Forest)
Posts: 1,665
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Another victim here
![]() If I add time to the end and there is a following program that will use the same tuner, am I right to think the start signal will stop the channel 4 output? Is there any way to make channel 4 padding automatic? |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 863
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I forgot about grand designs but im pleased to see that I am not alone. I suspect it is the advert shifting/cramming which is responsible, a practice which I think was first introduced when they showed lost. Thats still no excuse for the epg air time not to mirror real airtime.
I have contacted channel4 and gave the link to this thread. I suspect nothing will happen but its worth a try. I also ticked the box asking for a response. I will share what they say. |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 863
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Response from Channel 4 Quote:
Thank you for contacting Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries. Looks like I will be contacting Freesat. What are the chances of Freesat passing blame back onto Channel4?I am sorry that you are missing the end of the programme. However, I am afraid this is an issue with Freesat as they have not updated their time codes for programmes. We have no involvement in Freesat's recording system and it cannot be resolved by Channel 4. I am sorry I cannot help with this issue. Kind regards, Dylan Redmond Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries |
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#13 |
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 863
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I just phoned Freesat and got a much better than expected response. By that I mean I spoke to a human and that Freesat do sound like they will look into it. Also as suspected Freesat claim that their time codes are supplied by Channel 4 and that Channel 4 is probably at fault.
So I guess its just a matter of sitting back and seeing if the problem is resolved
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#14 |
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Sutton Coldfield
Posts: 384
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For C4, E4, M4 the "time codes" appear to be transmitted exactly according to the EPG. So if a program is from 21:00 to 22:00 the recording will always be exactly between those times - it never varies even by a minute (whereas BBC and ITV recordings are "always" exact and the actual recording time is often a few minutes adrift to reflect when the program actually started and stopped).
Since programs on C4, E4, M4 often overrun the scheduled time (and sometimes start early) you need to convert the recording to manual weekly timers using the yellow button in the schedule list and then add some padding. It's not just freeset, I've experienced exactly the same on Freeview since the first digital recorders came out in 2004. |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Co. Wicklow
Posts: 47
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I have "True Blood" set to series record on C4. (no padding or any manual timers set). In each one, the recording starts during the end-titles of the previous programme and finishes during the end-titles of "True Blood". So far I haven't missed any of the actual programme material.
I always assumed that it was a standard practice (or maybe just an error!) that Channel 4 inserted the recording "triggers" at the end of prior programmes instead of at the start of the programme you have set to record. If the trigger is just set on a timer by Channel 4, then it is pretty pointless. How come BBC (mostly) and ITV (always) manage to set the trigger to the exact start of the programme? ITV carries ads, same as C4, and sometimes Corrie starts a couple of minutes after the scheduled time, but the recording trigger is always spot on! Come on C4 - sort it out! |
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 863
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Bloody typical! The chap from Freesat said he would test out a recording on Grand Designs last night and of course C4 only cut the last the last few seconds, This is the first time in this series that the final shot from the crane thingy has not been cut. Makes me look like im complaining about nothing.
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#17 |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Corby, Northamptonshire
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Quote:
Bloody typical! The chap from Freesat said he would test out a recording on Grand Designs last night and of course C4 only cut the last the last few seconds, This is the first time in this series that the final shot from the crane thingy has not been cut. Makes me look like im complaining about nothing.
Tell him I'll back you up on that
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The great North of England!
Posts: 3,902
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I spoke to someone at Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries about this today and they told me it's due to programme overrun, a feeble excuse!! It's damn annoying when I miss the last minute of some programmes and only on C4 (which I mainly watch).
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#19 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,556
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We know programs overrun but why are they doing it on scheduled programs and why are they not updating the EPG to allow for the overrun?
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#20 |
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Co. Wicklow
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Quote:
For C4, E4, M4 the "time codes" appear to be transmitted exactly according to the EPG. So if a program is from 21:00 to 22:00 the recording will always be exactly between those times - it never varies even by a minute (whereas BBC and ITV recordings are "always" exact and the actual recording time is often a few minutes adrift to reflect when the program actually started and stopped).
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 863
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So C4 blame either Freesat or overruns depending on who you speak to. Freesat blame C4. What ever the excuse is nothing should cause problems like this this often or for this length of time unless the broadcaster is doing it on purpose to put more adverts in to a program or to make you recordings virtualy fail so that so you are more likely to watch their channel and record another. I just had the idea of contacting Ofcom and this is what their websites says in relation to scheduling. Quote:
We are not responsible for deciding which programmes are broadcast when – this is the job of the broadcasters. There are no other options to do with scheduling and I assume thats just a generic message refering to general scheduling problems. I will try contacting Ofcom manually ignoring their standard forms and FAQs and see if that get me anywhere.You may wish to contact the broadcaster directly to express your views. Lets see if C4 can screw up the grand finale of Pillars of the Earth tonight. |
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 863
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Am I being stupid or blind or have ofcom got a really bad website?
Can someone tell me if they can find somewhere on the ofcom site where they can contact ofcom about the above issues. I can complain if a program has upset or offended me, subtitles or similar have upset or offended me or if im being harrased by journalists. It appears that there is nowhere to complain if a broadcaster is upsetting or offending me ![]() So we will be listened to if: Audio description that was too intrusive Audio description that was insufficiently detailed The absence of signing on a programme advertised as being with signing Inaccuracies in the signing Subtitling that was too slow Subtitling that was too fast Etc Etc But if a broadcaster regularly causes everybody recording with a freesat box to miss the last minute cliff hanger or sum up of a tv program Ofcom dont care because there isnt a box to tick for that. Whats the point.......... |
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#23 |
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hants (New Forest)
Posts: 1,665
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Comments please on my post #10.
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 121
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I thought the Humax used the CRID to decide when a programme started and finished? Is that not so?
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,288
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Quote:
I thought the Humax used the CRID to decide when a programme started and finished? Is that not so?
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