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Monk?
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Posted by: wug

Does anybody know what's up with Monk? My TiVo has a bunch of episodes on the to-do list (SP set to record new first-run only), and those episodes don't have any specific guide data. Just the general description of the series. Are these actual new episodes, or old episodes? Anybody know when the new season starts? I'm pretty sure I've seen every episodes that has already aired, so if these are poorly labeled reruns, I'll just delete from my to-do list.

Posted by: Captain Video

There seems to be a marathon of last season's shows coming up.

I believe the new season starts on Friday June 18. Look at the ep info and the new ones should have a description and (2004) next to the title.

Posted by: ttodd1

That's just it, there is no description. Just the same generic one on each.

Posted by: lew

I was going to post...In the past I set Monk up for first run and repeats because the episodes wouldn't record as new. I'd just delete the re-runs. Depending on your settings the marathon may fill up your monk quota before the new episode gets recorded.

MANUALLY LOOK AT AND EDIT YOUR TO DO LIST.

Posted by: Jonathan_S

thefutoncritic.com says that the first episode of the new season is Friday June 18 at 10pm. I'd guess that the other episodes are a mini-marathon of reruns, but since Monk has it usual total lack of usable guide data your First Run Only season pass is picking them up.

I went ahead and canceled everything before 10pm.

Posted by: Captain Video

I believe there is ep info & the year beginning with the 10 PM show on June 18. The rest are repeats it seems.

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

USA has become very spotty with Guide Data lately...

Posted by: jaydro

quote:
Originally posted by Medieval Guy
USA has become very spotty with Guide Data lately...

Yeah, even on SA TiVos, where I had had less problems than with DTiVo.

Posted by: lambertman

the info on the eps is over at usanetwork.com. Basically, the daytime marathon is the entire second season.

Posted by: BadlyDrawnBoy

The new Episode showed up on My Dtivo with ep info when I looked this morning.

Posted by: lvirden

Be certain to report to tivo customer service when you find series with minimal to no series information, so that someone at tivo can track down the problem.

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

The problem is with USA, and has been going on for a very long time. Everybody knows about it; USA just doesn't care enough to fix it (by providing accurate schedule information to Tribune).

Posted by: Gene Plantz

quote:
Originally posted by Medieval Guy
The problem is with USA, and has been going on for a very long time. Everybody knows about it; USA just doesn't care enough to fix it (by providing accurate schedule information to Tribune).

------

If we all know it is bad data, why don't the Tivo people responsible for the guide data???

I'm not paying USA or Tribune for a service, I'm paying Tivo. How difficult could it be to know guide data from several channels have a tendancy to be bad and give it an extra special look before sending to subscribers????

Posted by: Rob Helmerichs

quote:
Originally posted by Gene Plantz
------

If we all know it is bad data, why don't the Tivo people responsible for the guide data???

I'm not paying USA or Tribune for a service, I'm paying Tivo. How difficult could it be to know guide data from several channels have a tendancy to be bad and give it an extra special look before sending to subscribers????

Because TiVo and Tribune aren't the ones who know what's going to be on USA two weeks from now. USA is. And they aren't talking.

Posted by: Gene Plantz

quote:
Originally posted by Medieval Guy
Because TiVo and Tribune aren't the ones who know what's going to be on USA two weeks from now. USA is. And they aren't talking.

--
We know the bogus data when we see it (generic description, bad dates), so why can't the Tivo people see that and contact USA and ask what is real???

I don't buy the lack of service on this. They can do better withg really little more effort.

Posted by: stevel

Looking at zap2it.com, it seems a lot of series on USA lack episode info now.

Posted by: starbuck

May or may not help for everyone to provide feedback to USA NETWORK.

Email addresses are on this web page: http://www.usanetwork.com/feedback/

It only takes a couple of minutes to send an email to make the point for providing better guide data: episode name, original air date, etc.

You might indicate that you enjoy the shows but the hassle of your TiVo not recording properly because of the incomplete guide data that the network provides is resulting in a potential decison to remove the recordings all together and watch other channels.

Posted by: TonyD79

The marathon they are running has no guide data but looking at my TiVo this morning shows accurate data for the season premiere.

Posted by: dhowell

USA's guide data was horrendous tonight. According to the Tivo guide data, it was:

10:00 pm Touching Evil
11:00 pm Law & Order: SVU
12:00 am Monk
1:00 am Dead Zone

In actuality, it was
10:00 pm Touching Evil (75 minutes!)
11:15 pm Touching Evil (repeat)
12:30 am Dead Zone
1:30 am Martin

So, no Monk tonight, and anyone who tried to record Touching Evil or Dead Zone tonight and didn't catch this thread didn't get want they wanted.

