Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024
Amazon updates its terrible user interface
Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024:
AMAZON UPDATES ITS HORRIBLE USER INTERFACE
I don't think I am exaggerating when I say that Amazon's Prime Video app has consistently been the most cluttered and hardest to use app of any of the major streamers.
Amazon rolled out a new user interface today, and according to the company, the updates "will help customers seamlessly navigate across Prime Video and quickly find something to watch."
Basically, it's an effort to make the various pods of content easier to find. There is a new top of the app navigation bar that includes tabs for sports, Prime Video, live TV, movies, TV shows and services you subscribe to via Amazon Channels.
The app will also include what Amazon promises are more personalization features, which were created with the assistance of Generative AI. There were also be more specific content category breakdowns, including “Top 10 in the US” or “Trending Shows.” The thumbnails will allow for clearer synopses for TV Shows and Movies, so users don't have to navigate into the listing to find out more about the program.
The downside is that there will be more auto-playing video as you decide on what title you want to watch:
When using a living room device, video content will play on the hero rotator as you determine what to watch, creating an immersive browsing experience. And on the “Live TV” destination, recommended 24/7 stations will automatically start playing. They will continue to do so as you transition into full screen playback, or exit out to browse other stations.
I'll be interested to see how this plays out for Amazon. I know that when I spoke with one of the Amazon engineers last year, I was told that one of the reasons Amazon cluttered the interface with so many on-demand titles was that while having them stuck inside the free Prime Video titles was annoying to many users, it also increased the amount of titles that were rented or sold.
TWEET OF THE DAY
WHY DO VIEWERS WATCH TRUE CRIME TV PROGRAMMING?
YouGov has released the results of a study that included 1091 U.S. adult citizens who were asked about their true crime TV viewing habits and there are some fascinating data points:
* 57% of the people surveyed consumed true crime content.
* Although only 48% of respondents felt that true crime content was "usually accurate."
* 23% felt true crime content makes people more likely to commit and get away with crimes
* 41% of the people surveyed watch true crime TV programming
But these are the scariest statistics to me:
* 32% of the people surveyed consume true crime content right before they go to sleep, and...
* 4% of the respondents watch true crime TV to do to sleep.
ODDS AND SODS
* One of my favorite Substacks, The Jewish TV Club, has a fun piece arguing that "Natalie Portman's New Show Is Even More Jewish Than I Thought."
* Speaking of favorite Substacks, actor Paul Scheer has one and the latest edition asks the important question, "Where Is Jenny Summers?" Her character was Axel Foley's old friend from the neighborhood and she seems to have been forgotten in the most recent Beverly Hills Cop movie.
* Here is a rundown of Tuesday's interesting global TV news items.
* If you're excited by the prospect of Homicide: Life On The Street finally making its streaming debut, you need to check out the 1998 PBS special Anatomy Of A 'Homicide: Life On The Street, a behind-the-scenes look at both the series and the episode "Subway."
* NPR critic Eric Deggans writes about "Why You Should Care About TV Critics Association Press Tour, Even If You're Not A TV Critic."
WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW
TUESDAY, JULY 23RD:
* Captain Marleau: Wind & Tides (MHz Choice)
* Dress My Tour Series Premiere (Hulu) - [first look video]
* Eiffel Tower: Life Behind The Scenes Series Premiere (MHz Choice)
* Gods Of Tennis Series Premiere (PBS)
* Frontline: Two American Families: 1991-2024 (PBS)
* Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta Season Premiere (MTV)
* 1992: The Top Game (Viaplay)
* Spiral Season Seven Premiere (MHz Choice)
* Surreal Life: Villa Of Secrets (MTV)
* Underdogs - The Silver Medalists In Egypt (Viaplay)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24TH:
* Charlie Hustle & The Matter Of Pete Rose (HBO)
* Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam (Netflix)
* Land Of Women Season Finale (Apple TV+)
* Love Of My Life Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Nova: Sea Change: The Gulf Of Maine (PBS)
* Resurrected Rides Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Presumed Innocent Season Finale (Apple TV+)
* Silent Witness (Britbox)
* Time Bandits Series Premiere (Apple TV+)
* Wayne Brady: The Family Remix Series Premiere (Freeform)
SEE YOU ON WEDNESDAY