If some fields are empty or look unusual you may have an old version.
Compare to the current minimal requirements in Documentation/Changes.
 
Linux grinch 2.6.1-mm4 #2 Sat Jan 17 03:33:01 EET 2004 i686 unknown
 
Gnu C                  3.2.3
Gnu make               3.80
util-linux             2.11z
mount                  2.11z
module-init-tools      0.9.9
e2fsprogs              1.32
jfsutils               1.1.4
reiserfsprogs          3.6.4
xfsprogs               2.3.5
quota-tools            3.08.
nfs-utils              1.0.4
Dynamic linker (ldd)   2.3.1
Linux C++ Library      5.0.3
Procps                 3.1.8
Net-tools              1.60
Kbd                    1.08
Sh-utils               2.0
Modules Loaded         tuner tvaudio bttv video_buf btcx_risc

 /~ $ xawtv -v
 This is xawtv-3.90, running on Linux/i686 (2.6.1-mm4)
 disabling TCL support

 /~ $ transcode -v
 transcode v0.6.11 (C) 2001-2003 Thomas Oestreich, 2003 T. Bitterberg