Virgin Media Community

[Saintade]

I set the Virgin 360 box to record the FA Cup final as I was out all day. I got home and watched the match, but the recording cut out one minute before the end of extra time and missed the penalties! This was very annoying...why did it do that? Obviously it automatically lengthens the recording for a live event so why not until after the penalties and trophy? Really not on, Virgin. 

[newapollo]

Hi @Saintade 

None of the VM set top boxes automatically recalculate the recording time when events over run.

You need to manually fine tune the recording length when setting the recording.

With the 360 you press the record button, then on the screen that appears click on Advanced options.

From there you can select extra time before and after.

The available extra time options are None, 1 min, 2 mins, 5 mins, 15 mins, 30 mins, 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours.

The FA Cup Final is available to rewatch on both the iPlayer and ITV Hub apps.

[nodrogd]

The vast majority of TV STB’s will not update a recording with a schedule change once that recording has already started. It’s facility we used to have in analogue days (programme delivery control), but was dropped by the broadcasters when digital services came in.

[Saintade]

Thanks for the explanation. But what you're saying is that we've actually gone backwards, technology wise! Also how come it was intuitive enough to get to the end of extra time then when the programme would have finished much earlier....

[japitts]

The moral of the story is to always set padding to any recording of a live event you don't want to miss the end of.

The majority of the time, the padding built into the schedule covers you - but for the rare occasions it doesn't, manual padding covers you.

[nodrogd]

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@Saintade wrote:

Thanks for the explanation. But what you're saying is that we've actually gone backwards, technology wise! 

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The broadcasters used to have fully manned output suites, where the operator would press a button when a programme started or finished. This would drop a code into the teletext signal being broadcast by the channel which would trigger the viewers video recorder to start or stop the recording.

For a start, teletext no longer exists as the transmission format has changed completely. The output has also become totally automated & centralised, with only local programmes passed through a manually operated desk.

Even when the system was operating it was dependent on the desk manager getting it right. I remember several occasions where apologies were issued after several million recordings of Eastenders didn’t materialise due to someone’s “finger trouble”.