Use of MetaBroadcast Atlas for UK channel info breaking T&C!

David Mahon

Received the following mail today :

Hi, As part of some ongoing changes, we have noticed your Atlas application is requesting a large amount of data each day, including requesting more than 24 hours of data in a single API call. Please can you ensure that you are fully compliant with the terms and conditions, listed here: http://atlas.metabroadcast.com/admin#/terms. For clarity, this means you should only request the data you need, when you need it, and not every channel in one batch. Additionally, please limit each call you make to a maximum of 24 hours of data. Please make the changes required by 1800 BST on Saturday 14 May. Unfortunately, if we see further calls after that point that do not match the terms, or request more than 24 hours of data in a single call, we will need to suspend your API key. Free access to Atlas is offered on a self-service basis. We hope you can find all the info you need in our own documentation at http://atlas.metabroadcast.com/, or from the maintainers of any 3rd party software you are using. If you do need to contact us, please use the form here: http://atlas.metabroadcast.com/admin#/contact. We are unable to answer correspondence via any other route. Thanks for your cooperation, Chris

Am currently using the Atlas grabber XMLTV interface included with tvheadend (latest nightly). Any guidelines available to reconfigure grabber / tvheadend so that large requests are avoided?
Not sure where to go with this!

David Mahon

Well it was nice while it lasted :

https://metabroadcast.com/blog/changes-to-atlas-access

We are also today making the first changes to the Atlas terms in two years, including changes to the clause around when we provide free access. This now reads: ❝Atlas access is provided initially free of charge on a trial basis for up to ten users, so that we can support early development of apps. Beyond 10 users on a single API key, or for trials continuing longer than three months, a charge is levied based on the number of users you have, and the features you use.


other sources of TV listings data

We understand these arrangements will not suit everyone, especially those users who are running software for personal use, who will want to maintain access permanently without paying for using Atlas. If you fall into this category, we recommend you consider some of the other options to obtain data. For example, we are aware of a US-based non-profit organization called Schedules Direct that offers schedule data for personal use, charging a small annual fee. We have not been in contact with this organisation, so cannot specifically recommend them, however they do appear to offer the service that some current Atlas users require.