TV Time , the popular show and movie tracking app, is set to shut down on July 15th , with all user data being deleted after that date. The news came as a surprise to many users who have relied on the app to organize and track their favorite TV shows and movies.
TV Time launched over a decade ago and has built a loyal user community. Through the app, users can track the progress of their series, create watchlists , and rate episodes. The platform also allows users to discover new series and movies based on their preferences, making it a valuable tool for TV and film fans.
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Why is TV Time closing?
The decision to shut down the app is based on financial reasons. In an update on its support page, the company admitted that it was no longer viable to continue operating the service as a free app. It also said that there was not enough demand for a paid version of the app, making its continued operation unviable. This highlights the challenges many free apps face in their attempt to remain financially viable, especially in a market where users have become accustomed to enjoying services at no cost.
Starting July 15, the TV Time app will be removed from both the App Store and Google Play, and the tvtime.com website will permanently cease to operate. This decision means that users will no longer have access to the app's services, which may significantly impact their daily viewing routine.
For users who want to keep their viewing history and tracking data, the company is offering the ability to export it through the GDPR self-service tool before the July 15 deadline. The company says all personal user data will be deleted after that date, but may retain aggregated, non-personal data for business or legal purposes.
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This data handling is in line with European regulatory requirements for the protection of personal data, offering a sense of security to users.
The announcement of TV Time's closure has caused a stir among the user community, who are now looking for alternatives. On the Resetera forums, users have suggested alternative apps such as Trakt, Serializd, and Simkl. However, Simkl's servers have reportedly been experiencing issues due to a sudden surge of new registrations, highlighting the challenge alternative platforms in keeping up with demand.
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The case of TV Time is a typical example of the difficulties faced by applications based on free operating models. The need for sustainable business models that can support the operational needs and development of applications is more urgent than ever. As users migrate to new platforms, the market for series and movie watching applications is expected to undergo significant changes, with new opportunities and challenges emerging.
