List of Prevue software
Electronic Program Guide | ||
---|---|---|
Platform | Status | Information |
Apple II | Lost; defunct | 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.
As of November 7, 2020, while footage of it exists, the software is still considered lost. |
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.
As of November 7, 2020, while footage of it exists, the software is still considered lost. |
Prevue/TV Guide Channel | ||
Platform | Status | Information |
Amiga 1000/2000 | 1988-93: Lost; defunct
1993-99: Found; defunct |
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: Partially found; active
Hollywood: Lost; active |
Prevue Junior: Separate version 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: 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. While both versions seem to still be used in little cable markets, however only the Prevue Junior software seems to have been found, however hasn't been released most likely due to legal reasons. |
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