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While I watch very little TV, I believe there are many interesting shows on cable that are DVR Worthy if we were only to learn about them. Its like the BloggerCon III podcasting discussion (time index post) of cataloging and access an "unlimited number of channels" to become available (43:50.) I'm confident that the brains behind the new media content we'll see proliferating on the Internet will be much more intelligent in categorization and access than those behind traditional media channels.
Traditional media cataloging and access services are so lame that I was completely impressed by a simple reminder service provided by The Learning Channel. We happened to catch a very engrossing show on TLC last week called Extreme Surgery. A preview of the final episode to follow was shown, but did not say when it was scheduled. So I went to TLC's site, found the next episode in the TLC Schedule and clicked the "Remind me!" button. A simple email address entry and I was good to go.
First showing of Extreme Surgery II Episode 3 is December 13th. Today. Waiting for me this morning was an email reminding me of the show coming on tonight along with information about a related show TLC thought I might enjoy. TLC's Remind Me! service is an excellent example how little things and simple services can generate customer loyalty and buzz. Well done, TLC!
On the flip side of traditional media mentality, there's TVGuide.com. I thought I'd visit and see if they had any smart reminder services like TLC. After all, an aggregated TV scheduling site like TVGuide.com would be the perfect place for user services like this. However, the answer is no. I can't say the answer is definitively no, since registration is now required to even view the tv listing. I don't have a problem with that, but as Seth Godin pointed out in The Book, where does TVGuide.com get the gahonnas (my word, not Seth's) to require me to enter not only my name and email address (not a problem there), but my address, phone AND birthdate! I'm sorry, TVGuide.com, but you are too ignorant for me to entrust that information to you. As Godin suggests in the book, you ask what is REQUIRED of visitors in the registration process only, then over time, request more information from the user in exchange for providing them with additional value for doing so. |