I downloaded this off of Wikipedia. You are not the only person having the problem with the switch to digital television. The complaints are nationwide. the old TV Guide Plus has gone away for many viewers and soon for all viewers as the transition to DTV gets nearer. If you are using an antenna be sure to get the digital converter. They are practically free with a government sponsored coupon.
Digital television
The new service, launched in the
United States in 2006, is entirely
digital, using the
ATSC digital television standard. While this will significantly improve the service, older systems will no longer be able to
download listings once
analog shutdown is done in early 2009.
It should be noted that the
Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) within the ATSC standard already allows for each station to send out its own EPG information, and in the U.S. the
FCC in fact requires stations to do so for OTA (but not cable, unless they are rebroadcasting an OTA station that provides the PSIP data). However, actual implementation is rather spotty, and usually very minimal -- stations often don't have full descriptions (or even correct information) on the current show, much less the next 3 hours required of them, or the 16 days worth of guide information that can be transmitted. Additionally,
ATSC tuners are not required to even show the EPG, only the very limited information for the current show on the current channel.
While the TV Guide service also requires
software in the TV or other device, and
licensing fees or
royalties to be paid to Gemstar TV Guide, it also offers a more complete solution for broadcast television, more like
digital satellite or
digital cable.
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