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DHD4000 EPG Spam on all channels


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Old 07-10-2008, 23:17
Hairyjon
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HI. Having just linked to here from the Digifusion site after discovering this very annoying problem perhaps one of you kind folk could give us some contact information for those concerned? Best regards, Hairyjon
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Old 07-10-2008, 23:22
ironeagleuk
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HI. Having just linked to here from the Digifusion site after discovering this very annoying problem perhaps one of you kind folk could give us some contact information for those concerned? Best regards, Hairyjon
http://www.inview.co.uk/contact.aspx

This could be the first step towards providing Teletext Extra
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Old 07-10-2008, 23:50
Hairyjon
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Hi Ironeagleuk thanks for that. Here is a copy of my email;

I have found that the programme guide on my Digifusion FVRT150 has been intruded by an advert for one of your 'clever little set-top boxes'. I have even less inclination to buy one of your boxes than I did before (and that was none) if this is the kind of advertising topuptv rely on. I am very happy with my present setup. Please remove this extremely irritating message forthwith and apologise before I contact the Advertising Standards Agency.

I have sent it to topuptv as well. Best regards, Hairyjon
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Old 08-10-2008, 08:35
albertd
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Ah well, back to normal this morning. By the way, re complaining to the ASA, AFAIK they only deal with matters of advertising accuracy.
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Old 08-10-2008, 11:40
larkim
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But did anyone call to find out what the "free" offer actually was? Perhaps it was actually a good deal? (Just call me naive.....)

Matt
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Old 08-10-2008, 11:52
popkid
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160gb refurbed box if you signed up to setanta for 12 months at £11 a month plus £20 sign up cost...

which I wasn't eligible for anyway as I already subscribe to setanta through a cam in my tv so I'm not a "new" customer

pK
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Old 08-10-2008, 12:11
Emgee
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Ah well, back to normal this morning.
Phew!
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Old 08-10-2008, 13:24
father alice
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By the way, re complaining to the ASA, AFAIK they only deal with matters of advertising accuracy
Which it was..... They claimed it was a free box, but failed to mention the sign on fees / connection fees.

this is something the ASA have pulled them up on before.
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Old 08-10-2008, 13:53
pkc
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HI. Having just linked to here from the Digifusion site after discovering this very annoying problem perhaps one of you kind folk could give us some contact information for those concerned? Best regards, Hairyjon
What digifusion site, their site has been down for ages.. or it is with the url I have.
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Old 08-10-2008, 13:54
pkc
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Which it was..... They claimed it was a free box, but failed to mention the sign on fees / connection fees.

this is something the ASA have pulled them up on before.
I would suggest a copy of the pictures be sent to topup tv and cc'd to ASA.. explaining to them that you would like your free box..
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Old 08-10-2008, 13:55
emread
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Our Thomson DHD4000 EPG seems to be clear of advertising today.I did complain to both the advertiser and Thomson yesterday.We're probably bad at complaining in this country. If they were looking to find a way to finance the continuation of this EPG service then I would hope they explore slightly less antagonistic and counter productive means of doing so in future.
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Old 08-10-2008, 14:19
normalnorm
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What digifusion site, their site has been down for ages.. or it is with the url I have.
I think he meant the Digifusion section of this forum.
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Old 08-10-2008, 14:42
albertd
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Which it was..... They claimed it was a free box, but failed to mention the sign on fees / connection fees.

this is something the ASA have pulled them up on before.
Well that is a different issue. This thread is really about the EPG being spammed.
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Old 08-10-2008, 16:19
steveclecy
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I have logged my complaint with the ASA - they have given me a reference A08-71823 - if anyone else is of a mind to complain to them, quoting that reference I suppose would help them group the complaints.
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Old 08-10-2008, 18:58
KJ44
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Result! Back to normal on my DHD4000.

I hope this episode makes someone think twice before pulling such a stunt again.
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Old 08-10-2008, 19:29
father alice
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albertd

Quote:
Originally Posted by father alice
Which it was..... They claimed it was a free box, but failed to mention the sign on fees / connection fees.

this is something the ASA have pulled them up on before.
Well that is a different issue. This thread is really about the EPG being spammed.

You were the one who first suggested it was not an ASA issue. - I simply replied to your post.
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Old 08-10-2008, 22:38
albertd
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albertd

You were the one who first suggested it was not an ASA issue. - I simply replied to your post.
I was saying that the spamming was not an ASA issue and you replied about something else which might be, but this thread is about the spamming.
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Old 08-10-2008, 22:55
Hairyjon
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What digifusion site, their site has been down for ages.. or it is with the url I have.
Sorry I should have said digital spy digifusion! come over and meet us, we're a good bunch! Best regards, Hairyjon
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Old 08-10-2008, 22:57
Hairyjon
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I think he meant the Digifusion section of this forum.
yup! Best regards, Hairyjon
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Old 08-10-2008, 23:07
Hairyjon
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But did anyone call to find out what the "free" offer actually was? Perhaps it was actually a good deal? (Just call me naive.....)

