A system for compensating for the effect of a live television program airing beyond a previously determined end time on the provision of channel guides, pop up program reminders, and/or video recording of television programs by network interface devices of a subscription based television service provider. First data messages are generated and communicated by a computer of the live television program's source configured with messaging software. Upon receiving the first data messages, a service provider computer automatically generates and communicates second data messages to network interface devices located at subscribers' premises causing them to automatically (i) disable the generation of pop up program reminders and the performance of video recording, (ii) update stored channel guide, pop up program reminder, and video recording session schedule data to compensate for the overrunning live television program, and (iii) re-enable the generation of pop up program reminders and the performance of video recording.