Zap2IT discontinuing their "labs" service tv_grab_na_dd to die.

On 6/19 Tribune Media announced that they will be discontinuing their
Zap2IT Labs service on September 1, 2007.  

XMLTV/tv_grab_na_dd uses this for U.S./Canada guide data.

I'd like to start by publicly saying Tribune and Zap2IT for their guide
data all these years. It was very much appreciated.

Tribune has said they have no interest in converting Z2L to a paid
service even though many people have expressed a willingness to pay.

This doesn't only effect XMLTV, it effects MythTV, GBPVR, and many more
applications that use U.S./Canada listings.  I'm confident the Open
Source Community will work out a solution, there is no need to panic.

I've had conversations with developers on other projects and we are all
trying to solicit another source of data without resorting to web
scraping. I can't guarantee the data will be free (or surveyware), but
I do hope it will be reasonably priced. 

I've set up a private mailing list for leaders of open source projects
to work together on this issue.  If you are a leader of a Open Source
project that uses TV listings, drop me an email to be added to the
list.   (include your project name for verification please). Working
together we can come up with a solution.

If you have TV data with redistribution rights and are willing to work
with XMLTV or other Open Source projects, please drop me an email so we
can discuss it.  I'll pass it on.

Robert Eden
XMLTV


       
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