tvguide.com
The term "TV Guide" is generally viewed in the same light as television listings. It is basically the companion guide you get on your TV to help browse channels and content. However, TVGuide also offers content to its audience beyond those general features.
What is TVGuide.com?
TVGuide is a digital media brand that provides its fans a great experience. From TV shows to web series, they provide in-depth details about all the content that is available on the platform. TVGuide's team of editors ensures that you get honest reviews about the programs before watching them. Additionally, they also provide recommendations, in-depth interviews, breaking news, short clips and smart recaps so that you can immerse yourself into the massive pool of TV content.
History
TVGuide originally served as a magazine that provided program listing information. The magazine still exists today and covers television-related news, gossip, celebrity interviews, and film reviews. The website was redesigned by CBS Interactive in order to keep the same concept in place - with all editorial content managed by ViacomCBS.
Why should you stream on TVGuide?
I like how TVGuide's Watchlist allows you to add your favorite TV shows, sports teams, celebrities, and movies to help you stay up-to-date with the coverage. Aside from this selection, you can also choose when you want to watch the content and how you want to watch it. TVGuide makes finding TV shows easy. Using the platform, you can get access to news and other content material anywhere at any time.
Availability of Full Episodes
If you're using the TVGuide app, you'll be able to watch full episodes of TV shows along with movies if you're subscribed to any of the following services: Hulu, ABC, HBO Go, CBS, Max Go, iTunes and Crackle. You will even see content updated in real-time which will allow you to stay up-to-date on new content on the website.
Great additional features
You can use the TVGuide to set up alerts so you don't miss any live airing. You can add shows to the watchlist, share what you're watching with your friends on social media platforms, and make use of three handy filters - New Shows, trending, and Watchlist.
Exclusive Content
com - TVGuide.com is your one-stop destination for all the latest in televised content.
Apart from the feature to link your streaming service, you will find additional content on TVGuide.com which you wouldn't find anywhere else. This can be a pre or post-event coverage, exclusive interview or some bits specially curated just for the users on TVGuide.com. Thus, it gives viewers a reason to tune into TVGuide.com for that extra bit of content. From breaking news, to feature stories, all curated by the editors of TVGuide.com, TVGuide.com is your one-stop destination for all the latest in televised content.
Single Account
This is not a groundbreaking feature, but it is a helpful one if you do not want to create many IDs and want to link all your family members under one umbrella. Similar to Netflix, you can create different accounts for every family member so there is content discretion to good effect.
TVGuide in different countries
The digital presence of TVGuide is owned by Viacom CBS. The TVGuide name is used across the world as a verbatim for magazines and other publishing materials. Let's check some of them out.
TV Week: During the 1970s, TV was published by Southdown Press under a license. In 1980, the initial version merged with a competitor and became TV Week. (The logo is similar to TVGuide.)
New Zealand: TVGuide was a digest-sized paper not associated with the publications based in the US or Canada. To date, it is the largest circulated magazine in New Zealand published by Fairfax media.
In Canada, Mexico, and Italy, there are respective TV Guides known as TV Guides (Mexico) and Guides to TV (Italy) which cover the same information.
Design
The TVGuide website is exactly what I expected it to be. I can't understand why upgrading TV.com isn't being considered by CBS when it owns TVGuide as well. Graphically, TVGuide is a proper modern-day website with a clean interface and a sleek design. A proper homepage banner with supporting texts along with well-defined menus and categories make it one of the best websites in this niche.
Header
The header section blends seamlessly with the homepage banner, featuring a search bar where users can search for any TVGuide they want. Besides that, you'll find five options - Reviews, Discover, Listings, News, and My Watchlist. Each of these categories has a drop-down menu that directs you to the inner page. Even if you click on "My Watchlist," you'll get two options in a drop-down format - log in and watch list.
Hero Section
The header flows seamlessly into the hero section, with a dark layer providing contrast. I find no issues with the layout or appearance of this particular section.
Body
The body section of the website is packed with information. There are four thumbnail images with content from different networks. For example, at the time of my review, there was "High Maintenance" from Vimeo, "Mythic Guest: Raven's Banquet" from Apple+, "Locke & Key" from Netflix, and "Briarpatch" from USA Network. Each of these shows has a small synopsis under the thumbnail.
If you scroll further, you'll find the quick links section and the latest news section. Under the quick links section, you can access Newsletters, TV Premiere Dates, Bachelor Recap Podcast, and Renewed or Canceled options. If you scroll further, you'll get scoops about different TV shows followed by yet another news section. Finally, if there's no Sponsored Content Ad present, you'll find the first page of articles for TV.com.
Footer
Despite the footer feeling a little cluttered, it is still better than TV.com. You will find social media icons at the top followed by options such as "Help?", "Media Kit?", "Copyright Policy?", "About Us?", "Sitemap?", "RSS?" and "Mobile" right underneath. If you want to download the app, you can use the Google Play Store and App Store icons on the right.
Inner Pages
The detailed pages within have many different banners and color schemes supported by buttons in a similar color palette. The design effort is very evident on these pages, with a list of channels below for you to access.
Content
TVGuide has a more expansive library than TV.com because it includes Viacom channels. You will find the most buzzing shows on the network with series from companies such as Netflix, USA, Vudu, iTunes, Google Play, Hulu, HBO, Viacom, and CBS to name a few. Thus you can find popular series such as the "Big Bang Theory?", "Seinfeld?", "Stranger Things?", "Frontline?", "Modern Family?", "Survivor?", "Locke & Key?", "The Bachelor?", "Grey's Anatomy?", "Chicago Fire?" and "This is Us".
Desktop/Mobile experience
I streamed TVGuide on the mobile website and it was a good experience. I felt the temptation to download the app, and that was one of the best decisions because navigating on the app feels so much better. You can find everything so easily and there's absolutely no hassle in linking your streaming service when you're using an app.
Plans & Pricing
TVGuide is a free platform that does not allow you to stream full episodes and content on the platform unless you link your account. Thus, the full episodes are not free.
Suggestions I have for TVGuide
I have not used the TVGuide before 2017. After reading a few reviews, it seems that people do not like short trailers and a website filled with ads. Furthermore, many have claimed that the guides are inaccurate. If this is the case, then the team should look into it. Another suggestion I would like to give is that they add a feedback option or help column which users can make use of.
Conclusion
TVGuide is the best website for watching TV content in the United States. It offers a great variety of content, including news, gossip, trailers, and other materials. This website is a great resource for fans of entertainment.