EPG fails to load with PMS v1.11.1.4760 (JSON parse error)

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1

Upgraded from v1.9.7.4460 to v1.11.1.4760 and first and subsequent refreshes of EPG fail to load with JSON parse error.
Synology NAS on Intel 64 if it matters. PlexMediaServer-1.11.1.4760-58bcb2957-x86_64.spk
HDHR Prime

I see I’m not alone.
Uninstalled and reinstalled v1.9.7.4460 which is still working for me.

Feb 06, 2018 17:00:24.478 [0x7ff064f35700] DEBUG - Activity: updated activity 3de1a10c-e2a7-4bbf-83d3-e444513f9c57 - completed 1% - Refreshing EPG

Feb 06, 2018 17:00:24.511 [0x7ff064f35700] ERROR - EPG: JSON parse error. Data from request is [{“stationId”:“26046”,“callSign”:“TVLANDP”,“channel”:“052”,“preferredImage”:{“uri”:“http://plex.tmsimg.com/sources/generic/generic_sources_h9.png"},“airings”:[{“startTime”:“2018-02-06T00:00Z”,“endTime”:“2018-02-06T00:30Z”,“duration”:30,“qualifiers”:[“CC”],“channels”:[“052”],“stationId”:“26046”,“ratings”:[{“body”:"USA Parental Rating”,“code”:“TVG”}],“program”:{“tmsId”:“EP000003240157”,“rootId”:“1023212”,“seriesId”:“183943”,“subType”:“Series”,“title”:“The Andy Griffith Show”,“episodeTitle”:“The New Doctor”,“releaseYear”:1961,“releaseDate”:“1961-03-27”,“origAirDate”:“1961-03-27”,“titleLang”:“en”,“descriptionLang”:“en”,“entityType”:“Episode”,“genres”:[“Sitcom”],“longDescription”:“Andy finally proposes to Ellie when he thinks that the new doctor in town is trying to turn her head.”,“shortDescription”:“Andy finally proposes to Ellie when he thinks that a new doctor in town is trying to turn her head.”,“episodeNum”:24,“seasonNum”:1,“topCast”:[“Andy Griffith”,“Ronny Howard”,“Don Knotts”],“directors”:[“Bob Sweeney”],“ratings”:[{“body”:“Canadian Parental Rating”,“code”:“G”},{“body”:“USA Parental Rating”,“code”:“TVG”}],“preferredImage”:{“width”:“960”,“height”:“1440”,“caption”:{“content”:“The Andy Griffith Show”,“lang”:“en”},“uri”:“http://plex.tmsimg.com/assets/p183943_i_v8_aa.jpg",“category”:“Iconic”,“primary”:“true”,“tier”:“Series”}}},{“startTime”:“2018-02-06T00:30Z”,“endTime”:“2018-02-06T01:00Z”,“duration”:30,“qualifiers”:[“CC”],“channels”:[“052”],“stationId”:“26046”,“ratings”:[{“body”:"USA Parental Rating”,“code”:“TVG”}],“program”:{“tmsId”:“EP000003240168”,“rootId”:“1023223”,“seriesId”:“183943”,“subType”:“Series”,“title”:“The Andy Griffith Show”,“episodeTitle”:“A Plaque for Mayberry”,“releaseYear”:1961,“releaseDate”:“1961-04-03”,“origAirDate”:“1961-04-03”,“titleLang”:“en”,“descriptionLang”:“en”,“entityType”:“Episode”,“genres”:[“Sitcom”],“longDescription”:“The town drunk turns out to be the only descendant of a Revolutionary War hero.”,“shortDescription”:“The town drunk turns out to be the only descendant of a Revolutionary War hero.”,“episodeNum”:25,“seasonNum”:1,“topCast”:[“Andy Griffith”,“Ronny Howard”,“Don Knotts”],“directors”:[“Bob Sweeney”],“ratings”:[{“body”:“Canadian Parental Rating”,“code”:“G”},{“body”:“USA Parental Rating”,“code”:“TVG”}],“preferredImage”:{“width”:“960”,“height”:“1440”,“caption”:{“content”:“The Andy Griffith Show”,“lang”:“en”},“uri”:“http://plex.tmsimg.com/assets/p183943_i_v8_aa.jpg",“category”:“Iconic”,“primary”:“true”,“tier”:“Series”}}},{“startTime”:“2018-02-06T01:00Z”,“endTime”:“2018-02-06T01:30Z”,“duration”:30,“qualifiers”:[“CC”],“channels”:[“052”],“stationId”:“26046”,“ratings”:[{“body”:"USA Parental Rating”,“code”:“TVG”}],“program”:{“tmsId”:“EP000003240169”,“rootId”:“1023224”,“seriesId”:“183943”,“subType”:“Series”,“title”:“The Andy Griffith Show”,“episodeTitle”:“The Inspector”,“releaseYear”:1961,“releaseDate”:“1961-04-10”,“origAirDate”:“1961-04-10”,“titleLang”:“en”,“descriptionLang”:“en”,“entityType”:“Episode”,“genres”:[“Sitcom”],“longDescription”:“A state inspector learns some unique but effective police methods when he visits Mayberry.”,“shortDescription”:“A state inspector learns some unique but effective police methods when he visits Mayberry.”,“episodeNum”:26,“seasonNum”:1,“topCast”:[“Andy Griffith”,“Ronny Howard”,“Don Knotts”],“directors”:[“Bob Sweeney”],“ratings”:[{“body”:“Canadian Parental Rating”,“code”:“G”},{“body”:“USA Parental Rating”,“code”:“TVG”}],“preferredImage”:{“width”:“960”,“height”:“1440”,“caption”:{“content”:“The Andy Griffith Show”,“lang”:“en”},“uri”:“http://plex.tmsimg.com/assets/p183943_i_v8_aa.jpg",“category”:“Iconic”,“primary”:“true”,“tier”:“Series”}}},{“startTime”:“2018-02-06T01:30Z”,“endTime”:“2018-02-06T02:00Z”,“duration”:30,“qualifiers”:[“CC”],“channels”:[“052”],“stationId”:“26046”,“ratings”:[{“body”:"USA Parental Rating”,“code”:“TVG”}],“program”:{“tmsId”:“EP000003240170”,“rootId”:“1023225”,“seriesId”:“183943”,“subType”:“Series”,“title”:“The Andy Griffith Show”,“episodeTitle”:“Ellie Saves a Female”,“releaseYear”:1961,"release

