Is Electronic Program Guide (EPG) used in the USA?

Question

Why I want to know this is becasue, I really want to make my PS3 a DVR with sony's new Play TV. I am going to be in Spain later in the summer and want to buy one. But I dont want to get one if it will not work in the USA. I have Dish TV right now at my house and comcast at my apartment. Thanks!!!

-Ron Moreau

Answer 1

US TV ATSC digital (SDTV and HDTV) Broadcasts from the transmitter antenna of a TV station to an antenna connected to a digital TV or HDTV carry a form of EPG called PSIP or Program System Information Protocol.

See PSIP here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSIP

The program information is in the EIT metadata

But cable, satellite and IPTV providers strip off this data and add their own program guides which conform to the hardware and firmware used in their set top boxes or IPTV converters.