Recently I've been explaining the electronic program guide (EPG) system to public access TV stations. Their cable providers make claims of technical inability to include their listings in their on-screen guides. Here's the abstract and slide deck for my talk about the subject, first presented at the Alliance for Community Media 2016 national conference in Boston MA. You may use this under the Creative Commons license linked below.

EPG Implementation Facts

Your station needs to be in the cable Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for viewers to find your programming. The FCC mandates the availability of EPG data in broadcast television signals. Cable and satellite services rely on it as well, but haven't included most PEG channels. The facts you need to know and solutions are presented so everyone has the same information for franchise negotiation.

* How a program schedule gets to a viewer.

* Real and imagined technical barriers to EPG implementation.

* EPG channel neighborhoods and the effect of HD on channel and brand.

* Operational requirements to support EPG.