Recently, users of TV listing services like Zap2it Tv Guide have encountered a frustrating issue. After Zap2it transitioned to a new format for its TV listings, many users relying on XMLTV data for their media servers, such as NextPVR and MediaPortal, found themselves facing a significant problem: only national TV listings were being downloaded, instead of the expected local listings.
This change meant that channels were populated with generic national programming schedules, even for local sub-channels. For example, channels 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 would all display the same national program listing instead of their distinct local content. Furthermore, local channels were often generically labeled as “Local Programming,” offering no specific program details. This issue arose around the same time that TV GUIDE also updated its listing format, leading to speculation that both services might be operated by the same company or using a similar data source.
Initially, users who utilized Zap2xml to grab listings for Zap2it found that after updating to the new Zap2xml version, while the program could function, it persistently downloaded only these national listings. Despite multiple attempts and configurations, local TV listings and sub-channel data remained absent.
Seeking a solution, one user decided to switch from Zap2it to TV Guide, removing Zap2xml and related batch files and cache folders. They explored an alternative program called EPG-BUDDY. EPG-BUDDY is known for its user-friendliness and integrated EPG grabber, designed with MediaPortal compatibility in mind but also functional with NextPVR. The program simplifies the process, even automating the creation of a daily task in Windows to run the EPG grabber – a feature that required manual setup with Zap2xml.
However, despite its ease of use and efficient operation, EPG-BUDDY unfortunately mirrored the problem encountered with Zap2xml and Zap2it TV Guide. It too, persistently grabbed only national listings, failing to provide local TV listings or sub-channel specific schedules.
Currently, the core question remains unanswered: Is this issue a problem originating from the NPVR software itself, or does it stem from a change on the Zap2it TV Guide (and potentially TV GUIDE) website’s data feed? An email has been sent to TV Guide support to inquire whether they intend to restore local TV listings alongside national listings, or if there might be a configuration step being overlooked by users.
While observing EPG-BUDDY’s internal EPG grabber, it appears to download a substantial amount of program data, potentially exceeding a thousand programs over a two-week period. This observation raises a glimmer of hope that local TV listings might indeed be included within this data, though it’s not yet confirmed.
The uncertainty persists, leaving users in a state of confusion about whether the issue lies within their software setup or with the data source provided by Zap2it TV Guide and similar services. Further investigation and community feedback are needed to determine the root cause and potential solutions to this frustrating TV listing problem.