The correct info is on USA's web site, why can't TiVo, Tribune and USA get their act together and get the correct info to us?

Dan

Posted by: ccwf

quote:
Originally posted by dhowell
The correct info is on USA's web site, why can't TiVo, Tribune and USA get their act together and get the correct info to us?

As others have written above, probably because USA Networks (for whatever reason) is refusing to supply the listings info.

(Some might ask, why can't Tribune Media Services just get the episode info from USA's web site? USA Network's web site's terms of service prohibit it.)

Posted by: dhowell

By the way, if you want to know WHICH episodes are playing in the 12 hour Monk marathon on Friday, see the schedule on USA's website.

Posted by: jaydro

Oh, great, they're not showing "Mr. Monk and the Three Pies" in the marathon. That was the one episode I missed during that whole guide info schmozzle earlier this year.... :(

Posted by: TiVoOpsMgr

Folks, sorry for the inconvenience here. Last week we were contacted about this issue by customers. We contacted Tribune and USA Networks about the problem. However, as you can see, for whatever reason, USA Networks did not choose to provide Tribune with the data. Our apologies, but as ccwf commented, there is nothing we or Tribune can do if USA Networks does not cooperate.

Best regards,
Stephen

Posted by: Gene Plantz

quote:
Originally posted by TiVoOpsMgr
as you can see, for whatever reason, USA Networks did not choose to provide Tribune with the data. Our apologies, but as ccwf commented, there is nothing we or Tribune can do if USA Networks does not cooperate.

I'm puzzled. If USA did not provide data, how is it that there is data in my Tivo machine?? Obviously, someone provided it..... why cannot that someone verify it is correct at the same time?????

Posted by: TivoGeezer

Hm, I just checked and my daily email from the Tivo indicates the season premier of Monk will not record tonight due to "Cancelled Recording - Reason = 29". Not sure what that means but I may have to shedule a manual recording tonight.

Posted by: lajohn27

There's a lot going on here...

First off, there are something like 1500+ channels that make up television for the United States. Suggesting that someone manually review channels guide data.. even a select few.. and manually massage the data and make phone calls over the data missing on a given show.. is pretty huge task.

And which channels and programs do you focus on? Comedy Central and the Daily Show? 900 Syndicated affiliates of Ebert & Roeper.. USA Network and Monk? There are known problematic shows.. and the source of the problems is the broadcaster failing to provide detailed and accurate data to Tribune.

Both Tribune and TIVO do try to track down recurring problems - and god bless them for trying - but if the channel refuses to cooperate.... You, Tribune, TIVO and whoever uses the data is out of luck.

The channel has to provide the detailed data, since as was previously posted in this thread, they are the only ones who know for sure what programs will be broadcast on their stations on a given day and time.

The network/channel reports their data to Tribune. Tribune organizes the data into lineups etc and spreads it around - including to TIVO. If the network/channel does not, can not or will not provide accurate, detailed data ; after repeated attempts to get them to do so - what can TIVO/Zap2IT do exactly?

Reviewing 1500 channels of data for problems on an ongoing basis and then tracking those problems down is not a workable solution. Training, coaching even coaxing the broadcasters to provide accurate data in the first place is the only solution to this ongoing problem.

While the USA website is accurate currently... when was that posted? The leadtimes for guide data are several weeks in advance. If USA never offered correct data at the first deadline and never updated it on the subsequent deadlines.. how can Tribune or TIVO fix the problem?

As has been noted, TIVO and Tribune did attempt resolution of the issue with USA but USA was non-cooperative. The complaint you have at this point is with USA Network.

It annoys the living crap out of me that everyone attacks Tribune and TIVO and nobody ever thinks about where the data originates. It's the oldest rule in the book of computing "Garbage In = Garbage Out".

I personally contacted a network that was providing bad guide data to Tribune for over three months. After my discussion with their audience relations coordinator, the problem was fixed within a week

You might try to address your concerns to the source - USA Network.

J

Posted by: Gene Plantz

quote:
Originally posted by lajohn27
As has been noted, TIVO and Tribune did attempt resolution of the issue with USA but USA was non-cooperative. The complaint you have at this point is with USA.

I don't want to get overly picky about this subject.... I just feel this is Tivo's job to fix the problem.

Your solution would be like telling a United Airlines customer if they don't like the ride or the seat, they should complain to Boeing.

I am not a customer of USA (or Boeing) and have little standing with them as I do not provide direct revenue to them.

I paid a subscription fee to Tivo for a service. I feel it is their job to get it right or make it right.

Posted by: lajohn27

But ultimately you are trying to access a product of the USA Network (Monk) and you cannot do so because of a failure of the provider of that product (USA Network) to accurately provide guide data.

