“If the future of TV really is apps, who’s going to help us figure out what we should be watching on those apps?”
Excellent inquiry, Peter. The answer is television metadata suppliers, like FYI Television.
Part of highly-curated TV metadata involves genres and categories for shows and movies; these tags allow recommendation engines and content discovery systems to offer related suggestions to viewers.
However, it’s important that an entertainment metadata vendor is accurate and precise when it comes to assigning these genres and categories.
In several cases, it becomes abundantly clear that many vendors have problems.
Like here, where 1989 horror film “Puppet Master” is described by this metadata supplier as “Hobbies & Crafts.”
— Mike Paine (@MikePaineShow) October 31, 2015
Or in this example,
where a metadata company designates the Arlington Million horse race as
belonging to “Water Sports” and “Boating” genres.
I don't think you have this exactly right @DIRECTV pic.twitter.com/yRwHhV8asA
— Scott Kennedy (@ScottTKennedy) August 15, 2015
In this instance, a flawed metadata service has decided reality show “Keeping Up with the
Kardashians” should be in the “Education” category.
Are you kidding me? Kardashians is listed as EDUCATION on @dish pic.twitter.com/4kraIThWU4
— danesgirl1 (@danesgirl1) April 5, 2015
This metadata company believes that 1980s classic “Dirty
Dancing” is a “Historical/Period Drama.”
Loving the TV Guide's genre description of Dirty Dancing. So many bonnets. pic.twitter.com/UhaUK75757
— Aggie Holland (@THEaggieholland) June 28, 2015
And in addition to getting the host’s name wrong (It’s Jimmy
Fallon, not Frank Fallon), a metadata vendor thinks that “The Tonight Show”
should have the “Action/Adventure/Animated” genres.
@jimmyfallon setting my dvr to record the tonight show...and this is your description #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/eF5Z6v1yXm
— m millan (@melistarr1) July 29, 2015
It’s defective TV metadata like the previously mentioned
examples illustrate that can seriously cause damage to suggestion and
recommendation services.
This is what can happen when entertainment metadata is extremely inadequate. A viewer was informed that because he enjoys violent HBO fantasy “Game of Thrones,” he might also like wholesome family drama “The Waltons” and religion-inspired series “Touched by an Angel.” Talk about being misguided.
This is what can happen when entertainment metadata is extremely inadequate. A viewer was informed that because he enjoys violent HBO fantasy “Game of Thrones,” he might also like wholesome family drama “The Waltons” and religion-inspired series “Touched by an Angel.” Talk about being misguided.
Seriously @directv? "If you like 'Game of Thrones', you might like 'The Waltons'"!
#recommendersystemfail pic.twitter.com/S9jsRnLQmr
— Mike Edgington (@SporkedTongue) May 25, 2015
In summation, indeed if television is headed into a realm
where apps will be largely responsible for advising audiences about TV shows
and movies, it is enriched metadata that will be powering those apps.
As such, developers or businesses that require metadata for these purposes should demand accuracy.
Author: Brian Cameron
As such, developers or businesses that require metadata for these purposes should demand accuracy.
Author: Brian Cameron
Image via Shutterstock.
Follow @FYITV
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