Hi, I live in Portugal, where I am a Microsoft Student Partner and a Media Center user/enthusiast.

Here we have a big problem with the EPG, altough we have official support for it, it only has like 15 channels of about 60 possible. This is really bad since most movie and series channels are not included. One of the channels (Discovery Channel) is showing it's EPG in french, altough it previously had the right guide... I've been trying everything to get this problem solved, but nothing. HELP

I have other posts in the green button

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/post/236735.aspx

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/post/208188.aspx

And Ian read my e-mail in The Media Center Show #147

Please Help

Thank you

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Nuno Silva
Microsoft Student Partner Lead
Portugal

Hey Nunosilva, sorry for the late reply I've been really busy the last few days. I've contacted in a few guys internally to see if I can find out what's going on. I'm unfortunately not well versed in the International EPG, I should find something out in the next couple of days.

 

Thanks

Steve

Ok, I'll be waiting.

Thank you Steve.

 

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Nuno Silva
Microsoft Student Partner Lead
Portugal

Hey there Nunosilva, I didn't forget about you, I've been doing some digging and been in touch with several people internally. I'm trying to get you some specific info at the moment, I should have some info soon :)

 

Steve

Hey Steve, thanks for what you're doing. If we can get the EPG fixed, it will mean a lot for the future of Media Center, here in Portugal. The EPG is the main problem, the other problem is content, but it can be solved locally, so after the EPG, content is what I'm going after.

Thank You

Nuno

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Nuno Silva
Microsoft Student Partner Lead
Portugal

No problem, I have an update which I'll chase up on again in a couple of days, this has been esulated to local support for your guide services. Hopefully the resolution will be a quick one. Let me know if it happens for you before I find out, no guarantees though as I don't know the SLAs or what's involved in getting the issue resolved.

Hi Steve, any updates on this issue?

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Nuno Silva
Microsoft Student Partner Lead
Portugal

Hi Nuno, I've chase up again, I actually think I had a reply filed last week, but I was off work sick and didn't get to it. So I'll check when I get in on Monday, if it's not an update, I'll ask for one. I take it that its still not working then?

Hi Steve, the guide is still a no go...

I did configure a guide with bladerunner pro and tvxb in a vista box, and made the guide available via a webserver to anyone in Portugal who wants it, with a simple registry key, but it's not an optimal solution...

Today I had a meeting about Media Center at Portugal Telecom's Headquarter in Lisbon (The biggest Telecom and ISP in the country), and they're interested in helping out if needed, they have access to full EPG in XML format. They asked me, how could they export their EPG to Media Center format.

Good news is, I got them interested in providing new content for Media Center, Online Spotlight, or otherwise, and it will be coming our way soon.

They have a video site http://videos.sapo.pt/, they want to convert to Media Center, but it is flash video, is there a way it will play in Media Center Extenders?

Thanks and keep me posted about the EPG and remember we have a free XML guide, from Portugal Telecom, waiting to be used

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Nuno Silva
Microsoft Student Partner Lead
Portugal

Hey Nuno, when I get in work on Monday I'll follow up on the guide again, I got really busy and didn't get a chance to check my follow-ups.

 As for the Flash questions, you should take a look over at sandbox, if you post on sandbox you will get a lot faster response there than I can give here as I know many people there have played with flash before in Media Center (as I understand it is partially possible, but maybe not interacting with MCML and only through hosted HTML, but things might have changed that I'm not aware of).

http://discuss.mediacentersandbox.com

 One thing I will also do when I follow up on the EPG is pass on the XML guide information you gave me, bear in mind I know currently the guide is in third party hands so I am not sure if the use of the XML guide would be possible. We will see.

 

Hey Steve, any news from the Media Center team?

I was just talking on the phone with someone from Portugal Telecom, they already have MediaRoom IPTV deployed in the country and I probably can find out which is their EPG provider, maybe Media Center could use the same... Anyway the XML guide is still available from them if you want/can use.

I kind of made this my own personal battle

Tell me when you get any update, I'm looking forward to it.

Thanks a lot

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Nuno Silva
Microsoft Student Partner Lead
Portugal

Hi there, thanks for the prod on this, I've just sent a mail now asking for an update.

 

I received a response that we'll get back in touch with the provider for the status.

Hi Steve, thanks for your help on this, if I notice anything different, I'll let you know.

Keep me posted for any news.

 

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Nuno Silva
Microsoft Student Partner Lead
Portugal

No problem, I am still chasing this as best I can, unfortunately it's taking a lot longer than I anticipated due to the involvement of partners controlling the guide content for your area.