User:TrackerTV/Tails
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| TV Guide Channel | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | 1985 |
| Owned by | TV Guide |
| Formerly called | Electronic Program Guide (1985-1987),
Prevue Guide (1988-1993),Prevue Channel (1993-1999) |
| Website | TV Guide Listings |
| Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| DirecTV | Channel 237 |
| Dish Network | Channel 117 |
| Cable | |
| Verizon FiOS | Channel 48 |
| Also available on most cable systems such as Comcast, Charter Communications, Time Warner Cable, etc. | |
The TV Guide Channel is a television channel that provides, on the bottom one third of the screen, a scrolling grid that lists television channels and the television programs and films currently showing on them. On the top two thirds of the screen are featured programs usually featuring movie previews, celebrity news, and commercials. The channel's market share come mainly from viewers who wish to see what television shows will be upcoming. With the increased popularity of digital cable and satellite, the TV Guide channel nets fewer and fewer viewers.
Contents |
[edit] History
In 1985, a small independent 24-hour cable network called the Electronic Program Guide (or the EPG for short) was launched. The early years of the EPG had an on-screen program guide that covered the entire screen. The graphics from the old EPG version featured the same channel listing every half hour: at times, current listings were several minutes away. This version featured a local text-based advertisement ticker on the bottom of the screen and live audio from a local FM radio station.
In 1988, the EPG experienced its first major change since launch. A company, Prevue Networks Inc., was incorporated to own the EPG system. Correspondingly, the EPG was renamed Prevue Guide. The second version introduced the split-screen format that is still used today. The top version featured graphic and animated advertisements, as well as previews for movies and featured channel locations (which were mostly used for pay TV channels). The bottom was a scrolling, revised version of the 1985 EPG. Although some cable companies decided to keep the old EPG version, major ones that had larger viewers decided to upgrade to the Prevue Guide version.
In 1991, the third version of the Prevue Guide was launched. Prevue Guide eventully decided to add their own programs and segments, including channel identification. For the cable companies that still carried the second version of the Prevue Guide program grid, it would only provide live audio from the Prevue Guide audio feed, and advertisements covered up the video portion of the screen. The third version saw the same scrolling channel listings taking up the bottom half of the screen of the new Prevue Guide format, while graphics continued to occupy the top. Meanwhile, Prevue Guide notified the smaller cable companies that still carried the old EPG version to upgrade and start carrying the Prevue Guide, and the EPG was later discontinued in 1993.
In 1993, the channel turned another corner. Prevue Guide overhauled its presentation and the listing format. A "blue grid" replaced the older format. The blue grid was a radical change from the previous 12 years. Information for varying timeslots was now flexible and visible at one time, which still holds true today. By the end of the year, the channel location features on the top half were dropped; from that period through 1994, the name switched over to the Prevue Channel. By 1996, a new logo was introduced, based on an eye. The graphics also received another overhaul, but the blue grid continued to remain. That same year, Prevue introduced their first digital Interactive Guide, which was from General Instruments. It was launched as part of TCI's first digital cable service.
The underlying structure behind the Prevue Guide system is similar to The Weather Channel's WeatherSTAR (which would provide local information from the cable company and live video feeds at the same time). Prevue software ran on Amiga servers; the guide was known to crash at times, leaving the Amiga "Guru Meditation" error overlaid on top of the listings. Other common errors included a fallback to the satellite, and a red box where the listings would normally be, simply stating that local listings would appear soon.
In February 1999, United Video Satellite Group, parent company of Prevue Networks, bought TV Guide for $2 billion in stock and cash. Over the next 10 months, the newly renamed TV Guide Channel quickly transitioned. New graphics were in by midyear and a replacement for the blue grid which had presented listings on the channel for 6 years was operational by December. Some cable companies were still using the old blue grids. The grid system's stability has been unmatched, as TV Guide Channel has cycled through various styles in 8 years. In 2002, the grid size went from 50% of the screen to 35%, as to allow more space for long-form programs.
Ever since TV Guide was bought by the Prevue Channel, the programs on it have changed drastically. 'Shows' have been added to the TV Guide Channel (see bottom). Shows can last from a few seconds to a couple hours (the longer shows take up the whole screen, making the scrolling grid smaller). Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa Rivers provide coverage for television award events like The Emmy Awards and The Academy Awards. Also on the scrolling grid are ads and promotions for the local cable provider (their logo is shown at the end and beginning of the listings), which are usually preceded by local weather conditions. The weather data differs from that used on The Weather Channel's WeatherSTAR.