As such.. as a viewer of USA, you are a customer. But that aside, I'm not negating what TIVO is trying to do to rectify the situation.. but I'm saying that some voluminous and repetitive complaints from consumers to USA.. may get them off their duff and correctly submitting data..

Hey it's worth a shot..

A better metaphor might be .. your cable company, who you have a business relationship with, carries a channel with shows you find you don't like very much. You *can* complain to the cable company.. but all they can do is drop the channel and replace it with something else. You might be better off to complain to the channel and get them to change the shows.

TIVO obviously works very hard to make sure that guide data is accurate.. (harder than your cable company works to make sure the channels they carry have quality programming that's for sure)..

I'm curious though, since numerous attempts by TIVO and Tribune to get them to do so have failed.. what do you propose they realistically do? Visiting the USA Website to steal data from there is not allowed.. (by the terms of the website) and USA Network refuses to otherwise provide accurate data.. (perhaps all part of an elaborate scheme to get you to visit their website?)

What would you suggest TIVO do next?

J

Posted by: davidmin

For your convenience.... (ET)

07:00 AM MONK MR. MONK AND THE VERY, VERY OLD MAN
08:00 AM MONK MR. MONK GOES TO THE THEATER
09:00 AM MONK MR. MONK AND THE SLEEPING SUSPECT
10:00 AM MONK MR. MONK MEETS THE PLAYBOY
11:00 AM MONK MR. MONK AND THE 12TH MAN
12:00 PM MONK MR. MONK AND THE PAPERBOY
01:00 PM MONK MR. MONK GOES TO THE CIRCUS
02:00 PM MONK MR. MONK AND THE TV STAR
03:00 PM MONK MR. MONK AND THE MISSING GRANNY
04:00 PM MONK MR. MONK AND THE CAPTAIN'S WIFE
05:00 PM MONK MR. MONK GETS MARRIED
06:00 PM MONK MR. MONK GOES TO JAIL

David

Posted by: TivoGeezer

Ah-Ha! Because my Tivo was recording Monk after Monk without guide data today, on an SP set to KUID, it had reached its KAM limit and so would not record the premier, which does have good guide data. I deleted the old Monks and scheduled the new one. Looks like the guide data for all future eps after today is ok. Glad I checked.

Reason=29 means I have reached KAM and they are all KUID. I will have to remember that or put it in the email program.

Posted by: bodosom

quote:
Originally posted by Gene Plantz
I don't want to get overly picky about this subject.... I just feel this is Tivo's job to fix the problem.

You can have that feeling but it's not going to change anything. The suggestion about contacting USA is no different that if you were unhappy about the wardrobe malfunction and you contacted the NFL or an advertiser. Reach out to the people that can do something -- USA or the carrier (cable or satellite).

I suppose you could vote with your wallet and stop paying TiVo.

Posted by: Gene Plantz

quote:
Originally posted by bodosom
You can have that feeling but it's not going to change anything. The suggestion about contacting USA is no different that if you were unhappy about the wardrobe malfunction and you contacted the NFL or an advertiser. Reach out to the people that can do something -- USA or the carrier (cable or satellite).

I suppose you could vote with your wallet and stop paying TiVo.

Well, Tivo already has my money.

I really like Tivo... I have 3 units.... oldest one going back 5 years now.

But.... perhaps it shows my age, but I think some people are trying to foist responsibility to "the other guy" ....

What if I went in to a department store and purchased a pair of jeans. I take them home and find they are defective. I expect to find the department store will take responsiblity for the product THEY sold me and not tell me to take it up with Levi. It IS their job to take it up with their supplier.... not mine.

The Tivo situation is no different.... I paid THEM for a service and they need to do whatever it takes to provide the advertised service. If that means finding a different supplier, calling them USA (or Tribune) 20 times a day or needling Tribune..... frankly that is not my problem.

I have no business relationship with USA. I did not contract with them for a service. Yes, ultimately, they are the "bad" guys but it is not my place to deal with them. Just like if there are bad guys in the neighborhood. I call the police to deal with it (I have paid the police via taxes and have the contract with them).

Posted by: cwoody222

quote:
Originally posted by lajohn27

While the USA website is accurate currently... when was that posted?

Actually, I still hate their website.

I was visiting it about 2 weeks ago in order to determine that the real story was behind the run time of the finale of Touching Evil.

Every time I clicked on "Complete Schedule" on the show's page, I saw a page that said it hadn't been updated since April.

I later found out that was a problem with either my computer (Mac) or browser (Safari) as Win IE users saw a different page.

I emailed them and asked them to fix this 2 weeks ago. Still no fix :(