Prioritizing a Persistent ID System in Entertainment Metadata

At present, in this ever-evolving world of entertainment, content discovery is highly-valued by consumers. The ability to properly navigate a television interface, and locate something appropriate to watch, is momentous.

A database that is powered by persistent IDs ensures data integrity, and allows viewers to successfully find the right programming. This is vital for TV metadata.

While various metadata vendors claim to be accurate, this is demonstrably untrue – often times the off-shoring of data aggregation combined with antiquated and obsolete software causes numerous errors, which we’ve noted before.

This is evidenced by the viewers themselves, who observe the issues firsthand. The lack of a persistent ID system means that similar movie titles and synopses become discombobulated.

Behold the following examples:

Here, the 1952 version of “When in Rome” has been confused for the 2010 release.

so is E! or @comcast @XFINITY to blame for the wrong description? @eonline #WhenInRome pic.twitter.com/ymD9Env465

— Madison Greenway (@madi_greenway) February 14, 2016

Instead of the 1989 movie “Glory,” the 1956 version is listed.

@whyy your description of the movie Glory is incorrect! #Offensive pic.twitter.com/Po3Mfase0z

— IAMREAL (@KimmYtron1) February 14, 2016

This metadata provider has falsely submitted 2001’s “The Proposal,” when it should have been 2009’s.

So glad it's the other proposal movie and not the one in the description. 😁 pic.twitter.com/80liYF7Dkq

— Jessica Rivers (@ismeJess) January 31, 2016

The 1998 remake “The Parent Trap” is airing, but the 1961 original mistakenly appears in this EPG.

Well this just ain't right! @CharterCom guide says Parent Trap (1961) but it's Parent Trap (1998). 😁 @FreeformTV pic.twitter.com/tXaUKQ6310

— Kate J (@kaideejay) January 21, 2016

2011 film “Belly,” a coming-of-age tale, is incorrectly listed by a metadata provider: it should be the 1998 crime drama.

Yeah this is definitely not the synopsis to this particular movie.....#fail pic.twitter.com/V5fRHHtOu2

— Philthy Love (@rlkraley) December 4, 2015

Persistent IDs are particularly important because they prevent huge, embarrassing mishaps and allow for quality control.

Total failure is on display here, where 1979 flick “The Warriors” has been mixed up with a pornography.

When the description doesn't match the movie. @SundanceTV #WarriorsComeOutToPlay pic.twitter.com/IL7mIkxlXX

— RJ (@roryjayz) December 3, 2015

When seeking a TV and entertainment metadata business, confirm that persistent IDs are involved. Your customers and clients will appreciate it.

Author: Brian Cameron

Image via Shutterstock.

Follow @FYITV