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Hello, WTIC TV? Anyone there??

This is just a rant, because it is VERY ANNOYING to have to keep re-entering the authorization codes to keep watching the ALCS games... because every half hour, the station transmits the programming data for shows that we have blocked!

The "TV Guide" listing shows various shows, instead of the "MLB ALCS" code that it SHOULD be showing for the duration of these games.

I would THINK that the Programming and/or Engineering staff of WTIC could make this work correctly? :(
 
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Here's the challenge: there's a reason network programmers schedule baseball games for either 3 or 3-1/2 hour slots. Yes, many of them (especially Sox games!) go longer, but the unpredictability of baseball means the games can and sometimes do run a little shorter when a pair of good pitchers square off and there's little or no action on the basepaths.

You don't want to sign a network broadcast off short and leave a hole that local programmers may or may not be ready to fill on little or no notice. So you don't want to schedule a 4 hour or 5 hour slot for a ballgame and then have the broadcast run out at 3:15. Instead, you figure out what the shortest realistic length is likely to be - in this case, I think it was 3 1/2 hours for last night's game - and then assume that you're going to either push back whatever's scheduled next, or preempt it and join in progress in the likelihood (but not certainty) that the game will go longer.

The problem is that there's a whole lot of ways in which program listing data is distributed to viewers, and most of those mechanisms aren't real-time. If I'm watching on cable, the program data that comes up on my box comes from a schedule prepared in advance by the station and processed through a listing aggregator like Tribune Media Services that collects that data and provides it to the cable company. Even if I'm watching OTA, all that program metadata is probably coming from a traffic system that's somewhat separate from the actual on-air automation or live MCR. There's no easy dynamic way to update on the fly, especially as thinly staffed as most modern automated MCRs are.

Your issue, as I understand it, is that the game was scheduled to end at 10:30 and you've blocked whatever show was set to run at 10:30 or 11 or 11:30. I don't use the blocking functions on my TV - I have an on/off button and a channel up/down button that seem to work pretty well when there's something I don't care to see - so I'm not sure how easily yours can be adjusted. But perhaps the easiest way around your dilemma might simply be to unblock whatever's scheduled right after the game, at least for the duration of the Series. Since most Fox stations, WTIC-TV included, have an hour of local news scheduled right out of the game, that should buy you at least an hour before you're punching in "unlock" codes.

And...GO SOX! :)
 
At many stations, the OTA guide data also comes from Tribune. It's possible to link the MCR automation to the guide but it's not very commonly done. I'm of mixed mind as to whether it would work any better! -- one more link to potentially go down & leave one without any guide at all...

BTW.. while I honestly could care less about the Red Sox one way or the other, anyone who can beat the Cardinals has my wholehearted support!
 
Scott - those interruptions were happening EVERY HALF HOUR for the DURATION OF THE GAME!

There is NO EXCUSE for *THAT*.

Because of my extensive broadcasting background, of course I fully understand the aspects of time limitations, scheduling, overtime, etc... :) I wouldn't be ranting about this if it happened just once, near the END of the game.
 
Just a little follow-up... it happened again during Saturday's game... but it DIDN'T happen during tonight's. (Sunday) You'd think... this being the WORLD SERIES and all, SOMEONE would re-program the automation, or at the VERY LEAST, have someone physically there to "push the right button" when the game actually ENDS. ;) (Maybe they DID, tonight?)

I mean... IT IS THE WORLD SERIES!!! HELLO?? :O
 
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