Feb 06, 2018 17:00:24.547 [0x7ff064f35700] WARN - EPG[onconnect]: Failed to load EPG.

Feb 06, 2018 17:00:24.548 [0x7ff064f35700] DEBUG - Database: Shutting down.

Feb 06, 2018 17:00:24.548 [0x7ff064f35700] DEBUG - Captured session 0.

Feb 06, 2018 17:00:24.548 [0x7ff064f35700] DEBUG - Captured session 1.

Feb 06, 2018 17:00:24.548 [0x7ff064f35700] DEBUG - Captured session 2.

Feb 06, 2018 17:00:24.548 [0x7ff064f35700] DEBUG - Captured session 3.

Feb 06, 2018 17:00:24.548 [0x7ff064f35700] DEBUG - Captured session 4.

Feb 06, 2018 17:00:24.595 [0x7ff064f35700] DEBUG - EPG[onconnect]: Total time to load EPG was 21.6 (HTTP details cached 0.0%, CloudFlare grid cached: 0.0%, 0 HTTP errors)

Feb 06, 2018 17:00:24.595 [0x7ff064f35700] DEBUG - Activity: Ended activity 3de1a10c-e2a7-4bbf-83d3-e444513f9c57.

2

The most likely culprit in this is that the EPG provider sent us something that doesn’t exactly match their spec, and we don’t parse it correctly. I agree that it shouldn’t completely interrupt the parsing though. What zip code are you in and what provider did you pick so I can try to duplicate it?

