Thousands of Freeview customers are without an electronic programme guide because the supplier failed to seal a new contract.
The Digifusion FVRT200 is one of several boxes that use the older listings service
Viewers with models of Personal Video Recorders, known as PVRs, which show 14-day listings are finding they can only see what is showing now or coming up next.
More commonly-used Freeview boxes show listings for just the forthcoming seven or eight days. This service will continue to be served by a different supplier.
The Digital TV Group (DTG) said boxes that are "compliant" will automatically switch from the 14-day guide to the seven or eight-day guide.
But those with "non-compliant" models will be left without advance listings.
This means in order to set up recordings, viewers will have to manually set the channel, the start time and the end time.
For many, the return to VHS functionality and a copy of the Radio Times will be too much of a retreat to the past and they will be forced to splash out on a new model.
Supplier Inview gave no warning about the change until a statement was released on June 29.
"As you know we have had to bring to an end the broadcast of the 4TV 14-day guide," the company said.
"Unfortunately this has been caused by circumstances beyond our control - simply put the bandwidth contract has run out and we have been unable to secure a new arrangement.
"As you know Inview has tried hard over the last few years to keep this service running but it seems that its time has now passed. We do hope you will manage to find a suitable new arrangement.
"Just to clarify one point - when the current listings expire on your Thomson/Digifusion devices both will revert to a simple now/next guide."
Retired broadcast engineer Steve Burgess was astonished that people who invested in the technology were given no warning the TV guide is coming to an end.
He said: "If you think of all these people having to buy new boxes, potentially thousands of boxes, at no notice, then there's something wrong here somewhere.
"They have been treated with absolutely no respect. Inview has effectively pulled the plug and nobody is 'fessing up to what has led to this decision.
"I'm sure Inview made the decision for commercial reasons but that's where the Government should step in, especially considering the environmental implications of replacing the boxes."
Marc Davis, a member of the Digital Spy forum, said the move would make people lose their trust in the corporations that made the PVR boxes.
"It's surprising that large companies like Sony and Thomson are prepared to let down their customers by allowing this service to expire - a move that's certain to make customers think twice before putting their trust (and pounds) into these corporations."
A petition has been started campaigning for the service to be reinstated.
The Digifusion FVRT200 is one of several boxes that use the older listings service
Viewers with models of Personal Video Recorders, known as PVRs, which show 14-day listings are finding they can only see what is showing now or coming up next.
More commonly-used Freeview boxes show listings for just the forthcoming seven or eight days. This service will continue to be served by a different supplier.
The Digital TV Group (DTG) said boxes that are "compliant" will automatically switch from the 14-day guide to the seven or eight-day guide.
But those with "non-compliant" models will be left without advance listings.
This means in order to set up recordings, viewers will have to manually set the channel, the start time and the end time.
For many, the return to VHS functionality and a copy of the Radio Times will be too much of a retreat to the past and they will be forced to splash out on a new model.
Supplier Inview gave no warning about the change until a statement was released on June 29.
"As you know we have had to bring to an end the broadcast of the 4TV 14-day guide," the company said.
"Unfortunately this has been caused by circumstances beyond our control - simply put the bandwidth contract has run out and we have been unable to secure a new arrangement.
"As you know Inview has tried hard over the last few years to keep this service running but it seems that its time has now passed. We do hope you will manage to find a suitable new arrangement.
"Just to clarify one point - when the current listings expire on your Thomson/Digifusion devices both will revert to a simple now/next guide."
Retired broadcast engineer Steve Burgess was astonished that people who invested in the technology were given no warning the TV guide is coming to an end.
He said: "If you think of all these people having to buy new boxes, potentially thousands of boxes, at no notice, then there's something wrong here somewhere.
"They have been treated with absolutely no respect. Inview has effectively pulled the plug and nobody is 'fessing up to what has led to this decision.
"I'm sure Inview made the decision for commercial reasons but that's where the Government should step in, especially considering the environmental implications of replacing the boxes."
Marc Davis, a member of the Digital Spy forum, said the move would make people lose their trust in the corporations that made the PVR boxes.
"It's surprising that large companies like Sony and Thomson are prepared to let down their customers by allowing this service to expire - a move that's certain to make customers think twice before putting their trust (and pounds) into these corporations."
A petition has been started campaigning for the service to be reinstated.