Since the TV Guide Channel isn't available with every cable service, services like IO Digital Cable and Bright House Networks have come up with their own scrollng grids, with IO having TV commercials for their service at a certain time (the other time just has still ads with Music playing), but up in the right hand corner in a small screen and Bright House having a local news station as a "show", and the screen is set up like IO's.
During the network's red carpet coverage of awards shows with Joan and Melissa Rivers, the video from the event is shown full-screen, with a two line transparent non-scrolling grid along the bottom third of the screen showing a reduced version of the regular TV Guide Channel listings, with truncated show titles only. An 800 number comment line also appears on the top line of these listings, which directs viewers to leave feedback about the listing style for TV Guide Channel's future reference.
[edit] Categories and Color Schemes
The type of show categories are highlighted by colors on the screen:
- Normal Programming: Gray (current color)
- Children's Shows: Light Blue
- Sports Programming: Green
- Movies: Red, Dark Purple
The use of these colors is unchanged on digital cable receivers with the newest version of TV Guide/Gemstar's EPG software, TV Guide Interactive.
During the time around the Emmys, shows that have been nominated are highlighted in gold. Same goes for the Oscars, except only movies that have won in the past. Other special shows, for example, like shows on Discovery Channel's Shark Week have a bubbly-water scheme, referring to the ocean, or close to Halloween, horror movies have spiderwebs in the scheme, and Holiday movies shown in December are blue with what looks like snow hanging at the top. Similar important shows and/or premieres have similar schemes to their grid space.
[edit] Former colors
- Normal Programming: Teal green (used from the teal green days of the program grid from 2004-2005).
- Normal Programming: Blue (used from the blue program grid days from 2003-2004).
- Normal Programming: Yellow (used from the yellow program grid days from 1999-2002).
- Normal Programming: Navy blue (used from the navy blue program grid days from 1993-1999).
- Premium/Pay-Per-View stations: Dark red (used from the navy blue program grid days from 1993-1999 and the black listings from 1985-1993). This color was later discontinued since the arrival of the yellow grid and when the Amgias were degraded.
- Premium/Pay-Per-View summary listings: Light gray (used from the navy blue program grid days from 1993-1999 and the black listings from 1985-1993).
- Movies (not shown on either a premium or Pay-Per-View station): Light blue (first inturduced in 1996 on the navy blue program grid).
- Normal Programming: Black (used from the EPG and Prevue Guide years until mid 1993).
Note: on the older versions before the yellow grid came out in late 1999, the colors for the sports programs were not added at the time. Also, when the teal-green grid came out in early 2004, the color for the children's programs were added.
[edit] Current Shows
In addition to paid programming that airs from late morning-early afternoon, the TV Guide Channel has many original sieries that air during primetime.
- Watch This!- A daily hour show (except Fridays) that shows the best programs in primetime to watch.
-Hosted by: John Henson, and Nikki Boyer (Sometimes co-host switches)
- TV Watercooler- A weekly recap of TV's noteworthy shows and moments.
-Hosted by John Fugelsang and Teresa Strasser (Debra Wilson was a former co-host)
- The 411- Weekend show that shows the highlights from the past week. Lasts an hour.
-Hosted by: Madison Michele
- InFANity- A comprehensive look at a particular TV series, featuring cast interviews; set visits; stars' off-screen activities; fans' questions; and plot previews.
- Ready, Set, Change!- A home modification show in the spirit of Monster House. The owner's homes are changed into the theme of their favorite TV show.
-Hosted by Rosanna Tavarez
- TV Candy- A lucky person gets to get a makeover to look like their favorite TV Show character.
-Hosted by Melissa Rivers
- Look-a-Like- Same thing as TV Candy, only the person gets a makeover to look like a celebrity.
- Seeing Stars- Hypnotist Ricky Kalmon 'hypnotises' people into believing that they are going to meet a celebrity or into thinking they are a certain celebrity.
- Open Call- Marki Costello, a professional casting director tries to cast 'the next big television icon'.
- Square Off- A weekly series presenting news and views about television. Included are panel discussions of TV issues.
- Sushi TV- Shows the most bizarre moments in Japanese Television, while the host give possibly wrong descriptions of what's going on.
