Infomedia's dynamic Universal Genre Classification System© (UGCS) allows for the consistent application of program "genres" to all types of TV broadcasts. Using UGCS to classify every program in its database, Infomedia is able to ensure the delivery of accurate search results necessary for users of the new generation of interactive on-screen EPGs. It is also a vital tool for the consistent output of program categories for more traditional publishers, and, it enables the monitoring of international broadcasts (ie, for analysis of statistics and programming trends).
UGCS is powerful in its flexibility. Developed by Infomedia, it was created by synthesising genres actually used by both European TV stations and printed TV magazines from a wide range of countries. UGCS meets the most important needs of the industry by describing the actual production rather than focusing on the program's intention or target group.
The output of the genre can be done in any language, and UGCS allows our customers to retain their own ideas of how the genres should be defined - to get the desired results on a client by client basis. Therefore we enable publishers from each country to retain the genre they like.How does UGCS work?
The system handles country-specific and language-specific program classifications by consistently applying three levels of description to the program. The main categories break down in 12 general headings, followed by sub-categories defining the type of broadcast (news, magazine, film, series), and thereafter, numerous identifiers indicate the content of the program.
The Main Category Headings
|
Advertising |
Culture/The Arts |
Factual |
News and Current Affairs |
|
Animation |
Discussion |
Fiction |
Sports |
|
Children's |
Entertainment |
Religion |
Textual Presentations |
An Example
A Dutch publisher wants a category he describes as "Action Film", but he wants that word to be translated into Dutch. The conversion table for this genre is made up from his own definition of the "content" an action film should cover.
The resulting "conversion" table is arrived at through the following process. The overall genre is defined by the specific publisher. He wants it to consist of adventure movies, crime movies, disaster movies, thrillers and war films:
If Category = "Fiction"
and Type= "Film"
and Content = "Adventure" or "Crime" or "Disaster" or "Thriller" or War
Then Output = "actiefilm"
In this case, the content selected by the individual client made up the genre as he wanted it defined. Yet another client may have decided that he wanted "War" films, documentaries and series broken out as a separate category. Everything is possible!
Maximum Flexibility
Infomedia's Universal Genre Classification System is the industry standard for genres. It is extremely flexible. We can group program types into a general definition that retains the national meaning. At the same time, our system enables the cross comparison of programming output into an international context understandable by all.
Infomedia's Universal Genre Classification System is already used by major digital Electronic Program Guide projects in Europe. For these clients, Infomedia prepares data streams and genres which are compatible with DVB-SI (Service Information) standards.
UGCS is also used by numerous other types of Infomedia clients, who subscribe to both our future and archive data services. These range, respectively, from printed and other types of electronic TV guides to research organisations.
