Redesigning Live TV for the Streaming Age
VIZIO WatchFree+ – Modernizing the Electronic Program Guide Experience
VIZIO’s WatchFree+ is a free, ad-supported streaming service integrated into millions of VIZIO Smart TVs, offering over 260 live channels and 6,000 on-demand titles. Despite its extensive content library, users found the existing Electronic Program Guide (EPG) outdated and challenging to navigate, hindering content discovery and overall user satisfaction.
To address these issues, VIZIO embarked on a comprehensive redesign of the WatchFree+ EPG, aiming to modernize the interface, enhance usability, and align the user experience with contemporary streaming expectations.
Design Approach
Intuitive Grid Layout: Implemented a familiar grid format segmented in 30-minute intervals, allowing users to easily scan upcoming content.
In-Line Content Descriptions: Enabled users to view movie and show details directly within the guide, reducing the need for additional navigation.
Picture-in-Picture (PiP) Viewing: Introduced PiP functionality, allowing users to continue watching content while browsing the guide.
Genre-Based Navigation: Added a feature to jump to specific content categories through a long press on the “OK” button, streamlining the browsing experience.
Direct Access to On-Demand Titles: Integrated on-demand content access within the EPG, facilitating seamless transitions between live and on-demand viewing.
The Problem
The existing EPG lacked intuitive navigation, making it difficult for users to browse and discover content efficiently.
The interface did not effectively showcase the breadth of available content, leading to underutilization of the service’s offerings.
Inconsistent user interactions and a dated visual design detracted from the overall user experience.
My Role: As Lead Product Designer, I drove the EPG redesign from concept to launch—defining UX, refining interaction patterns, and aligning the experience across teams. The result: a faster, more intuitive guide that modernized live TV for millions of VIZIO users.
Reflection
The WatchFree+ EPG redesign was a pivotal project that transformed the user experience from a cumbersome interface to an intuitive and engaging platform. By focusing on user-centric design principles and seamless integration of features, we successfully enhanced content discoverability and user satisfaction, solidifying WatchFree+’s role as a leading free streaming service.
Transforming live TV into daily viewership
The redesigned guide drove a measurable lift in engagement and viewership, helping WatchFree+ become the second-most-watched free streaming app on VIZIO TVs. By modernizing the experience, we positioned VIZIO as a serious contender in the competitive streaming landscape.