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Electronic
Program Guide (EPG) &
Interactive
Program Guide (IPG)
(Last updated in 2012)
 In-Stat/MDR
predicted that the
worldwide IPG market value would grow to
nearly $1 Billion by 2008. (2004 prediction.)
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".
It's possible that Content
and Service Discovery Guides
(CSDGs) will replace Electronic Program Guides and Interactive Program
Guides as television content gets progressively more supplemented with
content from the Internet, and from consumers' own personal home
network libraries.
Information
on the History of EPGs and IPGs (& more)
Many 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.
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 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.
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Service
Discovery Guides - CSDGs can find content on the Internet,
and/or from in-home networks. See Rovi for more on these.
PSIP
(Program and Systems
Information Protocol) has been used for IPG/EPG development in ATSC
tuners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSIP
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