Discontinue DSTV XMLTV-File uploads

Hi All

I have some bad news, I have decided that I’m going to stop supplying my version of the XMLTV files. There are mainly two reasons for this decision…. Firstly the hit ratio for downloading my files have dropped to a all time low and for me to maintain the files are just not worth it anymore. Secondly, I have left South-Africa and are not using DSTV any longer, so to test my XMLTV-files just for this site has become to much of an effort.

There are still a number of other sites that deliver reliable XMLTV-files, so you should not have a problem to get hold of them.

Thanks to those of you that supported me, and good luck for the future.

Many Regards

VirginGirl

DSTV Channel No’s Changed

Hi All

As you are probably aware, Multi-Choice (DSTV) changed the channel numbers again. So to be in line with them I changed the XMLTV-file to also reflect the new numbers. Now on to the bad news, because of change, importing the new files ( starting from 01-05-2008 ) could cause a bit of a problem. For those of you that don’t know, each channel is identified in the XMLTV-file by its “channel id” tag. Because of the channel-numbers changing, some of the channel id’s in the XMLTV-file changed and will not be able to match up with the ones stored in your HTPC-application. To ensure that you don’t get mismatched channels I propose you remove all channel details from your HTPC- application before importing the new files.

Now for some good news, you will all see that the XMLTV-file is bigger this time…I was able to increase the number of weeks stored, from 2-weeks to 3-weeks. I will continue to update the XMLTV-files every two weeks, but hopefully now you will only have to download a new file every 3^rd week.

Like always, please let me know if you have any problems….

Many Regards

VirginGirl

Some more changes to DSTV XMLTV-file…

Hi All

Just a note on the new XMLTV-File (25-04-2008), which you need to be aware of. I have made a number of changes, including adding parent-rating (MPAA-Type), and trying to add TV-series support. If you can make use of these additional items, please test it and let me know if it is of any value.

Many Regards

VirginGirl

New DSTV Program-Guide website launched…

Hi All

It always pleases me to see a new website that provide Electronic Program Guides (EPG) for DSTV, and today I would like to report just such a site that has become available. The site is called “MCEGuide.co.za”, and they promise to deliver quality EPG data for all DSTV channels. What makes this site unique is that they provide full integration with the MCE2005 and Vista functionality. What makes this great is that you no longer have to download XMLTV files and struggle to import it into MCE2005 and Vista, it will automatically update the EPG-data over the internet. I have tested it on MCE2005, and I must say that I was impressed with the ease that I got it to work. Unfortunately I use MediaPortal as my main HTPC (Home Entertainment PC) software and will have to stick to using XMLTV files. The site promises to deliver XMLTV files in the future for those users that do not use MCE2005 or Vista, my only hope is that this will also be an automated process…and who knows I might start using their files rather than my own

So do yourself a favor and have a look at this highly exciting EPG service being offered on WWW.MCEGuide.co.za

Many Regards

VirginGirl

DSTV changing the EPG-schedule format….@#*!!!

Hi All

My apologies for taking so long to upload the latest XMLTV file, the DSTV wankers changed the page layout again and I had to make some changes to get it to work again.

There is also possibly some bad news; it seems DSTV is implementing a new schedule using flash. Why is it bad news you ask, because if DSTV replaces the present schedule with the flash version we are screwed. I’m not saying it would be impossible to extract the EPG-data, I just have not been able to get it to work yet and have no idea how to do it.

Anyway, I will continue to update the XMLTV file for as long as possible….

Regards

VirginGirl

XMLTV-File Error – Please download again

Hi All

My apologies, there was an error in this month’s XMLTV file, some of the times overlap. Please download “XMLTV_01_03_2008” again on the XMLTV-DSTV blog as I have now fixed it.

Many Regards

VG

Eskom Humour

Hi All

I thought I would contribute to the Eskom jokes, by posting the joke that I’ve enjoyed the most so far. I like it because it makes a mockery of three things that I feel deserve it….Eskom, Telkom and George W. Bush.

I hope you enjoy it…..just click the thumbnail below and a new page will open.

Regards

VG

XMLTV-Update

Hi All

I have updated the XMLTV-File and have also removed the “Holiday” channel as it is no longer operational.

Regards

VG

XMLTV Update

Hi All 

DSTV was late in updating the program detail on their website, so I had to run another extraction so that all the program gaps could be filled. Furthermore the XMLTV-File is bigger than usual because I had to compensate for an error that was introduced on their website’s filtering mechanism. 

Regards

VG

Holiday Post

Hi

I wish all my readers a great festive season, and hope that your 2008 will be a prosperous and happy year.

My apologies for not uploading a new XMLTV file sooner, like most people I was away for Christmas visiting the in-laws and my wife promised to kill me if I took my Laptop with.

Anyway, I have updated the XMLTV file and updated it to include the new “Holiday Channel”, so enjoy..

Being such a supporter of MultiChoice and their abuse I thought I would share an interesting article that I found written by “Craig Nicholson” on his .NET blog. It is titled “Is MultiChoice afraid of IPTV?” and deals with the future of IPTV in South Africa. For those of you that don’t know what IPTV is, this is the definition given for it on Wikipedia…..

“”IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is a system where a digital television service is delivered by using Internet Protocol over a network infrastructure, which may include delivery by a broadband connection. A general definition of IPTV is television content that, instead of being delivered through traditional broadcast and cable formats, is received by the viewer through the technologies used for computer networks.

For residential users, IPTV is often provided in conjunction with Video on Demand and may be bundled with Internet services such as Web access and VoIP. The commercial bundling of IPTV, VoIP and Internet access is referred to as “Triple Play” service (adding mobility is called “Quadruple Play”). IPTV is typically supplied by a service provider using a closed network infrastructure. This closed network approach is in competition with the delivery of TV content over the public Internet, called Internet Television. In businesses, IPTV may be used to deliver television content over corporate LANs.””

Regards

VG