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DVR Recordings and Network Programs

R

RipNRead

Has anyone else experienced this problem? I set my DVR to record a program only to have the final few minutes of the show cut off. The problem isn’t the DVR it’s the networks running the same infomercials, or promos for an upcoming show. Or it’s the cable company trying to entice someone to purchase their “Three-in-One package. I don’t mind one of two of the same ads within an hour’s show, but not several of them. All that does is screw up the time for the program that I’m trying to record. As many of you know DVRs are not like VCRs where one can manually change the time to include a few extra minutes if need be. If the cable companies are going to push DVRs then they should make damn sure that the networks adhere to the time allotted for each show.
This running over 1 or 2 extra minutes just to show the same promos or commercials ruins it for someone waiting for the final conclusion of the program he or she is taping.
 
> Has anyone else experienced this problem? I set my DVR to
> record a program only to have the final few minutes of the
> show cut off. The problem isn’t the DVR it’s the networks
> running the same infomercials, or promos for an upcoming
> show. Or it’s the cable company trying to entice someone to
> purchase their “Three-in-One package. I don’t mind one of
> two of the same ads within an hour’s show, but not several
> of them. All that does is screw up the time for the program
> that I’m trying to record. As many of you know DVRs are not
> like VCRs where one can manually change the time to include
> a few extra minutes if need be. If the cable companies are
> going to push DVRs then they should make damn sure that the
> networks adhere to the time allotted for each show.
> This running over 1 or 2 extra minutes just to show the same
> promos or commercials ruins it for someone waiting for the
> final conclusion of the program he or she is taping.
>

We have two DVR's a 510 and 501 through Dish Network and on both units you can extend the timers manually. You can even set manual timers just like a VCR.
 
> > Has anyone else experienced this problem? I set my DVR to
> > record a program only to have the final few minutes of the
>
> > show cut off. The problem isn’t the DVR it’s the networks
> > running the same infomercials, or promos for an upcoming
> > show. Or it’s the cable company trying to entice someone
> to
> > purchase their “Three-in-One package. I don’t mind one of
> > two of the same ads within an hour’s show, but not several
>
> > of them. All that does is screw up the time for the
> program
> > that I’m trying to record. As many of you know DVRs are
> not
> > like VCRs where one can manually change the time to
> include
> > a few extra minutes if need be. If the cable companies are
>
> > going to push DVRs then they should make damn sure that
> the
> > networks adhere to the time allotted for each show.
> > This running over 1 or 2 extra minutes just to show the
> same
> > promos or commercials ruins it for someone waiting for the
>
> > final conclusion of the program he or she is taping.
> >
>
> We have two DVR's a 510 and 501 through Dish Network and on
> both units you can extend the timers manually. You can even
> set manual timers just like a VCR.
>
I can tell you from what I've read in other forums that you are not alone this is a common problem.<P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>
 
> I can tell you from what I've read in other forums that you
> are not alone this is a common problem.

The problem is that the networks don't program for people using DVRs and VCRs. Their strategy is focused on the "live" viewer.

Here's how they think: If they time it so a show ends at 10:01 or 10:02 rather than 10:00, they are holding that viewer into the next hour by making it less attractive to switch over to another channel where the competing show has already started.

Note that this tends to happen when the "over running" show is a big hit that few viewers will tune away from before the end and/or when the "late starting" show is one the network is trying to build viewership for.

They simply don't care about inconveniencing viewers who are time shifting. And you probably already know why: Those viewers are the ones who <u>aren't</u> watching the commercials.

Therefore, it's not likely to change and either you'll need to find in your DVR owner manual how to make it record those extra minutes or go back to watching network programming as it is broadcast. The networks, obviously, hope you do the latter and lose the ability to zap the ads.<P ID="signature">______________


</P>
 
> > I can tell you from what I've read in other forums that
> you
> > are not alone this is a common problem.
>
> The problem is that the networks don't program for people
> using DVRs and VCRs. Their strategy is focused on the
> "live" viewer.
>
> Here's how they think: If they time it so a show ends at
> 10:01 or 10:02 rather than 10:00, they are holding that
> viewer into the next hour by making it less attractive to
> switch over to another channel where the competing show has
> already started.
>
> Note that this tends to happen when the "over running" show
> is a big hit that few viewers will tune away from before the
> end and/or when the "late starting" show is one the network
> is trying to build viewership for.
>
> They simply don't care about inconveniencing viewers who are
> time shifting. And you probably already know why: Those
> viewers are the ones who aren't watching the commercials.
>
> Therefore, it's not likely to change and either you'll need
> to find in your DVR owner manual how to make it record those
> extra minutes or go back to watching network programming as
> it is broadcast. The networks, obviously, hope you do the
> latter and lose the ability to zap the ads.
>
And also if a sporting event for example runs long and moves all the programing back 10 minutes, it effects your dvr.

