Editing Electronic program guide (section)

==History==
===Key events===
[[File:EPG-TVGuide.png|thumb|''[[Pop (U.S. TV network)|The EPG Channel]]'', an electronic program guide (EPG) from 1987.]]

====North America====
In 1981, [[Gemstar–TV Guide International|United Video Satellite Group]] launched the first EPG service in [[North America]], a cable channel known simply as [[History of Pop (American TV channel)|The Electronic Program Guide]]. It allowed cable systems in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] to provide on-screen listings to their subscribers 24 hours a day (displaying programming information up to 90 minutes in advance) on a dedicated cable channel. Raw listings data for the service was supplied via [[communications satellite|satellite]] to participating cable systems, each of which installed a computer within its headend facility to present that data to subscribers in a format customized to the system's unique channel lineup. The EPG Channel would later be renamed Prevue Guide and go on to serve as the de facto EPG service for North American cable systems throughout the remainder of the 1980s, the entirety of the 1990s, and – as TV Guide Network or TV Guide Channel – for the first decade of the 21st century.

[[File:SuperGuide 1 screen 16L.jpg|thumb|left|SuperGuide from 1986]]
In 1986 at a trade show in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]],<ref>1986 STTI exhibitor list, p. 33</ref> STV/Onsat, a print programming guide publisher, introduced SuperGuide, an interactive electronic programming guide for [[Satellite television|home satellite dish]] viewers. The system was the focus of a 1987 article in ''STV Magazine''.<ref>''STV Magazine''. May 1987 p. 14</ref> The original system had a black-and-white display, and would locally store programming information for around one week in time. A remote control was used to interact with the unit. When the user found a show they wanted to watch, they would have to turn off the guide and then tune the satellite receiver to the correct service. The system was developed by Chris Schultheiss of STV/OnSat and engineer Peter Hallenbeck. The guide information was distributed by satellite using the home owner's dish as the receiver. The information was stored locally so that the user could use the guide without having to be on a particular satellite or service.

[[File:SuperGuide 2 screen 8L.jpg|thumb|2nd generation SuperGuide screen, 1990.]]
In March 1990, a second generation SuperGuide system was introduced that was integrated into the [[Uniden]] 4800 receiver.<ref>''Onsat Magazine''. June 10–16, 1990</ref> This version had a color display and the hardware was based on a custom chip; it was also able to disseminate up to two weeks of programming information. When the user found the show of interest, they pressed a button on the remote and the receiver tuned to the show they wanted to watch. This unit also had a single button recording function, and controlled [[videocassette recorder|VCRs]] via an infrared output.<ref>{{Cite patent|country=US|number=5293357|pubdate=1994-03-08|title=Method and apparatus for controlling a television program recording device|assign1=The Superguide Corp.|inventor1-last=Hallenbeck|inventor1-first=Peter D.}}</ref> Available in North America, it was the first commercially available unit for home use that had a locally stored guide integrated with the receiver for single button viewing and taping. A presentation on the system was given at the 1990 IEEE consumer electronics symposium in [[Chicago]].<ref>1990 Transactions on IEEE consumer electronics society meeting notes/synopses, p. 310</ref>

In June 1988 a patent was awarded that concerned the implementation of a searchable electronic program guide – an interactive program guide (IPG).<ref>{{Cite patent|country=US|number=4751578|pubdate=1988-06-14|title=System for electronically controllably viewing on a television updateable television programming information|assign1=David P. Gordon|inventor1-last=Reiter|inventor1-first=Eli|inventor2-last=Zemering|inventor2-first=Michael H.|inventor3-last=Shannon|inventor3-first=Frank}}</ref>

TV Guide Magazine and Liberty Media established a joint venture in 1992 known as TV Guide On Screen to develop an EPG. The joint venture was led by video game veteran, Bruce Davis,<ref name="redherring199310">{{ cite magazine | title=On-Screen Guides: The Vanguard of Interactive Television | magazine=Red Herring | date=October 1993 | pages=32 }}</ref> and introduced an interactive program guide to the market in late 1995 in the General Instrument CFT2200 set-top cable box.<ref name="bc19960325">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/bc-1996-03-25/page/70/mode/1up | title=VCR function added to TV Guide on Screen | magazine=Broadcasting & Cable | date=25 March 1996 | access-date=29 August 2023 | pages=70 }}</ref> Leading competitors to TV Guide On Screen included Prevue Guide and StarSight Telecast. Telecommunications Inc, owner of Liberty Media, acquired United Video Satellite Group, owner of Prevue Guide, in 1995.  TV Guide On Screen and Prevue Guide were later merged. TV Guide On Screen for digital cable set top boxes premiered in the DigiCable series of set top boxes from General Instrument shortly thereafter. See wiki on TV Guide for subsequent developments.<ref>[[TV Guide]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=May 2020}}

Scientific Atlanta introduced the 8600X Advanced analog Set-top box in 1993 that included an interactive electronic program guide, downloadable software, 2-way communications, and pause/FF/REW for VCR-like viewing. Millions were deployed by Time Warner and other customers.<ref>"Honoring the Past, Scientific Atlanta 1977-2000", "Time Warner Taps S-A for Interactive Analog Box", Multichannel News March 14, 1994</ref>

====Western Europe====
In Western [[Europe]], 59 million television households were equipped with EPGs at the end of 2008, a penetration of 36% of all television households. The situation varies from country to country, depending on the status of digitization and the role of pay television and [[IPTV]] in each market. With [[BSkyB|Sky]] as an early mover and the [[BBC iPlayer]] and [[Virgin Media]] as ambitious followers, the United Kingdom is the most developed and innovative EPG market to date, with 96% of viewers having frequently used an EPG in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Looking for TV Genius? |url=http://www.tvgenius.net/blog/2010/10/25/epgs-viewers-find/ |website=[[TV Genius]] |publisher=Red Bee Media |date=October 25, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304051150/http://www.tvgenius.net/blog/2010/10/25/epgs-viewers-find/ |archive-date=March 4, 2012 }}</ref> [[Inview Technology]] is one of the UK's largest and oldest EPG producers, dating back to 1996 and currently in partnership with [[Humax]] and [[Skyworth]].

[[Scandinavia]] also is a highly innovative EPG market. Even in [[Italy]], the EPG penetration is relatively high with 38%. In [[France]], IPTV is the main driver of EPG developments. In contrast to many other European countries, [[Germany]] lags behind, due to a relatively slow digitization process and the minor role of pay television in that country.<ref>{{cite web|title=EPG Forecast, Western Europe (2008–2014)|url=http://www.international-television.org/tv_market_data/epg-penetration-forecast-europe_2008-2014.html|website=International-Television.org|access-date=14 April 2010|archive-date=22 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322204725/http://www.international-television.org/tv_market_data/epg-penetration-forecast-europe_2008-2014.html|url-status=live}}</ref>