I contacted Ch4 support about the electronic signal for the start of Deal or no Deal on 3 Jan not being turned on until very nearly the end of the programme. They replied that they don't put 'triggers' for the start and end of programmes, it is Freesat who do this. I thought all the broadcasters put the signals on. So who does and who doesn't? And how do we get round this other than manually recording?

They are fobbing you off, its the channels that do it as the BBC and ITV are usually perfect while 4 and 5 are often terrible.

The only other way to do it is to add 5 mins of manual padding before and after but this leads to more conflicts and you will lose the program if any sports events overrun or there are other unforeseen delays.

Technically speaking its the "Running Status Flag" which changes when the event (program) starts. This can only be "set" by the channel provider or broadcaster.
If they can't be bothered.......

Frank

I think only the BBC and ITV (not +1 channels) transmit the accurate start signal.

On all the other channels recording starts and stops at the time in the Freesat EPG e.g. 17:00~18:00

Automan.

I have noticed that the BBC & ITV have got much better with their accuracy in the last 12 months where as C4 & Five just can't be bothered, C4HD nearly always starts about 30seconds late & Five anything up to a minute late (it speaks volumes on how each broadcaster regard their viewers).