List of Prevue software
| Electronic Program Guide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Status | Information |
| Apple II | Lost; defunct | Launched in 1981. First known variation of the EPG software. Introduced a scrolling guide, debut of the classic style, titles, text ads, and crawl ads. Units might have been referred to as EPG-II and manufactured by Syntronics. |
| Texscan | Lost; defunct | Need more information on this. |
| Atari 130XE | Found; defunct | Second known variation of the EPG software. Has most of the previous features, but omits the crawl ads.
Three versions of the software have been found, however no footage of the original units running back in the day can be found at this time. |
| Amiga 1000/2000 | Lost; defunct | Final version of the EPG software. Introduced full screen graphic ads. |
| Prevue/TV Guide Channel | ||
| Platform | Status | Information |
| Amiga 1000/2000 | 1988-93: Lost; defunct
1993-99: Found; defunct |
Launched in 1987. Internally referred to as EPG Esquire. Early versions (1988-93) seem to be based off EPG Sr., however omits the crawl ads and title, instead providing a blank space above with IFF graphics, text-only, and genlocked video for advertisements and programs, with later versions (1993-99) include similar features, however also introduced a grid that showed the current listings and the next two timeslots for each channel simultaneously, referred to as New Look.
As of November 7, 2020, while the early versions are still lost (and is most likely never to be found, as when Prevue software was updated, previous versions were overwritten.) Various versions of the New Look have been found, along with special LaserDisc-based versions. |
| Windows NT | Junior: Not sure; active
Hollywood: In-progress; active |
Prevue Junior: Launched in 1995, most likely referred to as "Prevue Channel PC" internally. Based upon Esquire New Look, which was first introduced in 1997. This version was presented in a very limited fashion, with listings alternating by individual pages instead of scrolling and showing just program information on the top portion of screen (though some versions offered genlocked video and graphical ads.
Hollywood: Launched in 1999. Current version of the Prevue Channel software, then referred to as TV Guide Channel after an acquisition. This version switched to the Windows NT platform similar to Prevue Junior, and offered different styles throughout different years, starting with a tan guide reminiscent of Motorola cable boxes of the time. Both versions seem to still be in used, albeit with TV Guide or Pop branding. |
| Sneak Prevue | ||
| Platform | Status | Information |
| Amiga 2000 | Found; defunct | Separate from other versions of Prevue, as this was made for pay-per-view barker channels. Launched in 1990. The channel relied on LaserDiscs, which were controlled by the Amiga.
Another version of Sneak Prevue was Barker, however was developed by a different company. |
| Windows NT | In-progress; defunct | A version of the Sneak Prevue software ported to Windows. This was most likely produced during a time when there were various different projects to port Prevue to Windows. It most likely operated in the same way as the Amiga software. |