is it possible to display a traditional TV guide on Apple TV app?

General Discussions Plex Features
1

is it possible to display a traditional TV guide on Apple TV app? It would be quicker and easier to see whats on on all channels.
At least can it be an option?

thanks

2

No all around. This has been asked several times from various users across platforms. The traditional “Guide” display is patented by Rovi thus likely won’t be implemented any time soon if ever as the licensing costs are probably too high for a free platform. Yes, some of us pay for Plex Pass but there are plenty of people out there that don’t or would pirate it increasing the license fee costs.

3

Actually thats incorrect per-say. Rovi’s patents have been invalided by an ongoing lawsuit by Netflix. Netflix most recently won again (first at lower court now at appeals court). Rovi has only Supreme Court to appeal to. But in the mean time the law of the land is Rovi’s patents for TV guide are done.

FYI: this is from the news and connection working for outside Netflix counsel

4

Perhaps you could pass the information onto Plex Employees who have basically said the lawsuits that others have pointed out that the courts have overturned were not dealing with the patent over a traditional grid but were over other patents owned by Rovi.

5

@mickeyfickymix said:
Actually thats incorrect per-say. Rovi’s patents have been invalided by an ongoing lawsuit by Netflix. Netflix most recently won again (first at lower court now at appeals court). Rovi has only Supreme Court to appeal to. But in the mean time the law of the land is Rovi’s patents for TV guide are done.

FYI: this is from the news and connection working for outside Netflix counsel

Thus this is still a legal quagmire. If Plex were to use the disputed Rovi patent now and the Supreme Court were to rule in favor of Rovi, then Rovi could come after Plex for damages. Wisdom would suggest that Plex waits for the Supreme Court decision.

6

@sGarver I totally agree. Plex as a small company can’t afford to implement it only for the law to change. Netflix on the other hand doesn’t care, hasnt changed its system (still using “Rovi’s design”) and is “banking” on the fact that it has already won twice.

7

@arcanexvi said:
No all around. This has been asked several times from various users across platforms. The traditional “Guide” display is patented by Rovi thus likely won’t be implemented any time soon if ever as the licensing costs are probably too high for a free platform. Yes, some of us pay for Plex Pass but there are plenty of people out there that don’t or would pirate it increasing the license fee costs.

would be interesting to know how much Plex would have to pay per Plex premium account to get Rovi licensed. To me LiveTV without a traditional guide is bordering on useless. as it stands Plex live tv certainly won’t be my goto live TV platform. get-channels has managed to license it I assume.