-Hosted by Chris Booker
- TV Guide Close Up- Informative and fun one hour biographies on your favorite TV and film stars.
- Hollywood on Set- Set visits and behind-the-scenes info on the latest movies, profiling three each show.
- Reality Chat- Weekly talk show dedicated to the reality TV phenomenon.
-Hosted by Kimberly Caldwell and Rosanna Tavarez
- Idol Tonight- A preview of each week's American Idol, and highlights (and lowlights) of the previous show, featuring analysis of the judging and fashions as well as the performers and performances. Also: interviews with defeated contestants.
-Same hosts as Reality Chat
- Trapped in TV Guide- Classic TV moments and reality come together when unsuspecting people are placed in the middle of their favorite television shows.
-Hosted by Tracey Gold.
- Stars' First Jobs- Stars show where they worked before they achieved stardom.
-Hosted by Melissa Rivers
- Hollywood Showdown- Contestants field questions on film, TV, and music for cash prizes. Hosted by Todd Newton.
- What's on DVD- A preview of upcoming releases on DVD.
[edit] Former Shows (TV Guide Channel)
- What's On'
-Hosted by Ken Taylor
- What's On: Flicks'
-Hosted by Ken Taylor
- Music News'
-Hosted by Katie Wagner
- TV Talk
-Hosted by Katie Wagner
- Hollywood Insider
-Hosted by Sibila Vargas & Aashna Patel & Cynthia Garrett
- The Screening Room
-Hosted by Debbie Matenopoulos & Ken Taylor
- Quick Flicks
-Hosted by Debbie Matenopoulos
- Movie Profile (:10 and :40 of every hour, 1999)
- TV Guide Insider (:25 and :55 of every hour, 1999)
- TV Guide Quick Tips
- Entertainment News (:20 and :50 of every hour, 1999)
- TV Close-Up
-Hosted by Katie Wagner & Ken Taylor
- Movie Close-Up (short segments, in some form since 1988)
- Pay-Per-View Close Up (short segments, in some form since 1988)
- Family Finds
- Sportsview
- News Brief and Weather (preceded TV Guide Insider, 1999)
- TV Guide Around Town (aired only in some areas, 1999)
[edit] Future Shows On TV Guide Channel
The Surreal Life July 2007
Flavor of Love July 2007
My Fair Brady July 2007
[edit] Former Shows (Prevue Guide/Channel)
- Prevue Tonight (:27 and :57 of every hour, since 1988)
- Familyvue (:28 and :58 of every hour, 1996-1999)
- Movievue (Became a service for VCR Plus and Prevue Channel since 1993)
- Prevue's TV Trivia (short segments, from 1994-1998)
- Intervue with Jim Ferguson (Television movie critic, from 1995-1998)
- Prevue's Sportscope
- Prevue's ReelTalk (during Pay-Per-View Previews, from 1993-1998)
- Network Spotlight (short segments, from 1993-1998)
- Holiday Spotlight (from December 1994)
- Prevue This (:00 and :30, from 1998)
- Prevue Family (:05 and :35, from 1998)
- Prevue Sports (:15 and :45, from 1998)
- Prevue TV (:17 and :47, from 1998)
- Prevue News and Weather (:25 and :55, from 1998)
- Prevue Revue (:00 and :30, from 1998)
- Prevue Around Town (aired only in some areas, 1998)
- The Big Picture (movie trailers, 1996-1997)
[edit] Slogans
[edit] Prevue Guide and Prevue Channel
- Just what you're looking for. (1988-1992)
- We are what's on (1992-1996)
- Prevue...See what's on (1996-1998 secondary)
- Prevue First! (1998-1999 secondary)
- Before you view, Prevue! (1993 to 1996 alternate, 1996-1999 primary)
[edit] TV Guide Channel
- Change the way you channel (1999-2001)
- Don't miss a thing (2001-2004)
- Original shows, original channel, TV Guide Channel. (2004-present)
[edit] Logos
[edit] Prevue Channel
 Recorded 9 October 1991 |
Recorded 20 December 1991 |
[edit] TV Guide Channel
[edit] References
[1] Archive.org cache of a gallery of Prevue Guide crashes.
[edit] External link
[[Category:American television networks]] [[Category:News Corporation]] [[Category:News Corporation subsidiaries]] [[Category:1988 establishments]]
