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Catalog Management

Show Details

Within the CMS, digital programming managers are able to view, edit and update a show's information at any given time.

Some elements are read-only, powered via the feed:

  • Show title
  • URL name
  • Partner API ID

Others can be overridden where required:

  • Description
  • Short Description
  • Genre

Additional content and settings sit at the ShowMS level:

Active

Controls whether the show is available on the platform. While this is typically controlled via the VPPO feed it can be useful when there are errors with the feed, as well as when adding a show to the platform before it becomes available in the feed.

The VPPO feed only contains content that is available whereas there are often situations where we would like to have a show on the platform when there are no episodes available to stream. The most common of these is when a show has been announced but has not yet premiered. In this situation we can add it to the platform, hang promos, teasers and articles from it and begin building up SEO value.

Show Status

Programmers can set a status for a show, selecting from In Development, Coming Soon, In Season, Hiatus and Library. We use this setting in a number of places across different areas of the platform to control elements of user experience as well as to push into analytics.

Availability Notice

Different periods of a show's lifecycle require a different availability notice for users - this is a small piece of copy, similar to a tune-in, that let's the user know what they can expect. ShowMS automatically generates this copy based on a number of rules, or alternatively allows programmers to customize it as the show shifts from premiering, through week-to-week, to finale and eventually on-demand.

Episode Reminders

When a user has viewed all current episodes of an in-season show the Freeform mobile apps prompt users to sign up for push notifications. The copy is automatically generated from the Show Status and Broadcast Schedule, e.g. "Don't miss the finale" or can be overridden manually.

Show Theme

ShowMS allows for different color themes to be applied to shows. The theme controls various elements of the user interface, with a default set available to match the Freeform brand guidelines as well as the ability to have a custom theme when required.

Shop

If a show has merchandise for sale via the Freeform Shop, adding a shop URL in ShowMS will display a link in the show's navigation bar.

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