LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Cable's TV Guide Channel will launch new programming on Monday aimed at spicing up its network and boosting ratings, Daily Variety reported Wednesday.
The loyal scroll on the bottom of the screen will now be second in priority to the programming fare above, said Jeff Schell, chairman of Gemstar, which owns TV Guide. New shows will combine segments about what's on TV with gossip, trivia, entertainment news and celebrity interviews.
A sampling of new daily shows includes "What's On," "What's Next," "TV Talk" and "Quick Flick," which offers movie recommendations for video-on-demand channels.
The network is planning several specials with the Super Bowl, Golden Globes and Oscars featured this quarter.
The new look coincides with TV Guide joining the lineup of sister company DirecTV, which boosts subscriber count to 70 million.
DirecTV and Gemstar, TV Guide's parent company, both are owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.