Nock
 
How DVR's Work

The DVR timers works with the Electronic Program Guide. These guides are usually updated one a day, and are static (they do not change automatically when a program runs overtime)

With this in mind, many networks and stations have changed the EPG data they submit to the EPG providers (Tribune Media Sevices and TV Guide) to say that the program begins at 9:59 or 10:02, for example. In some instances, they get it wrong (for example, with my cable system, "The Tonight Show" on WXIA/Atlanta (NBC) shows up starting at 11:35 PM, when in fact it begins at 11:34:30 PM (30 seconds before 11:35).

I would bring this up with the local affailate stations for the broadcast networks. Individual stations are responsible for submitting program listings to the EPG providers. Contact the director of programming for the station, and explain the problem. For cable networks, You can contact them directly.

Do not bother contacting your local cable or satellite provider, as they have no control over this whatsoever (they take the data from the EPG providers, and oftentimes have no ability to modify this data at all.)

You should be able to select an option to change the end time when you select the program you want to record. If you have an insruction booklet that came with your DVR, read it and see what it says.

I am sure a way to encode the signal with a time control mechanism for DVR's may be down the road, and that should solve everything. Until then, we will have to put up with the current system.

> Has anyone else experienced this problem? I set my DVR to
> record a program only to have the final few minutes of the
> show cut off. The problem isn’t the DVR it’s the networks
> running the same infomercials, or promos for an upcoming
> show. Or it’s the cable company trying to entice someone to
> purchase their “Three-in-One package. I don’t mind one of
> two of the same ads within an hour’s show, but not several
> of them. All that does is screw up the time for the program
> that I’m trying to record. As many of you know DVRs are not
> like VCRs where one can manually change the time to include
> a few extra minutes if need be. If the cable companies are
> going to push DVRs then they should make damn sure that the
> networks adhere to the time allotted for each show.
> This running over 1 or 2 extra minutes just to show the same
> promos or commercials ruins it for someone waiting for the
> final conclusion of the program he or she is taping.
 
Re: How DVR's Work

> I am sure a way to encode the signal with a time control
> mechanism for DVR's may be down the road, and that should
> solve everything. Until then, we will have to put up with
> the current system.

I can see little incentive for networks to provide a signal to support such a time control mechanism -- especially when advertisers are hinting rather loudly that they either don't want to pay for time-shifted viewers, or at least pay less for those viewers. The bottom line is that the networks would prefer that you watch the broadcast when it is presented...and sit through all the commercials.
 
Re: How DVR's Work

> The DVR timers works with the Electronic Program Guide.
> These guides are usually updated one a day, and are static
> (they do not change automatically when a program runs
> overtime)
>
> With this in mind, many networks and stations have changed
> the EPG data they submit to the EPG providers (Tribune Media
> Sevices and TV Guide) to say that the program begins at 9:59
> or 10:02, for example. In some instances, they get it wrong
> (for example, with my cable system, "The Tonight Show" on
> WXIA/Atlanta (NBC) shows up starting at 11:35 PM, when in
> fact it begins at 11:34:30 PM (30 seconds before 11:35).
>
Same with SNL on WCAU in Philly. It starts before 11:30pm
 
Re: How DVR's Work

> I can see little incentive for networks to provide a signal
> to support such a time control mechanism -- especially when
> advertisers are hinting rather loudly that they either don't
> want to pay for time-shifted viewers, or at least pay less
> for those viewers. The bottom line is that the networks
> would prefer that you watch the broadcast when it is
> presented...and sit through all the commercials.

Exactly. IMHO, as irritating as it is to the consumer/viewer, it's a brilliant strategy on the part of the networks. The irony is that they probably didn't develop this idea with the intent of discouraging time-shifting...as previously mentioned, it was done to reduce changing of the channel to another network.

I've learned to use the "Set a Manual Recording" feature when using my DVR to record "Lost", "Desperate Housewives", and "Grey's Anatomy". As an example, for "Lost", I set the DVR to record from 7:58pm to 9:03pm.
 
The customer is...

Apparently not in the networks' sights.

