Fetch TV new features
New-look User Interface to begin rolling out to Fetch TV customers.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under Streaming, Subscription
Fetch TV has announced new features and an updated User Interface.
New features include the introduction of Integrated Universal Search, a 24-hour reverse EPG, and the ability to set channel favourites for easy navigation. Fetch users with a Mini set-top-box will also gain access to the Amazon Prime Video app (previously only available on the Fetch Mighty).
The User Interface makeover adds darker colours, finer fonts, larger text, and simplified icons.
Scott Lorson, CEO of Fetch TV said: “A defining characteristic of the Fetch service is its dynamic nature, thanks to our highly agile in-house design and development capability. We are constantly looking for ways to improve the user experience by adding new features, evolving the User Interface, and enhancing our content offering. This latest release achieves all three, and there are more exciting changes to come.
“Fetch and our partners are focused on leading the market in both value and user experience. In a constantly evolving market with more choices than ever, Fetch is delivering All your entertainment, easy.'”
The upgrade (known as 3.10 Abercrombie) will be progressively rolled out this month, starting from today with the Fetch Retail customer base, and represents the first of several major upgrades planned for the next 12 months.
Summary of key features:
- Integrated Universal Search – a single search query now provides results across Free-to-Air, subscription channels, recordings, Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime Video, hayu, 7+, 10Play, 9Now, ABC iView, SBS on Demand, the Fetch TV and Movie Stores, and YouTube. A “Ways to Watch” listing allows for easy selection from available options.
- Updates to the TV Guide
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- Channel Favourites – enables users to nominate “Favourite Channels”, with these channels then appearing at the top of the guide listing, for easy access.
- New look grid view – provides contextual show imagery and information, making browsing and selecting content easier than ever.
- 24 hr Reverse mode – allows on demand viewing of programs that aired up to 24 hours earlier for both Free-to-air, and Subscription channels.
- New look Info Bar – provides prompts for different ways of viewing shows across all channel types – join in progress, play from start, view shows that aired in the past 24 hrs, and view future scheduled programs now (the latter being for Virtual Playlist Channels only).
- New channel scanner – a quick and easy way to see what is now airing on adjacent channels and to navigate to watch.
- Updates to Movie & TV Stores – The Fetch interface has moved from a 3×3 to a 4×3 grid, increasing the number of titles available to view at a time. Rotten Tomatoes ratings and classification information now appears automatically when the user pauses on a movie or show tile.
- New Home Page layouts – flexibility has been added to the layout of the Home Page, allowing for variations in the configuration to increase vitality and editorial impact. Actionable half-page take overs can now be used to promote key content or to deliver educational messages intended to enhance users’ knowledge of the features of Fetch. Additional layout options to be added in coming months.
More info is here:
Overview, TV Guide, Search, Info Bar and the Release Notes.
7 Responses
I also find the onscreen display too large now, the ‘New look Info Bar’ takes up entire bottom half of the screen when you change channels or press play. The ‘New look grid view’ in the TV Guide showing episode synopsis as permanently visible within as a row between channels listed is also distracting while trying to quickly browse the guide, and it lags when scrolling down. As a fan of the former interface, I really do not see the need for making these two updates.
For me the biggest change is the loss of the “favourite channels” list. Which does encourage me to watch channels I wouldn’t normally watch.
Also, you now can’t tell what show is coming up next when scrolling through channels. So when you glance at what’s on, that program may only be on for a few more minutes, and something you’d like to watch that starts in 30 seconds time won’t be listed at all.
It’s a great improvement I was a tester, now if they add britbox when it released
Have been using this for the last few weeks as part of the testing group, the reverse TV guide is a good idea as you can go back up to 24 hours and watch anything you missed but I’m presuming that it is only shows that are on their relevant networks catch-up as some shows didn’t have that ability only those marked as such on the reverse TV guide.
Interface does indeed look slick with darker splash screens, appreciated the larger fonts also, and within the TV guide it expands to show you the shows details and image.
Adding your favourite channels was a good thought too, as they then show up at the top of the TV guide so no scrolling all the way down to find the ones you use a lot.
Looking forward to continuing to use the new layout.
Reverse EPG?! It’s like what Foxtel had years ago and that was an awesome feature! It’s what US Cable TV had a long time before that 🙂
I’d love Fetch TV on Apple TV… give me a Hulu + Live TV offering… please!
I find the onscreen display too large now, the ‘New look Info Bar’ takes up entire bottom half of the screen when you change channels or press play. The ‘New look grid view’ in the TV Guide showing episode synopsis as permanently visible within as a row between channels listed is also distracting while trying to quickly browse the guide, and it lags when scrolling down. As a fan of the former interface, I really do not see the need for making these two updates.
Completely agree about the Info Bar. It’s way too big and covers up too much of the screen. When you fast forward, it also stays on screen for too long.
I also find the episode synopsis between channel rows very distracting. It should appear on the right hand side.