Guide Plus - Digital Television

Digital Television

The digital service was launched in the United States in 2006, using the ATSC digital television standard. While this significantly improved the service, older systems are no longer able to download listings as of the digital television transition which occurred on June 12, 2009.

The Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) within the ATSC standard allows for each station to send out its own EPG information, and in the U.S. the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires stations to do so for OTA, but not cable, unless they are rebroadcasting an OTA station that provides the PSIP data. However, actual implementation is rather spotty, and usually minimal; stations often don't have full descriptions or even correct information on the current show, much less the next three hours required of them, or the 16 days worth of guide information that can be transmitted. Additionally, ATSC tuners are not required to show the EPG, only the very limited information for the current show on the current channel.

While the TV Guide service also requires software in the TV or other device, and licensing fees or royalties to be paid to Rovi, it also offers a more complete solution for broadcast television, more like digital satellite or digital cable.