Matt
You are naive, Larkim.
It appears that there are 2 ASA's. ASA 1; Advertising Standards Agency, They deal with non- broadcast stuff.
ASA 2; Advertising Standards Authority, they deal with broadcast advertising. Confusing or what! Best regards, Hairyjon
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Old 09-10-2008, 14:12
larkim
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You are naive, Larkim.
Thanks.

To be honest, I've been expecting advertising somewhere along the line, as the 4TV needs income to support the updating and transmission. You could argue that all it takes to get the updates done is one person (plus holiday cover) typing in details from Radio Times (or even better, just linking to one of the many xml tv listings), but I suspect the broadcast overhead isn't particularly cheap. They are obviously funded at some point via the purchase price of boxes and (is this right) through some of the TopUp TV subs too, but any additional revenue that they could generate would be useful if they are to have a future.

Just for my info, how many boxes still use the 4TV EPG?

I keep imagining that at some point my beloved DHD4000 will be rendered less useful when the EPG stops being transmitted, so if the quid pro quo for that is seeing some advertising on the EPG then in my opinion that's a fair price to pay.

Matt
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Old 09-10-2008, 15:56
emread
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I did actually get a reply from TopUpTV today which is good that they've acknowledged my original email complaint/enquiry:

Thank you for your email. It is important for us to hear your views and opinions.

We undertook this activity to help those viewers who enjoy Freeview, who might wish to upgrade to a different box, and for additional research reasons. As you will no doubt have seen, the advertising, which was always scheduled to appear for just 24 hours, has been removed.
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Old 09-10-2008, 17:23
njp
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"for additional research reasons"

The research presumably being to discover just how annoyed people get when you trash their EPG.

I guess they now have the answer.
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Old 09-10-2008, 19:02
ironeagleuk
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Thanks.

To be honest, I've been expecting advertising somewhere along the line, as the 4TV needs income to support the updating and transmission. You could argue that all it takes to get the updates done is one person (plus holiday cover) typing in details from Radio Times (or even better, just linking to one of the many xml tv listings), but I suspect the broadcast overhead isn't particularly cheap. They are obviously funded at some point via the purchase price of boxes and (is this right) through some of the TopUp TV subs too, but any additional revenue that they could generate would be useful if they are to have a future.

Just for my info, how many boxes still use the 4TV EPG?

I keep imagining that at some point my beloved DHD4000 will be rendered less useful when the EPG stops being transmitted, so if the quid pro quo for that is seeing some advertising on the EPG then in my opinion that's a fair price to pay.

Matt

As I have said above, I wouldn't be surprised if the Teletext Extra EPG appears at some time on 4TV PVR's.
I guess they just have to modify the software slightly to work with PVR's rather than just single tuner STB's

The Teletext Extra EPG features
[LIST][*]14 day TV listings - comprehensive programme listings for the next 14 days. [*]extensive preview and programme promotion - advance information on new channels and programmes in addition to detailed programme synopsis and soap diaries. [*]user selectable guide views - the viewer can select to order the guide by channel or by time making it easier to plan your programme viewing. [*]guide search - can't remember when something is on? Simply enter the name or part of the name using your remote control and the guide will tell you what you want to know. [*]more info - want to know if a programme is shown again on another day or if there are other programmes related to it - just highlight the programme in the guide and select "show all episodes".[/LIST]
Source: http://www.inview.co.uk/teletextextra.aspx

June 18 - 10.40hrs

After a full test process involving InView, Teletext and the relevant box manufacturers, the over-air download rollout is progressing and has so far delivered the service to approximately 4 million boxes.

By the end of this year, Teletext Extra will be available (via over-air downloads) to approximately seven million existing set top boxes. In addition, up to two million new boxes will have the service pre-installed by the end of the year.
Source: http://www.teletextextra.co.uk/latestnews.aspx
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Old 10-10-2008, 15:10
larkim
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I can't see the Teletext Extra thing happening.

That would need way too much additional firmware to be deployed to the DHD4000 boxes, and for the small number of them out there, the lack of new boxes, I just can't see that justifying the testing and deployment.

Without reading the technical papers on it, I strongly suspect that the DHD4000 hardware can only run DHD4000 soft / firmware. Adding a whole new emulation layer so that it can run the Juice platform looks highly unlikely.

Let's face it, if it could have been done it would have been done already. No, the DHD4000 EPG is here to stay, whether or not there is data to update it!

MAtt
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