Feb 6, 2009 1:02 PM | 8 Comments

Australians won't need a new TV to access the so-called Freeview EPG, because it's the exact same free EPG we already have - just with a fancy interface.

There's been plenty of confusion over Freeview, so I decided to go straight to the source. According to Freeview CEO Robin Parkes, the Australian Freeview EPG will use the exact same data already embedded in the broadcast signal.

The only difference is that Freeview-branded equipment will run a new EPG interface which is consistent across all Freeview devices. The interface relies on technology known as MHEG-5, a multimedia format used by many digital set top boxes around the world.

"Co-branded" Freeview televisions, set top boxes and PVRs will appear on Australian shelves in April or May, and Freeview is in discussions with hardware manufacturers to add the new Freeview EPG interface to their equipment.

Only devices which meet Freeview's "technical requirements" will be allowed to license the Freeview logo, which means they must offer a seven day EPG, they can't offer ad-skipping and they can't offer an easy way to copy recordings off the box.

Devices which don't meet the Freeview requirements, such as some ad-skipping PVRs from Topfield and Beyonwiz, won't be able to display the Freeview logo.

Freeview's Parkes says it's too early to say if such devices will be allowed to use the Freeview EPG interface without the logo. Some vendors aren't waiting to find out, with Beyonwiz's Australia distributor Digital Products Group already working on a dumbed-down Freeview-compliant Beyonwiz recorder.

Most importantly for Australian television lovers, Freeview's Parkes confirmed that Australia's television networks will continue to embed an EPG in the broadcast signal, which means no-one will lose access to the EPG when the new Freeview EPG interface is released.

What's more, the two EPG services will be compiled from exactly the same data, meaning people without a Freeview-compatible device will only be missing out on the fancy Freeview interface. Parkes did say that extra features may be added to the Freeview EPG interface in the future.

"If you keep your old TV, nothing changes. It will continue to work, nothing is encrypted. We're just going to make the experience user-friendly for the viewers," Parkes says.

"What we're working on in the background, which won't be available for six to 12 months, is a common platform EPG - so if you've got a Sony television and you replace it with a Panasonic, the EPG display will work in the same manner."

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download Feb 6, 2009 4:22 PM	Well at last something a little better than rumor. Still somewhat dubious though. Freeview have NEVER stipulated that to "offer an easy way to copy recordings off the box" was a criteria. Doing so is fairly nonsensical anyway, as just about ANY digital box can send its signal straight to a DVDR for recording to DVD. What they did stipulate, is the box couldn't allow the EPG to be copied off the box. I also suspect the phrase "the two EPG services will be compiled from exactly the same data" is quite carefully constructed. The current FTA EPG could offer freeview like data tomorrow if the networks so decided. Tivo already uses the same data as freeview will and it looks (content wise) nothing like the current FTA EPG. I'd be expecting the FTA EPG to stay as is (which is pretty unreliable and messy) while freeview will indeed offer a better product to complying boxes. The good news is that it appears the current status quo (of the FTA EPG) is going to be maintained. Gives everyone the option of deciding if freeview is worth spending more money to upgrade to. Regards Peter G
bjr Feb 7, 2009 7:08 AM	No mention has been made regarding the EPG on Media Centre computers but given their criteria I'd doubt they'll be interested in providing one for them. Thank goodness we have IceTV...
Abergavenny Feb 8, 2009 6:04 PM	This is absolutely wonderful :) Instead of the four channels of garbage that we have now,we'll have nineteen channels of garbage.Somehow I don't think I'll bother.
notace Feb 10, 2009 5:22 PM	Actually Abergavenny, it's 15 channels. No new ones, just different programs. Whether that's good or bad is a moot point. Did Parkes say anything about the Freeview EPG being even remotely accurate (the current FTA EPG certainly isn't, as we all know). Will it be updated in real time if programs run over, or otherwise change (given the tendency for broadcasters to change their schedules at the last minute, substituting one program for another).
Adam Turner Feb 10, 2009 9:59 PM	She said it will be the same data as the standard EPG, which is really disappointing. I was hoping for an EPG that picked up signals in the broadcast to tell when shows actually start, but I guess that's expecting too much.
Wyseman Feb 12, 2009 9:58 AM	And this is why file sharing will continue to be my preferred method of watching tv. I never watch a program live, always record. When the EPG information is wrong, or the programs start late / early, you miss something. This never happens when I download, so download is king. An EPG should be like a public transport timetable. Accurate & on time, or penalties apply.
Chaps Feb 12, 2009 3:29 PM	Well, I look forward planning TV viewing according to Channel 9. Nothing like seeing Movie, Late Movie and Late Late movie on your EPG. The data at the moment is terrible, inaccurate, incomplete with no categories or Episode numbers and titles, let alone cast and crew details. Worse still, it doesn't maintain correct times. If I record according to the EPG, I get 15 minutes of the previous show, 5 - 10 minutes of ads between shows ( maybe a news update if I am lucky) and then miss out of the finale of the show I wanted to record. if it can't adapt to the correct times, again, it is useless.
Chaps Feb 12, 2009 3:33 PM	Additionally, I can't wait to spend $300 on a new set-top box to get a new skin for the EPG... now with bonus Freeview Logo..