3

Comcast Digital Cable 95835

4

More of same symptom here
forums.plex.tv/discussion/306886/epg-issue

5

I have Comcast Digital Cable and am in 60115, same issue, the one he posted in previous link.

6

Just fyi had same issue myself.

Delete your DVR and add it back. Your recording schedule will be suspended so you will not lose any scheduling priority or settings so very minimal impact, just a while to refresh EPG.

If OP can leave as is to work with Plex to try and find root cause to help fix same issue for others that would be appreciated especially if you have EPG for next few days it should not be a big deal but your choice.

7

For me, deleting and adding the DVR again only works the first time. Subsequent refreshes of the EPG then fail.
A few others have reported EPG stops refreshing.

forums.plex.tv/discussion/306016/epg-guide-refresh-failing

forums.plex.tv/discussion/306182/epg-data-is-not-refreshing

forums.plex.tv/discussion/306310/program-guide-issues

8

Me as well only the first time, then subsequent refreshes fail at 1%.

9

Same here with verizon fios. Deleting and re-adding the DVR device worked for now. The manual refreshed is still failing. I am running 1.11.2.4772 on Linux Mint 18.3

10

I believe I have found a fix, at least for comcast. My issue was the music channels. I noticed this because mine was failing at 1% and for some reason channel number 910, “MC10”, was first on the list. Unchecking it got me past 1% but failed when it hit the rest, so I just got rid of all of them.

Under the DVR settings, click on the “XXX channels enabled” link to manage channels. Uncheck all the “MCXX” channels. I also unchecked all the radio stations after, but I don’t know if that is necessary.

11

Not the issue here as I have all the Music Channels disabled in my HDHR Prime and PlexDVR lineups. My lowest numbered enabled channel 52 is where it fails, in other words the first channel enabled in my PlexDVR lineup.

12

Same for me.

13

I’m having the same issue: EPG failing to update with the same JSON message (zip code 22312, Verizon FIOS) running 1.11.2.4772:

Feb 08, 2018 17:56:56.983 [0x7f33f5bff700] ERROR - EPG: JSON parse error. Data from request is [{“stationId”:“90555”,“callSign”:“WMDEDT”,“affiliateCallSign”:“DRTV”,“affiliateId”:“85708”,“channel”:“502”,“preferredImage”:{“uri”:“http://plex.tmsimg.com/sources/generic/generic_sources_h9.png"},“airings”:[{“startTime”:“2018-02-08T00:00Z”,“endTime”:“2018-02-08T00:30Z”,“duration”:30,“qualifiers”:["HD 1080i”],“channels”:[“502”],“stationId”:“90555”,“program”:{“tmsId”:“SH027342570000”,“rootId”:“14332901”,“seriesId”:“14332901”,“subType”:“Paid Programming”,“title”:“Airfryer Oven”,“titleLang”:“en”,“descriptionLang”:“en”,“entityType”:“Show”,“genres”:[“Consumer”],“longDescription”:“An Air Fryer, Rotisserie Oven and Dehydrator all in one!”,“shortDescription”:“An Air Fryer, Rotisserie Oven and Dehydrator all in one!”,“preferredImage”:{“width”:“960”,“height”:“1440”,“uri”:“http://plex.tmsimg.com/assets/p14332901_st_v8_aa.jpg",“category”:“Staple”,“text”:“yes”}}},{“startTime”:“2018-02-08T00:30Z”,“endTime”:“2018-02-08T01:00Z”,“duration”:30,“qualifiers”:["HD 1080i”],“channels”:[“502”],“stationId”:“90555”,“program”:{“tmsId”:“SH022436780000”,“rootId”:“12020042”,“seriesId”:“12020042”,“subType”:“Paid Programming”,“title”:“No More Dentures”,“titleLang”:“en”,“descriptionLang”:“en”,“entityType”:“Show”,“genres”:[“Consumer”],“longDescription”:“Dr. Mark Adams discusses the many benefits of dental implants - more comfortable, better fitting, and always firmly in place. No more loose or ill-fitting teeth. Just a perfect smile.”,“shortDescription”:“Dr. Mark Adams discusses the benefits of dental implants for denture wearers.”,“preferredImage”:{“width”:“960”,“height”:“1440”,“uri”:“http://plex.tmsimg.com/assets/p12020042_st_v8_aa.jpg",“category”:“Staple”,“text”:“yes”}}},{“startTime”:“2018-02-08T01:00Z”,“endTime”:“2018-02-08T02:00Z”,“duration”:60,“qualifiers”:["HD 1080i”],“channels”:[“502”],“stationId”:“90555”,“program”:{“tmsId”:“SH025969310000”,“rootId”:“13679545”,“seriesId”:“13679545”,“subType”:“Paid Programming”,“title”:“One Rule of a Flat Stomach”,“titleLang”:“en”,“descriptionLang”:“en”,“entityType”:“Show”,“genres”:[“Consumer”],“longDescription”:“Want toned arms? Want a slim core? Want to build lean muscle mass?”,“shortDescription”:“Want toned arms? Want a slim core? Want to build lean muscle mass?”,“preferredImage”:{“width”:“960”,“height”:“1440”,“uri”:“http://plex.tmsimg.com/assets/p13679545_i_v8_aa.jpg",“category”:“Iconic”,“primary”:“true”}}},{“startTime”:“2018-02-08T02:00Z”,“endTime”:“2018-02-08T03:00Z”,“duration”:60,“qualifiers”:["HD 1080i”],“channels”:[“502”],“stationId”:“90555”,“program”:{“tmsId”:“SH027704140000”,“rootId”:“14508737”,“seriesId”:“14508737”,“subType”:“Paid Programming”,“title”:“Discover the SHARK IONFLEX”,“titleLang”:“en”,“descriptionLang”:“en”,“entityType”:“Show”,“genres”:[“Consumer”],“longDescription”:“NEW cord-free vacuum,converts to a hand vacuum; removable battery.”,“shortDescription”:“NEW cord-free vacuum,converts to a hand vacuum; removable battery.”,“preferredImage”:{“width”:“960”,“height”:“1440”,“uri”:“http://plex.tmsimg.com/assets/p14508737_st_v8_ab.jpg",“category”:“Staple”,“text”:“yes”}}},{“startTime”:“2018-02-08T03:00Z”,“endTime”:“2018-02-08T04:00Z”,“duration”:60,“qualifiers”:["HD 1080i”],“channels”:[“502”],“stationId”:“90555”,“program”:{“tmsId”:“SH023384950000”,“rootId”:“12463800”,“seriesId”:“12463800”,“subType”:“Paid Programming”,“title”:“Facelift in Minutes at Home”,“titleLang”:“en”,“descriptionLang”:“en”,“entityType”:“Show”,“genres”:[“Consumer”],“longDescription”:“Conture, the miraculous anti-aging system, allows you to look younger in minutes in the comfort of your home.”,“shortDescription”:“Conture, the miraculous anti-aging system, allows you to look younger in minutes in your home.”,“preferredImage”:{“width”:“960”,“height”:“1440”,“uri”:“http://plex.tmsimg.com/assets/p12463800_i_v8_aa.jpg",“category”:“Iconic”,“primary”:“true”}}},{“startTime”:“2018-02-08T04:00Z”,“endTime”:“2018-02-08T05:00Z”,“duration”:60,“qualifiers”:["HD 1080i”],“channels”:[“502”],“stationId”:“90555”,“program”:{“tmsId”:“SH025576510000”,“rootId”:“13512484”,“seriesId”:“13512484”,“subType”:"Paid Progr
Feb 08, 2018 17:56:56.997 [0x7f33f5bff700] WARN - EPG[onconnect]: Failed to load EPG.
Feb 08, 2018 17:56:56.997 [0x7f33f5bff700] DEBUG - Database: Shutting down.

Is the consensus that downgrading to 4660 is a known workaround?

14

Well, use a binary search to figure out what channel it is.

