Television Guides, Resources & Industry Publications

Comprehensive directory of television resources including program guides, entertainment news, streaming services, industry publications, and professional resources for TV enthusiasts and media professionals.

210

TV Markets

1,700+

TV Stations

200+

Cable Networks

120M+

Households

Table of Contents

TV Program Guides & Listings

Online television program guides help viewers find shows, movies, and sports across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. Most offer personalized listings based on your TV provider and location.

TV Guide

The original TV listings publication, now offering comprehensive online TV guide with customizable local listings, show information, news, and what's trending. Covers broadcast, cable, and major streaming services.

Visit TVGuide.com

Zap2it

Free TV listings service with customizable grids by provider and location. Includes show information, cast details, and integration with streaming availability information.

Visit Zap2it.com

TitanTV

Free online TV listings customized to your location and provider. Grid format with program details, cast information, and personalization options.

Visit TitanTV.com

TV Passport

TV listings with integration for cord-cutters using antennas. Shows over-the-air channels available in your area with program schedules.

Visit TVPassport.com

JustWatch

Streaming guide showing where to watch movies and TV shows across 100+ streaming services. Helps find the cheapest or included options for any title.

Visit JustWatch.com

Reelgood

Universal streaming guide and search engine for finding content across all major streaming platforms. Tracks your watchlist and provides recommendations.

Visit Reelgood.com

Streaming Services

Major streaming platforms offer on-demand access to movies, TV series, and original content. Many now include live TV options as well.

Subscription Streaming (SVOD)
  • Netflix - Original series, films, documentaries
  • Amazon Prime Video - Included with Prime membership
  • Disney+ - Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, Nat Geo
  • Max (HBO) - HBO originals, Warner Bros. content
  • Hulu - Next-day TV, originals, movies
  • Paramount+ - CBS, Paramount films, originals
  • Peacock - NBC content, sports, Universal films
  • Apple TV+ - Original programming
  • Showtime - Premium originals (now part of Paramount+)
  • Starz - Premium films and series
Free Ad-Supported (FAST)
  • Tubi - Free movies and TV (Fox)
  • Pluto TV - Free live channels and on-demand (Paramount)
  • Amazon Freevee - Free ad-supported (formerly IMDb TV)
  • Peacock Free - Limited free tier
  • Xumo - Free streaming channels
  • Plex - Free live TV and on-demand
  • Samsung TV Plus - Free on Samsung TVs
  • The Roku Channel - Free on Roku devices
  • LG Channels - Free on LG smart TVs
  • Vizio WatchFree+ - Free on Vizio TVs
Live TV Streaming
  • YouTube TV - 100+ channels including sports
  • Hulu + Live TV - 90+ channels plus Hulu library
  • FuboTV - Sports-focused live TV
  • Sling TV - Budget-friendly live TV packages
  • DirecTV Stream - AT&T's streaming TV service
  • Philo - Budget entertainment channels
Specialty Streaming
  • ESPN+ - Sports streaming
  • Discovery+ - Reality, documentary, lifestyle
  • AMC+ - AMC, BBC America, IFC, Sundance
  • BET+ - Black entertainment streaming
  • Crunchyroll - Anime streaming
  • Shudder - Horror and thriller streaming
  • BritBox - British TV programming
  • Acorn TV - British and international TV

Industry Trade Publications

Entertainment Industry Trades
  • Variety

    Definitive entertainment business publication since 1905. Covers film, TV, streaming, music, and digital media.

  • The Hollywood Reporter

    Entertainment industry news, ratings, reviews, and business analysis since 1930.

  • Deadline Hollywood

    Breaking entertainment news, deal coverage, and industry analysis.

  • Broadcasting+Cable

    Television industry trade publication covering broadcast, cable, and streaming.

Technology & Business
  • Next TV

    Streaming, OTT, and advanced TV technology coverage.

  • TV Technology

    Technical publication for broadcast engineering professionals.

  • TVNewsCheck

    Local television news and business reporting.

