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Digital, Interactive and Web TV

Electronic Programme Guides

[Functionality] [Software]

EPGs are interactive directory systems for locating programmes amongst the thousands available each day. The EPG may also provide access to user help, the system setup functions, parental filtering control and supplier contact information. SkyDigital call their EPG SkyGuide.

Functionality

Depending on their functionality, the EGP allows viewers to:
  • see what programmes are available either by subject or by date and time.
  • provide background information, for example on the actors, directors, the film locations, etc..
  • build personal lists of your favourite channels.
  • build personal lists of programmes to watch in the days ahead
    - the EPG will then remind you when the programme is about to start or will start the video / DVD recorder.
  • buy movies on demand films.
  • block out specific channels or programmes above a certain rating.
  • more advanced set-top boxes and EPGs will allow personalised profiles to be stored and then used to identify likely programmes of interest. They will also provide more advanced search options.

Later, viewers will also be able to access a range of other interactive services, such as home banking and shopping, and accessing related internet sites..

Mockup of the SkyGuide EPG

 
1
TV GUIDE LISTING
 
2
ENTERTAINMENT
 
3
MOVIES
 
4
SPORTS
 
5
NEWS & DOCUMENTARIES
 
6
CHILDREN
 
7
MUSIC & SPECIALIST
 
8
OTHER CHANNELS

Choose channel

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Software

EPGs are driven by the microprocessor hardware and software in the set-top decoder box, although digital TVs will have this built-in. The major software companies are vying to make their software the standard (see Hardware and Software Standards).

DTV Navigator is software from Liberate (formally  Network Computers Inc. (NCI)), a joint venture by Oracle and Netscape (itself just taken over by AOL). Besides providing the EPG, the DTV Navigator software will allow users to order movies on demand, surf the World Wide Web, send and receive e-mail, play games with other users or against a central computer, make bets and do their shopping and banking on-line (see new services). DTV Navigator has been adopted by all the 3 main UK cable companies, Cable and Wireless, Telewest and NTL.
Today
 
8:00 pm
  9:00 pm
  301 SkyPremier 1
 
  Jane Eyre
 
  302 SkyPremier 2
 
  The Deliverance of Elaine
 
  303 SkyPremier 3
 
  Blue Rodeo
 
  304 SkyPremier 4
 
  Michael Collins
 
  305 SkyPremier WS
 
  Clueless
  The Fan
  306 MovieMax 1
 
  Chain Reaction
  Blue Rodeo
  307 MovieMax 2
 
  Island of Dr Moreau
 
  308 Sky Cinema
 
  The Pink Panther
 
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Microsoft is using its Windows CE operating system in the Web-TVs made by the WebTV Networks, the company it recently acquired. It has also invested in AT&T and as part of the deal acquired a 29.9% stake in Telewest to add to its smaller stake in NTL. The AT&T agreement covers the use of Windows CE in AT&T's decoders. How this squares with the use of NCI's decoder is unclear.

Open TV is a a proprietary system being used by SkyDigital together with the Oracle database system.

Web Based EPG

Flextech has taken another root to be first to market. It has created a web based EPG called “Toaster” which also offers e-commerce transactional capabilities. Flextech says the site is extremely popular.

 Toaster's EPG Web Site (27K)

Flextech's Toaster EPG Web site showing various TV listings
with search engine and suitable adverts. (Click to enlarge).

 

Start Back to Exisiting Services

 

External Resources
 

  1. Digital News, Number 12, December 1999, Digital Television Group.
  2. Larsen, Peter Thal, & Harrison, Michael, 1998, CWC snubs Microsoft with software plans for digital TV internet access, The Independent, 20 March 1998.
  3. Also see the full list of resources for this web site for other related resources.

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