CompuServe Messages

TV Guide is disturbingly linear, and a perfect candidate for interactivity. Especially if you have many channels available (or a satellite dish). Sure, the traditional TV listing tells you "what's on now." But… …you catch only part of a great PBS show. You know that these things are usually run again. Query: When is the next time this program will be shown? or …are there any Fred + Ginger movies are on this week? Hitchcock? What science fiction movies are on this week? What romantic comedies produced before 1965 with at least a 3 star rating? or …which of my favorite shows (you could have a programmed list) will be showing first-run episodes this week? or you could have a programmed list of things to watch for (although the data would change each week, obviously). So without having to 'ask,' (as in my earlier example) the system would automatically tell you (as soon as it saw the new week's data) whenever any of your favorite movies were being shown. Or maybe only when it was being shown on a commercial-free station, uncolorized. Or whenever anything with Judy Garland is broadcast. Or any time Paul McCartney is listed as a guest on a show. Whatever. Theoretically, there could be such a program (interface and search engine) for a CD-ROM based computer. You could subscribe to the data disks which would arrive periodically (they do not have to be very expensive – and they could even sell advertising on them). You could even have the system programmed to call (through a modem) once a day for latest updates (last minute schedule changes and the like), which could be stored either in RAM cartridges or on floppy disk. And how about a link to the VCR? Mark off the programs you want to record this week, and it will automatically set the VCR's timer. TV Guide is primitive! ===Scott