  • MediaPost

    Media and advertising industry news and research.

TV Industry Career Resources

Job Boards
Training & Education
Industry Conferences
  • NAB Show - Las Vegas (April)
  • NATPE - Content marketplace
  • TCA Press Tour - Network presentations
  • SCTE Cable-Tec Expo - Technical conference
  • Promax - Marketing conference

Frequently Asked Questions

The best TV guide depends on your needs. TV Guide (tvguide.com) offers comprehensive coverage of broadcast, cable, and streaming with news and editorial content. Zap2it provides clean, customizable grids. For streaming-only, JustWatch shows where content is available across all platforms. Most smart TVs and streaming devices also have built-in guides that work with your specific subscriptions and connected services.

JustWatch (justwatch.com) is the most comprehensive streaming search engine, covering 100+ services in the US. Enter any movie or TV show title to see which platforms offer it for streaming, rental, or purchase. Reelgood offers similar functionality with additional features for tracking shows across platforms. Google search also shows streaming availability when you search for a show title.

The top free ad-supported streaming services (FAST) include Tubi (owned by Fox), which has the largest free library; Pluto TV (Paramount), offering live channels and on-demand; Amazon Freevee, with quality original content; and Peacock Free, with limited NBC content. Smart TV platforms also offer free services: The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, and Vizio WatchFree+. All are completely free with ads, no subscription required.

Local broadcast channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, CW) are free with a digital antenna. Indoor antennas cost $20-50 and receive channels in HD. For streaming options, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and FuboTV include local channels. Locast operated as a free option but shut down. Some station websites and apps offer live streaming of their content, and the PBS app provides free streaming of PBS content.

For industry news and business coverage, the most respected trade publications are Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline Hollywood. These sources break major stories and provide in-depth analysis of the entertainment business. For consumer-focused TV news and reviews, TVLine, Entertainment Weekly, and Vulture are reliable sources. For aggregated critic scores, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic compile professional reviews.

TVLine and TV Guide maintain updated premiere date calendars for all networks and streaming services. IMDb shows release dates and episode schedules. For specific shows, follow the official social media accounts of the network or streaming service. The TV section of entertainment trades like Variety and THR announce renewals, cancellations, and premiere dates as news breaks.

Entry into TV careers varies by role. For creative roles (writing, directing, producing), film schools like AFI, USC, UCLA, and NYU provide training and connections. For technical crew, many start as production assistants (PAs) and work up through union apprenticeship programs (IATSE locals). Local TV stations often hire entry-level positions in production, news, and sales. Job boards like Staff Me Up, ProductionHUB, and Mandy.com list current openings. Guild websites (WGA, DGA, SAG-AFTRA) provide resources for aspiring members.

Nielsen ratings measure TV viewership through a panel of approximately 40,000 households with metering devices that track what's being watched. A rating point represents 1% of TV households (about 1.3 million homes). Share represents the percentage of TVs in use watching a specific program. Nielsen now measures streaming through panel data combined with server-side data from platforms. Alternative measurement companies like VideoAmp, Comscore, and iSpot.tv are increasingly used alongside Nielsen.

There are 210 Designated Market Areas (DMAs) in the United States as defined by Nielsen. DMAs are geographic regions where households receive the same local TV stations. The largest markets are New York (#1), Los Angeles (#2), Chicago (#3), Philadelphia (#4), and Dallas-Fort Worth (#5). Market size affects advertising rates, with the top 10 markets commanding premium prices. Smaller markets may cover multiple states or rural regions with fewer stations.

Cord-cutting refers to canceling traditional cable or satellite TV subscriptions in favor of streaming services and/or over-the-air antenna reception. As of 2024, approximately 45-50 million US households have cut the cord, with cable/satellite penetration dropping below 50% of TV households for the first time. Many cord-cutters use a combination of streaming services, free FAST platforms, live TV streaming (YouTube TV, Hulu Live), and antennas. The trend accelerated during COVID-19 and continues as streaming options expand.

Last updated on November 27, 2025