Electronic Program Guide (EPG) &
Interactive Program Guide (IPG)
 In-Stat/MDR
thinks that the worldwide IPG market value could
grow
to nearly $1 Billion by 2008. (2004 prediction.)
Interactive Program Guide (TV) -
(IPG) - (Custom Guide View,
Interactive Preview Guide,
Interactive Programme Guide, Electronic Programme Guide, Electronic
Service Guide, (ESG), Interactive IPG, Integrated IPG,
Interactive Television Program Guide, TV Navigator, Content Navigation
Guide. Associated
with Electronic Program Guide,
Enhanced Program Guide, Integrated EPG, Content
Navigation, TV Navigational Services, XMLTV-based EPG.) - Interactive
Program
Guides are
a form of Enhanced TV
that offer
an advanced on-screen
display to locate content.
Just as people use search engines and portals to locate content on the
web, viewers need powerful IPGs to help them find what they want in
regard to television. A successful IPG deployment requires: access to
an IPG application,
access to television program listing databases and a way to get the
data delivered to the IPG so it can be viewed. Corporations to
watch in regard to IPGs include Gemstar-TV Guide, Microsoft and Tribune
Media Services. Often IPG/EPG functionality is
integrated into the receiver, as is the case with Digital Media
Receivers, Media Center PCs, Media Centers and many game consoles.
Originally the term "EPG" was more
popular than "IPG" but as Interactive TV has developed, momentum has
shifted to "IPG." One reason for the early popularity of the term "EPG"
was that the original TV channel guide was named "Electronic Program
Guide".
Most consider the the difference between
EPGs and IPGs to be the level of interactivity offered. Electronic
Program Guides (EPGs) basically just display the name of the program, a
brief description of the program and what time the programming is
going to be aired. These slowly roll along and typically you can't
increase the speed of the display. Interactive Program Guides (IPGs) on
the other
hand offer more options, such as jumping to different viewing time
periods, more indepth programming analysis and/or reviews,
programming for a particular genre such as kids, the ability to
check messages from your network operator and integration with DVRs. IPGs
certainly is the
category to watch in terms of the future.
 Note - There are those that use
the term EPG even though it
incorporates at least some return
path interactivity. This includes Sky Active, UK's primary
Satellite TV provider!
EPGs and IPGs are used on other
consumer
products such as mobile phones and Media
Center PCs. More advanced IPGs might offer Internet access or
something else in terms of a return
path. IPGs can keep track of your favorite channels, offer a
"reminder"
service that lets you know when your favorite shows will be
aired. It might even automatically record them. An IPG can restrict
access to channels you don't want the kids to see, as well as offer a
television search engine.
To use IPGs, viewers typically need To be receiving some
form of digital TV. Upon activating (opening up) an IPG, the IPG's
"Main Menu"
is likely what initially comes up. The main menu offers program
listings, viewer services, the time and more.
Typically EPGs & IPGs can be customized by the network
operator and/or by the individual viewer. Needless to say
it's a likely place to find advertising, targeted
and/or interactive.
TV IPGs can be viewed on your computer if a TV
tuner card or the like,
and required software is installed. Microsoft's WebTV
for Windows is an IPG.
Many online video sites, such as Yahoo video, incorporate
some type of EPG or IPG.
Typically EPGs and IPGs are not synonymous as "Channel
Browsers."
With IPTV, it's
often easier to individually customize IPGs.
PSIP
(Program
and Systems Information Protocol) has been used for IPG/EPG development
in ATSC tuners. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSIP
Online Demonstrations/examples of
EPGs & IPGs:
|
Some Other Related Terms:
|
|
|
