Share Your Ideas with Verizon

[#1]

The current provider of programming information for FiOS TV is often full of errors.  While the programming schedules tend to be correct, very frequently the program status (First Run, Rerun, etc.) is incorrect in the feed and as a result those who setup their DVR's to do series recordings will find their DVR's recording old episodes.   It would also be nice if a provider which utilized some form of real-time programming updates could be located so that during broadcasts which get time shifted by last minute changes (such as sporting events which run long) could be properly recorded (instead of having to timebox them by padding an extra amount of time onto the end of each show -- which compounds the drive size issue I mention below).

This is particularly annoying on busy recording nights when a mismarking may cause a conflict by having three shows slated to be recorded in the same timeslot -- when in reality two of the shows were first run and the other was a rerun.   It's not always possible to avoid this siruation using series priority since the mismarkings seem to vary from week to week.

This is also compounded by the relatively small DVR drive size where going away for a long weekend or a couple of nights during the week (or even for a week's vacation) can find the drive filled with repeated shows (and some first run shows discarded because the drive was full to make room).

[#2]

Any update on this?  It looked like October was to be start of new things, but the guide data for Versus is still very vague/inaccurate.  Please help, my shows are getting skipped all the time. 

[#3]

Quick update - we will not be changing providers per se, but with some new tech any particular data provider is less at the center of the story.

Rather our approach is to incorporate tons of TV data sources into one single feed that should be more accurate and more complete than ever.  We are currently hiring and setting up our editorial team that will work all these feeds with a new tool that internally we call the "guide scrubber tool" (I know very creative name)... it's really neat tech that can sort through tens of thousands of data records pretty quickly to make sure you get the best on your TV screen... should be down to short weeks to turn it on.  Will take a bit for the team and this tool to get its groove on... so expect gradually and steady improvements over the coming months.

[#4]

Ohh look the new season of Celebrity Apprentice starts this sunday March 6th 2011. However, the FYI guide data says it stars Stephen Baldwin, Carol Alt, Marilu Henner, Gene Simmons, Vincent Pastore.

If I am to believe the FYI guide data we are going back in time for those stars on CA since those stars were on the show in 2008 !

At least it DOES state it's a "new" show. But are are we going back in time to 2008, where it IS listed as new show, or is it a repeat show with those stars, with the FYI guide data listing as "new" when it really isnt? It really could be anything your guess is as good as mine. FYI guide data folks...useless

[#5]

All I want is something that I had on Time Warner Cable -- for movies, show the standard critical star rating (1-5).  NOT some "your fellow FIOS customers voted this movie ***** 5 stars", but something approaching a standard critical rating.  Not sure where newspapers and TV Guide (and Time Warner Cable) get a film's star rating from, but it should be avail. from some common source.

If you are unable to do that, can you incorporate the film's IMDB rating score or Rotten Tomato's score?

[#6]

Update:  we have established an "editorial" team and are providing them some nifty technology to efficiently sift through tens of thousands of records that are found in the TV listing data to find errors (wrong entries, missing data, insufficient data, etc).  This team is only a few weeks from turning up and finding every big and little error in the guide data.  They are currently in training.  I am so excited for this advancement in the FiOS TV service... your voices were a huge asset in getting this investment done... as always I am very grateful for your time and energy.   

[#7]

Looking forward to the enhancement!

[#8]

Month later... Any update Joe?

[#9]

Joe,

Has that "one more item to put in place" been put in place?

[#10]

Agreed, the Guide is pretty poor - I have to say I was shocked at how bad it was when I switched from a much smaller providor to the Great and Mighty Fios. My last provider's Guide allowed for reminders to be set, and included a movie ratings system that allowed you to at least figure out if the movie you were about to watch was a total turkey or not. Why are you all using some rinky-dink company to provide you with information when you are such a big cable provider? Cut back on your non-stop advertising and pay for a better Guide please.

[#11]

Perhaps a link on the web site to allow customers to post feedback about incorrect Guide information could lead to better accuracy. At least it would afford an opportunity to correct the error before it is propagated.

Example is the Sherlock Holmes movie that is currently showing has been shown repeatedly on Showtime over the last three months with the wrong cast published. The Showtime web site does not have this error. I would think that this error would be distressing to the real cast of the movie.