Ex: if you have 100 channels uncheck 1-50. If it works the problem channel(s) must be in that group so try unchecking 1-25. And continue. That’s probably the most efficient way.

15

@“rnxrx74@gmail.com” said:
I’m having the same issue: EPG failing to update with the same JSON message (zip code 22312, Verizon FIOS) running 1.11.2.4772:

Is the consensus that downgrading to 4660 is a known workaround?

For me v1.9.7.4460 was the last working version for DVR recording. With all versions since then I eperience problems with recordings or EPG. Since I don’t use LiveTV or Commercial cutting that works for me.

16

Tried again and it’s working so far (26% into a EPG refresh w/o error). Will update post when it’s finished.
EPG refresh succeeded in 37 minutes (vs. about 50 minutes for the older version).

What I did different this time was uninstalled v1.9.7.4460 before installing v1.11.1.4760. Normally I only uninstall if going from newer to older version. I then deleted the DVR and reinstalled it.

Appears that by not uninstalling the older PMS version before manually installing the latest it left things lingering behind that mucked up the works.

Will continue to monitor and post back if the issue happens again. I’ve got my DVR set to “Enable more frequent program guide refreshes” (When enabled, the program guide will refresh at 9 AM, 1 PM, and 5 PM as well as during maintenance.)

17

I deleted the DVR/tuner and re-added. When I re-added it, I disabled the channel that had picked up bad metadata - which allowed the EPG to repopulate. The interesting part was that I had disabled the channel previously as a troubleshooting method but that, apparently, disabling the channel in the DVR configuration doesn’t stop it from pulling EPG data.

Hopefully a new version will make the entire EPG sync process more robust. I’d rather see one channel throw an error and the rest of the lineup load rather than a mostly-silent crash that isn’t seen until everything goes silent a week later.

18

This what I am doing for now when I need to force the guide refresh (instead of deleting the dvr devices):
Dir Path: cd /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Plug-in Support/Databases

sudo mv tv.plex.providers.epg.onconnect-dd669cd0-2b52-4a74-9dd7-5593091ecf9e.db tv.plex.providers.epg.onconnect-dd669cd0-2b52-4a74-9dd7-5593091ecf9e.db.old

sudo mv tv.plex.providers.epg.onconnect-dd669cd0-2b52-4a74-9dd7-5593091ecf9e.db-shm tv.plex.providers.epg.onconnect-dd669cd0-2b52-4a74-9dd7-5593091ecf9e.db-shm.old

sudo mv tv.plex.providers.epg.onconnect-dd669cd0-2b52-4a74-9dd7-5593091ecf9e.db-wal tv.plex.providers.epg.onconnect-dd669cd0-2b52-4a74-9dd7-5593091ecf9e.db-wal.old

sudo systemctl restart plexmediaserver.service

After the application is done restarting it will force the refresh like if you had deleted the dvr devices. If we don’t get a fix soon, I will probably end adding this to a script and removing the .old version

19

@Plexer223 said:

What I did different this time was uninstalled v1.9.7.4460 before installing v1.11.1.4760. Normally I only uninstall if going from newer to older version. I then deleted the DVR and reinstalled it.

Appears that by not uninstalling the older PMS version before manually installing the latest it left things lingering behind that mucked up the works.

It’s been working for me and I didn’t delete any channels. Third automatic refresh of EPG just finished. First was 17:00 yesterday, second 02:10 this morning and third at 09:00 this morning. Have 14 days of guide data (today, 02/09/2018 to 02/22/2018).

Update: two days later on 02/11 it failed again, can’t unmark this post as Acepted Answer I guess

20

This problem started for me past 4630. There is another thread on it: https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/306340/there-was-an-unexpected-error-loading-the-program-guide-and-more-errors#latest

I’ve been having to delete / readd my HDHomeRun Prime to Plex to get the channels to come back :-/

I have no proof but last night I enabled the “Enhanced Program Guide” and that is when the issues started again since the first time it messed up (which also had the enhanced guide enabled)

When I tried to remove the bad channel (which was the first one in the list) it just started erroring at the very next channel.