They're losing viewers left and right to cable, and what do they do? Institute a program (minute-off timings) guaranteed to honk off some of their most loyal viewers. Not everybody is going to want to watch the program at the time it's on - not just for convenience, some of us have kids and don't want to watch, say, "Family Guy" if they're still up at 8 central - but instead of doing something simple to keep that audience, networks are telling them, in effect, to go jump. So watch the numbers decline some more.
 
Re: The customer is...

> Apparently not in the networks' sights.
>
> They're losing viewers left and right to cable, and what do
> they do? Institute a program (minute-off timings) guaranteed
> to honk off some of their most loyal viewers. Not everybody
> is going to want to watch the program at the time it's on -
> not just for convenience, some of us have kids and don't
> want to watch, say, "Family Guy" if they're still up at 8
> central - but instead of doing something simple to keep that
> audience, networks are telling them, in effect, to go jump.
> So watch the numbers decline some more.
>
It seems doubtful that the number of folks who would abandon a broadcast show they like just because it starts at one minute before or after the hour would be hugely significant. Get annoyed? Sure. But stop watching say, Lost, because it bleeds into the 10 hour? Not many would do that.

Broadcast will continue to bleed some viewers to cable simply because of the niche channels....history, food, travel, game shows...but as shows like American Idol, Lost, CSI and others show, there's still huge value in the networks.

Moreover, destinguishing broadcasters from cable is difficult when some of the top cable networks are part of the same family. If NBC doesn't do well Fridays at 10 but Monk cleans up on the cable side, something tells me NBC Universal is still laughing all the way to the bank.
 
Re: The customer is...

> Apparently not in the networks' sights.

The customer is indeed in the networks' sights...the problem is that the customer is advertisers more than it is viewers.
 
Re: How DVR's Work

Hi everyone:

> > The DVR timers works with the Electronic Program Guide.
> > These guides are usually updated one a day, and are static
>
> > (they do not change automatically when a program runs
> > overtime)
> >
> > With this in mind, many networks and stations have changed
>
> > the EPG data they submit to the EPG providers (Tribune
> Media
> > Sevices and TV Guide) to say that the program begins at
> 9:59
> > or 10:02, for example. In some instances, they get it
> wrong
> > (for example, with my cable system, "The Tonight Show" on
> > WXIA/Atlanta (NBC) shows up starting at 11:35 PM, when in
> > fact it begins at 11:34:30 PM (30 seconds before 11:35).
> >
> Same with SNL on WCAU in Philly. It starts before 11:30pm

The same could also be said about "The Shield" on FX when it was on (And now on in reruns on Spike). Only difference being it runs over by AT LEAST a full minute as opposed to starting early.

Personally, I think "The Shield" is THE BIGGEST offender of this problem.

Just my $.02 worth :)

Cheers :)

Pat<P ID="signature">______________
patspodcast03a.jpg

http://patspodcast.blogspot.com/
Radio? Uhh.....What's THAT?? :)</P>
 
Re: The customer is...

Hi everyone:

> Apparently not in the networks' sights.
>
> They're losing viewers left and right to cable, and what do
> they do? Institute a program (minute-off timings) guaranteed
> to honk off some of their most loyal viewers. Not everybody
> is going to want to watch the program at the time it's on -
> not just for convenience, some of us have kids and don't
> want to watch, say, "Family Guy" if they're still up at 8
> central - but instead of doing something simple to keep that
> audience, networks are telling them, in effect, to go jump.
> So watch the numbers decline some more.

The cable and satellite nets (with the exception, at least for the most part, of the news channels) are doing the same thing. It's not just the OTAs.

Just my opinion :)

Cheers :)<P ID="signature">______________
patspodcast03a.jpg

http://patspodcast.blogspot.com/
Radio? Uhh.....What's THAT?? :)</P>
 
Hi everyone:

> > Therefore, it's not likely to change and either you'll
> need
> > to find in your DVR owner manual how to make it record
> those
> > extra minutes or go back to watching network programming
> as
> > it is broadcast. The networks, obviously, hope you do the
>
> > latter and lose the ability to zap the ads.
> >
> And also if a sporting event for example runs long and moves
> all the programing back 10 minutes, it effects your dvr.

Nock....You're comparing an Apple to a Carrot.

I say this because LIVE sporting events like the NCAA Tournaments are one thing. Those can't be helped. Not even the network (In the above case, that would be CBS and the cable sports outlets) has control over that.

But regular TV shows are a whole different ballgame altogether.

Just figured I'd point that out. :)

Cheers everyone :)

Pat<P ID="signature">______________
patspodcast03a.jpg

http://patspodcast.blogspot.com/
Radio? Uhh.....What's THAT?? :)</P>
 
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