The latest Tablo news along with tips to maximize your free TV experience. 

Tablo Q&A – Where does Tablo get its TV guide data information?

Tablo missing guide data
Tablo missing guide data

Today’s question comes from Vanessa who asks, “Where does Tablo get its TV guide data information from? There’s a new channel in our area that doesn’t have any listings and I’ve been wondering why and if something can be done to fix it.”

One of the great things about using a Tablo DVR versus just a TV antenna alone is that Tablo provides guide data listings showing what’s airing on the television channels available in your area. This is a free service that is included in the purchase of your 4th generation Tablo device and does not require a subscription.

The guide data Tablo uses is collected from local broadcasters and aggregated and enhanced by a company called Gracenote.

We use this data because it is designed for commercial products and is generally more accurate and complete than the guide data embedded in over-the-air broadcast streams (called PSIP or Program and System Information Protocol). Gracenote’s guide data is also enhanced with metadata like episode and series details, genre and more which enable many of Tablo’s recording and browsing features.

Every morning, your Tablo will connect to the internet and download the Gracenote guide data it requires from Tablo HQ servers to maintain a full 14 days of programming information, as well as any schedule changes.

When a new channel starts broadcasting, it can take several days or weeks for Gracenote to begin collecting and aggregating programming data which will subsequently cause delays in it being available on your Tablo device.

Channels without available TV guide data will display the message “Programming Not Available” in your Tablo app’s live TV grid guide. You can still watch affected channels live by selecting the channel ID from the far left of the live TV grid, but it is not currently possible to record content from those channels.

In some cases, Gracenote may opt not to collect and provide programming data for a channel at all, especially if those channels are independent or low power. Broadcasters may also choose not to provide data to Gracenote.

As Gracenote no longer honors requests to add data, we have already completed some work to automatically fill in channels with data from the same network where possible. We are also looking at additional methods and sources we could potentially employ to further address cases of missing data.

Have a question about watching TV that you’d like answered? Send us a note and you may see your question on the Tablo blog and in an upcoming issue of our newsletter, Stay Tuned!

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How to restart your phone/tablet

Sometimes, just restarting your smartphone or tablet can clear up issues with apps. The links below will provide detailed instructions on how to force close your Tablo app. 

Apple iPhone

Android smartphones 

Most Android smartphones and tablets can be restarted by holding the POWER button and then selecting RESTART or POWER OFF and RESTART from the POWER OPTIONS menu.

NOTE: Newer Samsung devices require you to hold the POWER/SIDE button and VOLUME DOWN to make the POWER OPTIONS menu appear. On the Google Pixel 6, hold the POWER and VOLUME UP buttons.

How to force close your Tablo app?

Sometimes, just restarting the app can fix things. The links below will provide detailed instructions on how to force close your Tablo app. 

Apple iPhone/iPad

Android smartphones/tablets 

Need help with the final steps?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.  Follow the steps in the video below for a full walkthrough of the remaining parts of the Tablo setup process.

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Getting your channels...

You can get channels for free!
Over-the-Air Channels
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Streaming Channels
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Tablo gives you more!
  • Pause, Record, Replay
  • Enjoy your shows whenever it’s convenient for you.
  • 50+ hours of built-in storage
  • Expandable via USB for up to 8TB of additional space.
  • Your Local Channels
  • Watch Free OTA channels – news, sports, live events, and more.
Tablo gives you more!
  • Popular Streaming Channels
  • Far more than a standard antenna can deliver.
  • Subscription-Free Entertainment
  • Get premium content without paying for costly streaming services.
  • Pause, Record, Replay
  • Enjoy your shows whenever it’s convenient for you.
  • 50+ hours of built-in storage
  • Expandable via USB for up to 8TB of additional space.

This is an estimate only. Actual broadcast TV channels received may vary based on TV antenna location, reception, topography, and other obstructions. Streaming channels require an internet connection. View the Channel Details Report for specifics of each channel and to help determine what antenna is needed. 

Reception alert:  Based upon the location you entered, you may not get many of the major networks.  As a result, Tablo may not be the best fit for you.  Please enter your full address above for best accuracy. 

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