If you like to know what you're missing on television because you're too busy sitting on your computer you might have used TV Genius in the past. As of today however they've closed their doors. Their message says "we don't really need the showcase site, and to be honest, we're so busy
working with customers we haven't had the time to incorporate a lot of
our newer features into this site." In other words - thanks for everything you've done to get us popular folks - now clear off because we're not interested in you any more.
So - where can you go instead to get a daily fix of televisual viewing delight? TV Genius recommends a few places and I've added in one or two more:
What's on tv which is their preferred suggestion, because it allows you to port across any alerting of programmes that you may have used with their service. It's a horribly bright page with a list of basic terrestrial channels, though you can choose to select a different set of channels, but you can't create your own mix. You can select by day and start time, and there's a search option. I'd be inclined to use this resource to set up reminders for me, and never visit again because it just hurts my eyes.
The AOL TV guide is easier on the eye. It does however require an AOL screen name in order to log in and set up a reminder service. It lets you view over a week in advance and it's easy to choose more channels to add to your preferred options. The display was reasonable, channels to the left, timing across (What's on TV lets you choose the opposite approach however) which is fine. What I did particularly like about this service was that as well as telling you when a particular programme was on it linked to other information on places such as YouTube or the Discovery Channel.
Freeview TV guide is fairly basic, with a grid on a black background. This also has a list view, though I found the grid view easier to follow. This provides programming information for 12 days in advance. As the name would suggest you don't get the option of information on the pay for channels though. Basic and useful, though uninspired.
ITV Guide is not as limited as you may at first think, since it does give a wide variety of options including the Beeb and Sky channels. It was easy to customise channels and add reminders (though it's necessary to register, which is fair enough). Strangely enough this service allows you to view previous days programming, back 6 days. Forward viewing is limited to 9 days.
UKNetguide TV Guide is another busy page with adverts crammed in everywhere (including a particularly annoying moving one from a hotel chain). This resource has a full 2 week selection but the selection of channels was limited to 5 at a time, though it is possible to choose any of the freeview/paid channels, but this made browsing much more difficult. That and the poor formatting made this a real miss for me.
On the box was easier to view. This also allows users to chose a grid or list option, and registration ensures that you can save your own listings. The resource looked fine, did what it was supposed to do, but wasn't particularly exciting.
Radio Times Ah, the good old Radio Times! It has a light/dark grey and orange colour scheme with a listings/grid scheme. Unlike most of the other resources this one gives a long list of channels straight away, without having to choose. The search option was oddly enough really poor - the worst of all of the resources that I looked at. I was expecting to warm to this site but it left me rather cold.
Of course, individual channels also have their own guides, such as Channel 4 or E4 for example.
None of the offerings really came out as a clear winner for me; they all had their own strengths and weaknesses. I think I'll stick to peering at the screen and using Sky+ to keep me informed.
So - where can you go instead to get a daily fix of televisual viewing delight? TV Genius recommends a few places and I've added in one or two more:
What's on tv which is their preferred suggestion, because it allows you to port across any alerting of programmes that you may have used with their service. It's a horribly bright page with a list of basic terrestrial channels, though you can choose to select a different set of channels, but you can't create your own mix. You can select by day and start time, and there's a search option. I'd be inclined to use this resource to set up reminders for me, and never visit again because it just hurts my eyes.
The AOL TV guide is easier on the eye. It does however require an AOL screen name in order to log in and set up a reminder service. It lets you view over a week in advance and it's easy to choose more channels to add to your preferred options. The display was reasonable, channels to the left, timing across (What's on TV lets you choose the opposite approach however) which is fine. What I did particularly like about this service was that as well as telling you when a particular programme was on it linked to other information on places such as YouTube or the Discovery Channel.
Freeview TV guide is fairly basic, with a grid on a black background. This also has a list view, though I found the grid view easier to follow. This provides programming information for 12 days in advance. As the name would suggest you don't get the option of information on the pay for channels though. Basic and useful, though uninspired.
ITV Guide is not as limited as you may at first think, since it does give a wide variety of options including the Beeb and Sky channels. It was easy to customise channels and add reminders (though it's necessary to register, which is fair enough). Strangely enough this service allows you to view previous days programming, back 6 days. Forward viewing is limited to 9 days.
UKNetguide TV Guide is another busy page with adverts crammed in everywhere (including a particularly annoying moving one from a hotel chain). This resource has a full 2 week selection but the selection of channels was limited to 5 at a time, though it is possible to choose any of the freeview/paid channels, but this made browsing much more difficult. That and the poor formatting made this a real miss for me.
On the box was easier to view. This also allows users to chose a grid or list option, and registration ensures that you can save your own listings. The resource looked fine, did what it was supposed to do, but wasn't particularly exciting.
Radio Times Ah, the good old Radio Times! It has a light/dark grey and orange colour scheme with a listings/grid scheme. Unlike most of the other resources this one gives a long list of channels straight away, without having to choose. The search option was oddly enough really poor - the worst of all of the resources that I looked at. I was expecting to warm to this site but it left me rather cold.
Of course, individual channels also have their own guides, such as Channel 4 or E4 for example.
None of the offerings really came out as a clear winner for me; they all had their own strengths and weaknesses. I think I'll stick to peering at the screen and using Sky+ to keep me informed.
Slightly diff focus, but Locate TV is also a nice little tool for finding out when things are on http://www.locatetv.com/
Posted by: Scott | January 05, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Digiguide ( http://www.digiguide.com/ ) is a download with a paid subscription but is also brilliant. You can set up keyword reminders, programmes are highlighted with whatever colour etc you choose, you can choose whatever channels you want on your listing and it goes as far forward as there is information (usually about two weeks).
My husband's had a subscription for at least five years now and we would've missed masses of interesting programmes without it!
Posted by: Edith | January 07, 2009 at 11:07 AM