ABC getting nasty with start/stop times

[Pioneer4x4]

And definitly double check your important recordings via a 3rd source. I go to titantv on the day of important shows just to see if anything moved around.

[capone]

They won't be able to report these time changes...the point of the them is you can't know, so you're forced to watch. Even w/ padding, I've seen FX go off as far as 7min

[KingArgyle]

I know it's a PITA, but if you pre and post pad everything by 5 minutes, it get's taken care of.
You do run the risk of seeing more commercials, unless you're using a well tuned comskip or showanalyzer.

Reboot your solution only works if the shows don't run back to back. If you have shows that are scheduled to record after the show that was recorded, you don't get the padding. I always have my shows record with padding, and the additional padding isn't used at the end of a show if the next show is to start as soon as the first show was scheduled to stop.

[reboot]

I follow what you're saying, and the only real solution, is to pre and post pad everything, then get another tuner (or two or three)
Every so often I run into the beginning of one show, that's actually been recorded at the end of another, when recording back to back shows on the same channel.

[KingArgyle]

Yep...another tuner would be nice, but since I don't run into the situation in this thread that often (rarely in fact), another tuner to record with isn't a priority. Besides CDK Scheduler with Priorities works well for me, handles 99% of the situations that would have resulted in conflicts before.

Just pointing out that adding padding won't take care of it in all situations.

[Pilot]

Just to let you guys know, I have three tuners (PVR500 and PVR150), and I still encounter some problems with the networks jerking the start and end times around, especially on the ever popular Thursday night. Can't tell you how many times I've come up with a scheduling conflict on Thursdays...with THREE tuners?! Sheesh! And it's all because one show is starting 3 minutes earlier than normal or ending a little later than normal.

Why they would try to fight the PVR people, I really don't know. Personally, I record the shows on my PVR because I do not have time to watch them when they air. What they don't realize about people like me is that if they make it too difficult for me to watch the show, I simply won't watch it -- whether "live" or recorded. At least when I'm watching a PVR recording, I see some of their sponsor's commercials. Better than not watching at all.

[bemoore]

I'm with you, Chris. If they make it too difficult, I'll just stop watching the shows they fiddle with. I noticed that this week's episode of Lost is a "Special Extended Episode". Luckily, it doesn't create a conflict for me.

This problem has caused me to adopt a new policy on recordings. If I have multiple back to back shows I want to record or watch, I will record the pair of shows that I can from a single network. Since ABC seems to be the worst offender (at least for shows I watch) I will be watching more of my ABC shows from recordings. BTW, I will be watching from recordings that have been Comskip'ed.

[daphatty]

I wouldn't be surprised to see companies like TV guide or consumer advocacy groups sue the major networks for this. TV Guide could be hauled into court for "false advertising" as could the networks as well. I'd certainly sign up for any class action lawsuit aimed at stopping the networks from doing this sort of thing.

[capone]

I think it'd be a little hard, since you get broadcast networks for free. It wouldn't matter if it were the cable networks, since you pay the cable company, and not them. Unless there's some FCC regulation saying they have to broadcast on time, I don't know how you could make a case. My doctor can keep me waiting for 45min, and that's my health at stake, not Wed's Lost.

I'm on your side, and just coming off the fact I found my episodes of Family Guy and American Day both screwed up (thx a lot football...but thank you internet for saving me), but it will be consumer anger and not litigation that will change this.