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The Media Center database includes several objects used to define its configuration. Among these objects, one of them defines the tuning information (channel) and another one defines the guide data (guide service).

The channel object contains the following information:

• a name (changeable)
• a guide number (changeable)
• a guide visibility flag (changeable)
• the tuning information (tuner-specific)
• a link to a guide service

The guide services object contains the following information:

• the shows schedule (spawn across several database objects)
• the network affiliation
• the service provider (cable company)
• a constant unique id (UID)

What is very interesting about the guide services is their UID. Each guide service has its own UID but each guide service also share the same UID across all Media Center databases. That means that if station WXYX have a guide service object defining its shows listing, all Media Center database in the world will have the same UID for the guide service of station WXYX. Having a constant UID across installations is very useful, for example during the restore operation, to identify previously backed-up channels by using their link to a guide service which offers a constant UID.

Here is some information to consider about channels and guide services

• Many channels can link to the same guide service
• A channels can link to any guide service defined for the current region, no matter the service provider