Once again the TV Guide Network has shrunk the size of the listings on the scroll. I thought it was good that they still showed the listings for people (particularly the elderly) who don't have a digital box or who can't figure out how to get the on-screen guide to work, but now the type is so small you have to either have to have really good eye sight to read it or you have to be really close to the the screen to read it.
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TV Guide Network - Shrinks Size of Listings (Again)
- Thread starter MarcB
- Start date
They only do this during their acquired programming (e.g., Ugly Betty, Curb your Enthusiasm). I'd actually argue the other way-- I would like to see the listings removed completely during these shows. There's just very little utility provided by the listings these days- even the elderly can see the listings from their digital cable box's guide. Alternatively, my elderly father relies on the newspaper tv listings -- he does not use or know of the TV guide network. Even TVG's abbreviated guide is intrusive to viewers tuning in to watch their programming.
In any event, I read somewhere back the new owners of the channel are working on removing the listings but they are facing some contractual hurdles. Certain cable providers are enforcing the old contract and won't let them drop the listings. It might be some time before they are completely gone.
In any event, I read somewhere back the new owners of the channel are working on removing the listings but they are facing some contractual hurdles. Certain cable providers are enforcing the old contract and won't let them drop the listings. It might be some time before they are completely gone.
Currently they have the one that stops during shows. The new one is lower and shows three in a row and stops. Has a clean look and all. I remember back in the day when it was four in a row and the graphic took half the screen and stopped. Remember those days? Is there no money in doing a TV Listing channel anymore? You think maybe someone else would give it a shot. All TV Guide Network is about showing movies, Punkd, and other shows already seen on the channels they list.
What does Zap2it TV Listings channel look like?
Cablevision has not one, but TWO program guide channels, at least in the New York City area: The original EPG channel, "On Cablevision," was on Channel 14 for the longest time and showed a rotating text guide of programs for the ninety minute period approaching. Background music was provided by either AC WPLJ or "smooth jazz" WQCD. Then a few years ago, it changed to an upgraded listings channel, which resembles TV Guide Channel in that the listings scrolled on the lower half of the screen; meanwhile, the upper half had rotating Cablevision (and later, Optimum) promos and commercials. Anyway, once they started the new MSG Varsity channel, they placed that on Channel 14 and bumped this guide channel to 79 or 80. (Which makes no sense to me, as the 70-80 end of the dial has the other major regional sports networks; I guess it's all about exposure for a new channel.) The second guide channel is for the expanded digital tier, and it's on Channel 100.
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musicman3355
Guest
Cable companies should just remove TV Guide and create their own guide channel, or make a "preview" channel and put up small screens to show what's currently on each channel, kind of like how DirecTV does that with sports, news and kids channels.
musicman3355 said:
A couple of days ago, Charter (in my area) moved the TV Guide channel from the regular expanded cable to the basic digital package. They have been doing this to certain channels over the past two or three years, so this isn't new.
TV Guide Channel where I live is on channel 97 and snowy some but seeable still. Surprise they place the channel on 97. And no I don't have digital cable.
M
musicman3355
Guest
It's pretty weird that our local Time Warner Cable's version of TV Guide Channel only shows listings for local channels and public access channels including CSPAN. They don't display channels above 99 (which I never had seen them do that back then when they DID show cable channel listings).
DToTheJ said:
That actually IS the game plan. When they announced the intention of turning the channel into more of a general entertainment channel after Lionsgate purchased it, part of that was to discontinue the grid listings. Why this has not been done yet is beyond me, but I'm guessing it has to do with contractual obligations to cable companies for carriage. Once those are up, I'd imagine the listings would be discontinued unless enough cable operators drop the channel entirely.
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